Reducing Drug Crime Without Putting People in Prison

oreillyh — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:58:00 GMT

Reducing Drug Crime Without Putting People in Prison: The High Point Initiative

In May 2004, the High Point, NC Police Department launched an innovative crime initiative in an effort to reduce drug related crimes in the most violent sections of the city. The High Point Crime Initiative assumes that violent crime is closely related to street level drug dealing and drug use and that building individual social capital and strong social bonds is a key component in helping individuals to disassociate from criminal activities.

By eradicating open air drug markets and, thereby, eliminating drug-related crime, the program attempts to heal old wounds between urban communities and law enforcement. A key component of the High Point initiative is community involvement, the theory being that the disapproval of those who matter most to the dealers is a greater deterrent than squadrons of police. The High Point Initiative first identifies local drug markets and then builds evidence for criminal cases against drug dealers caught on video surveillance. Next, law enforcement enlists the entire community to participate in the program.

Unless the community itself commits to addressing the problem, there won't be a significant impact on the drug trade.

Once the community is on board, the initiative holds a large gathering where the community confronts the dealers, reprimands them for their destructive behavior and demands change.

Learn More at RebLaw 2010, Saturday 3:00pm- 4:30pm:

Meg Reiss, Nassau District Attorney's Office, Investigation Division
Teny Gross, Executive Director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence
Rev. Sherman Mason, High Point Community Against Violence, Inc.

Reblaw2013 : nonviolence, Panels

Reducing Drug Crime Without Putting People in Prison