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This is definitely not an ideal solution, just pay off repeat offenders. It seems like backwards thinking. However, we spend a hell of a lot more to warehouse criminals who end up back in the system over and over again. It MAY give them an incentive to do better and maybe there are job placement opportunities that go along with the program, it's not easy for criminals to find work once they get out.
I think it is smart to be pro-active and identify "at-risk youth." I support offering them a fellowship that includes: individualized counseling, mentoring, tutoring, job search type support. By all means, yes, let's do a pilot project on this and see if it works. But, giving them a stipend for not committing crimes goes to far, IMO. We are creating an incentive for people to become "at risk" in the first place. I would be pretty mad if I was from a low SES family and was working hard/making smart decisions in a difficult environment to then see people get rewarded for being a potential threat. Strip that portion out and I could see supporting this.
Supporters point to the Richmond, Ca example as a sign of success. Yes, the murder rate did fall from 2007 to 2014. But, the program never really been fully evaluated to see if it really caused the decline. So let's not pretend like this has been "proven to work."
For now, no one can definitively say whether Richmond's program is a model, a fluke, or something in between. "We're
not doing the evaluations we should be doing; we're not bringing in objective people to look at it," UC-Berkeley's Krisberg admits. But the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, which receives funding from the Department of Justice and the Walton Family Foundation, is studying the program's implementation.
DC's crime and social issues are real and deep. The city can't just rely on law enforcement efforts alone. These carrot type programs to pro-actively try to lead people away from crime have their place, as well. But, let's no go overboard on an untested stipend program.
This city can't find worst ways to spend money? 20 something years ago, this place was murder capital/crack den. Thanks mostly to an expanding government, the city has seen great fortunes come it's way. How do they waste it? Giving city workers generous raises, crackpot transportation ideas like the over budget, way past schedule street car, and now, they want to pay criminals not to commit crimes. The city is short on police officers, as per their union. Why not hire more cops to fight crime? Seems like some thing a responsible government would do...
On a side note, when a recession finally hits this area (and it will) they are going to be wishing they stuffed some of this money in the piggy bank.
This city can't find worst ways to spend money? 20 something years ago, this place was murder capital/crack den. Thanks mostly to an expanding government, the city has seen great fortunes come it's way. How do they waste it? Giving city workers generous raises, crackpot transportation ideas like the over budget, way past schedule street car, and now, they want to pay criminals not to commit crimes. The city is short on police officers, as per their union. Why not hire more cops to fight crime? Seems like some thing a responsible government would do...
On a side note, when a recession finally hits this area (and it will) they are going to be wishing they stuffed some of this money in the piggy bank.
Actually the government has not expanded that much in recent years, if anything it has shrunk. One has expanded in DC is private industry and NGO/Non-profits. https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc...c-trends-54401
The expanding government thing is a misnomer that comes from the ill informed. (AKA Republicans)
Actually the government has not expanded that much in recent years, if anything it has shrunk. One has expanded in DC is private industry and NGO/Non-profits. https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc...c-trends-54401
The expanding government thing is a misnomer that comes from the ill informed. (AKA Republicans)
The federal government hasn't grown in the last 20 years? I guess several wars in the Middle East, the creation of new federal agencies, and the creation of an entire new department - DHS, doesn't count as growth to you.
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