120. Deploying the National Guard to deter crime—not a long term solution
A visible law enforcement presence, like the National Guard, may deter crime, but Professor Laura Dugan, of the Ohio State University Department of Sociology, explains that deploying the Guard will not reduce crime in the long term. The first step in reducing crime is to understand the crime dynamics within a city and then make strategic decisions that address not only the crimes themselves but also their underlying causes.
Research has shown that simply increasing patrols or random police presence does not effectively deter crime in the long term because these efforts don’t address the root causes of criminal activity.
Problem-solving policing targets the root causes of crime and focuses on small groups or specific neighborhoods responsible for a disproportionate share of criminal activity. While some police departments have units dedicated to crime analysis and proactive strategies, typically most of a police force’s resources are devoted to reactive policing.
Professor Dugan cites research indicating that providing healthcare, family planning, education, and providing support to low-income pregnant women reduces criminality in the long term. She advocates for meeting the basic needs of vulnerable populations, emphasizing that social services offer alternatives to criminal behavior and provide necessary safety nets. These approaches, however, are often viewed with skepticism by certain political groups, despite their past bipartisan support.
Has President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard had any measurable effect on crime reduction? Professor Dugan is skeptical, noting that crime rates have been declining nationally, echoing patterns seen in the 1990s, and cautions against attributing recent declines to the deployment of the National Guard. Visible troops may be useful for specific events like Mardi Gras, but deploying military personnel in communities with existing tensions can exacerbate problems. She underscores the importance of strategic use of resources and building relationships between law enforcement and communities.
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