Politics is an ugly game and the truth is hard to come by from any particular party. Words and statistics are skewed by all to suit their intended message. One party is claiming that the crime stats are down and the other will tell you they’re out of control. Who do you believe? You have to believe your own eyes and ask yourself if you actually feel safe…especially in larger metropolitan areas. Can crime rates be lower, yet crime itself be out of control? The short answer is yes, and the following blog will explain how.
The law enforcement “system” consists of more than just the police. They are but one piece of that pie that includes prosecutors and judges as well. All must work in harmony to have an effective system, which catches, prosecutes, and eventually sentences those accused of crimes. This system is designed to punish offenders and discourage others from committing crimes. Unfortunately, the one group that you hear about the most is the police. They are on the front lines, the front pages of newspapers, and they are quick to be condemned and persecuted if they do something wrong.
Why are crime statistics down in some areas of the country? One reason is people have simply stopped reporting crimes. They believe, and often correctly, that the police won’t do much anyways. Another reason is the police have been demonized by the press and politicians, so finding qualified and willing applicants has become a struggle. Why face constant danger and scrutiny for pay that slightly outpaces a fast food worker? (No offense to fast food workers) Police officers, as a rule, have become less proactive because being so only raises the odds that they will in fact be scrutinized. They also lack the backing and support of their local agencies and governments, so what is their incentive to push the envelope, if you will. They get paid the same if they’re risking their lives, or sitting a parking lot reading a book. I was a police officer for thirty years, so while not an expert, I can intelligently speak on the subject. Don’t get me wrong, there are some hard charging officers out there who give it their all, but the percentage that do are dwindling. I felt like I was making a difference when I enforced the law. That feeling is NOT prevalent in today’s society.
The police make arrests and the prosecutors are tasked with either offering plea deals to the defendants, or taking their case to trial. I would challenge you to find out how many cases actually go to trial in your area. I dare say damn few. Prosecutors in many jurisdictions seem hell bent on dismissing or reducing criminal charges instead of putting bad people in jail. There are actually states that have enacted “No Bail” laws, so no bail money is needed to get out of jail. A person could literally rob a bank and be out of jail in hours…to go rob another one. That is quite an incentive to change their behavior…NOT.
If the police do something wrong, they should be held accountable. Having said that, prosectors must do their job as well and actually prosecute. Why do police officers not take action when they can and often should? Because in many areas they know that the case will be dropped or the charges reduced before they complete their report. How can a suspect be out of jail on ten or even twenty sets of bail conditions? Ask a prosecutor or judge. When the police fail to be proactive for the reasons I provided, it will appear as though crime is down. When prosecutors dismiss cases or reduce them for no good reason, it will appear as though crime is down. When someone is victimized by a person who should be locked up, but is free to roam the streets after violating their bail ten times…then is will appear that crime is up.
The criminal justice system is not perfect, but it is one of the best in the world. It doesn’t need to be fixed, it just needs to operate as it was designed. The police investigate and make arrests, the prosecutors work with the police to determine a fair an equitable resolution to a case, and the judges sentence appropriately. We need to put more stock in how crime impacts the victim rather than how incarceration will impact the offender.
Are the crime rates up or down? Do the numbers really matter? The question is do you feel safe? If you have doubts, I would encourage you to take a walk around Deering Oaks in Portland, Maine with your family at any time of the day or night and get back to me!
