Regional leaders were expected to attend the crime summit at the University of Washington to discuss solutions to the homicide crisis.
St. LOUIS — It’s called focused deterrence.
And studies show that the crime-reduction strategy works to reduce homicides.
Now, regional business and economic leaders are hoping the people in power will get it going in the city of St. Louis.
Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the Regional Business Council are teaming up to bring the man who wrote the book on the strategy to a crime summit scheduled for Wednesday at the University of Washington.
And this author, Thomas Abt, who wrote, “Bleeding Out: The Devastating Consequences of Urban Violence — and a Bold New Plan for Peace in the Streets” is ready to help St. Louis to start the program for free, according to the University. of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist Richard Rosenfeld.
In St. Louis, homicides are largely concentrated in six small neighborhoods.
Focused deterrence puts the relatively small number of people who account for a disproportionate amount of crime in these areas in a room with police, prosecutors, social service leaders, clergy and sometimes their own family members, he said. Rosenfeld.
“The message is that essentially the violence has to stop,” Rosenfeld said. “Obviously we know who you are, we will pull every lever available if we have to get you off the street. In the meantime, if you want to get out of this life, here are services and supports that can help you take a different path.”
Research shows that those who attend these types of meetings are less likely to be rearrested, Rosenfeld said.
Part of that research is based on a focused deterrence program Rosenfeld was part of during the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s administration. Louis Jennifer Joyce, who finished in 2017.
The economic and business agencies planning Wednesday’s summit hired Rosenfeld to write a white paper on how the homicide rate in St. Louis specifically affects the region’s ability to attract and retain businesses.
It’s a crucial conversation, according to Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc., and the pending resignation of the circuit attorney for St. Louis, Kim Gardner helps build momentum.
“We need change in the city’s circuit attorney’s office, and that change is coming, and we applaud the governor and the mayor and others who are working on it,” Hall said. “This is a region-wide problem and we all need to step up not to point fingers, but to say that we are together because when we solve this together, that means more jobs, a safer community for everyone.” .
Rosenfeld’s report concluded that the homicide rate in the St. Louis is among the highest in the country, more than double the average for the US metro in 2020. At least 360 people were killed in the St. Louis in 2022.
“The number of homicides in the city is down in 2021 and 2022 from the peak in 2020. However, homicide remains by far the number one crime problem facing our region . The killing is highly concentrated, though far from entirely, in certain neighborhoods of the city,” Rosenfeld wrote.
To be effective, Rosenfeld says the city also needs more police officers, but progressive city leaders who dominate the city’s political leadership have been more in favor of putting resources into services that address the root causes of crime. .
“I think that focused deterrence, one of its distinguishing and desirable attributes is that it’s the best of both worlds, both worlds being law enforcement and a commitment to criminal justice on the one hand, and the involvement of the community, on the other,” Rosenfeld said.
Political, law enforcement and criminal justice leaders from across the region are expected to attend next week’s summit.
“This is one of the most promising times to do something effective and quite important to improve the health, safety and prosperity of our region,” Rosenfeld said. “I’m glad that regional leaders, people from all over the metro area are coming together to discuss this kind of approach.
“Time will tell,” he said.
The summit will take place Wednesday from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Eric P. Newman Education Center at Washington University School of Medicine.
To read Rosenfeld’s white paper, click here.
Below is the study on the focused deterrence program:
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