Emily Badger, New York Times
November 9, 2017
This article reports on research by NYU sociologist Patrick Sharkey, showing that the role of small scale, local community-based organizations and individuals is vastly underestimated in accounting for declines in crime. The study is based on the records of 264 non-profit organizations over 20 years. While not claiming total credit, the article reports the finding that:
Every 10 additional organizations in a city with 100,000 residents, they estimate, led to a 9 percent drop in the murder rate and a 6 percent drop in violent crime.
The article includes examples of organizations working in Los Angeles and Atlanta and says the study also “affirms some of the tenets of community policing: that neighborhoods are vital to policing themselves, and that they can address the complex roots of violence in ways that fall beyond traditional police work.”
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