Valley View vs. Greenville
Cars and Parts Springfield Swap Meet
Carroll Commencement
Ellen Belcher is the Dayton Daily News opinion pages editor. She writes about state government, education, the environment, higher education and all things Dayton.
Martin Gottlieb is an editorial writer and columnist for the Dayton Daily News opinion pages. He focuses on the political process itself and does such national issues as war, the economy, taxes and Social Security, as well as a hodge-podge of local and state issues.Home > Blogs > A Matter of Opinion > Archives > 2009 > September > 08 > Entry
Editorial: There’s no pill for disease of violence
On the surface, it’s hard to see anything encouraging about 2009 when it comes to gun violence in Dayton. By the end of August, the 30 homicides already recorded equaled the total for all of last year.
But there are some hopeful signs in the city’s statistics that suggest Chief Richard Biehl’s Community Initiative to Reduce Gun Violence can help make a difference. Chicago’s similar CeaseFire program, built on the same principles as the chief’s effort, is generating a lot of buzz for its success reducing violence in key neighborhoods in that city.
CeaseFire, which was hailed last week by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, applies public health principles that are used to control epidemics to combating violence. The idea is to focus attention on a small group that is especially at risk — in this case, those most likely to end up on one side or the other of a pointed gun in “hot spot” neighborhoods — and attempt to change their behavior.
In Dayton, the chief’s effort began in November. As a condition of parole or probation, young men who fit a profile that suggests they are likely candidates to be involved with gun violence are brought in for straight talk with law enforcement and community leaders.
The message: We will help you take a better path, but we will come down on you hard if you choose the wrong road.
Chief Biehl said the men were most affected by an ex-prisoner’s words of regret and the grief of a mother who lost her son in a shooting. The Rev. Daryl Ward of Omega Baptist Church liked what he saw when he attended one of the sessions.
“It’s only a start, but it’s a start in the right direction,” he said.
The theory behind these programs has three strands.
First, individuals are coached about what to do in potentially ugly situations instead of grabbing a gun or pulling a knife. Second, they’re asked to think about the risks, from death and prison to causing a mother so much pain. Finally, the hope is to establish new norms that lead to less violence.
An evaluation of Chicago’s program last year by the National Institute for Justice said it was making a measurable impact on reducing gun incidents in the targeted neighborhoods.
Despite the spike in gun deaths here, Chief Biehl said other statistics are not all depressing. In March, a month in which one of the first “call-in” meetings for probationers and parolees was held, the city had a worrisome 31 gun-related injuries. But in April, gun injuries dropped to seven.
Gun-related injury remained at about 15 per month until another spike in late summer. The education and outreach program looks promising. Even moderate success in getting would-be offenders to think twice before they reach for a gun can make a big dent in the violence that is shattering lives and neighborhoods.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: City of Dayton, Editorials, Law Enforcement and Public Safety, Scott Elliott
Comments
By Bill
September 10, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
Galant effort but too little to often. It amazes me how often I see the Sheriff or Chief on TV extolling this project only to see another shooting or murder on TV the next night. When are the leaders in this area going to learn the real solution to this violence is the creation of jobs. Idle time breeds trouble. Do an editorial on what our leaders are doing to get some real jobs in the area and what their success has been. Then we may be able to reduce this violence.