Community Safety and Engagement

Community safety is achieved when people have an improved quality of life

Everyone deserves to feel safe. The safest communities are those with ample resources and support. To improve safety, we need to prioritize proven strategies that prevent crime, such as making housing more affordable, supporting mental health and addiction recovery, ensuring quality education, and creating jobs. Arresting people won’t solve homelessness, addiction, or poverty. Instead, we need to address the root causes of these issues.

I will be attending two February Community Conversations with Chief John Thompson to better understand crime that takes place in our city. I will remain in conversation with other leaders, community organizations, and neighbors to continue shaping this platform.

Current Understandings

Address all forms of violence

Community violence interventions often target reducing homicides and shootings, but violence takes many forms—such as police violence, gender-based violence, sexual violence, child abuse, and intimate partner violence. While addressing gun violence is crucial, it's important to recognize that other types of violence also need attention and investment.

​​​​“Although drunk driving carries a far greater risk of violent death than the use or sale of illegal drugs, the societal response to drunk driving has generally emphasized keeping the person functional and in society, while attempting to respond to the dangerous behavior through treatment and counseling. People charged with drug offenses, though, are disproportionately poor people of color. They are typically charged with felonies and sent to prison.”

Studies have shown that joblessness—not race or black culture—explains the high rates of violent crime in poor black communities.'

– Data derived from Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow

Local Actions 

Intervention

Support community violence intervention initiatives like Establishing Safe Cultures,  One Step Further program Cure Violence and the city-led Peace On Purpose

Support the Return and Re-entry of formerly incarcerated people.

“In 1980, only 10% of all prison admissions were parole violations; 20 years later, 35% were. Two-thirds were returned for technical violations like missing a parole officer appointment, failing to maintain employment, or failing a drug test.”

“In a study, 30% of released prisoners were rearrested within six months of release and 68% within three years. Only a small minority are rearrested for violent crimes.”

– Data derived from Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow 

A Holistic Approach  

Address the causes of criminal records and the barriers they create to successful reentry.

• Policy Advocacy and Endorsement: Advocate for local “ban the box” policies to remove questions about criminal history from initial job applications for city jobs and encourage private employers in Greensboro to adopt similar practices. This aligns with the Alliance’s goal of fair hiring.

• Community Awareness Campaigns: Collaborate with the Alliance to host forums or public events in Greensboro that educate residents on the importance of reentry initiatives, legal rights, and available resources for those with criminal records. Partnering on Second Chance Month in April could raise awareness and show solidarity.

•  Supporting Reentry Services: Allocate funding or resources to local reentry programs and organizations that help individuals transition successfully after incarceration. This could include workforce training, housing support, and mental health services.

• Collaborations with Local Employers: Work with Greensboro’s Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to create a coalition that promotes hiring individuals with criminal records, providing incentives or recognition to participating businesses.

• Legislative Support: Endorse state-level legislation that aligns with the Alliance’s goals, such as expanding eligibility for record expungement or reducing penalties for minor offenses.

• Strengthening Existing Programs: Partner with local nonprofits and the Second Chance Alliance to evaluate and strengthen Greensboro’s existing programs for justice-involved individuals, such as the IRC or job training initiatives.