MPD150: Thoughts on Crime

As mentioned before, there is a group in Minneapolis, called MPD150, that opposes expanding the local police force. You can find that earlier post here.

Here are some of MPD150's thoughts on crime and how to solve it.

Property Crime

Most property crime is driven not by malice, but by desperation. A capitalist economy forces each of us to fend for ourselves with little social support or aid. In a time of historically high income inequality, it’s no mystery why some people turn to theft, burglary, and other property crime to provide for themselves. The best way to reduce property crime isn’t to jail everyone who is poor, or try to scare community members into obedience: it’s to invest in communities so that people have less of a need to steal from each other in the first place.

Drugs

The war on drugs has been very effective in systematically criminalizing communities of color, locking millions of people up, and making billions of dollars for private prison corporations.

 Domestic Violence 

What do you do when you’re in a relationship that turns violent? People experiencing domestic violence may need someone to step in, may need a safe place to go, may need a loved one to leave, and may need emotional support. Calling the police means they will be met with violent force in a situation where they are already facing violence. They may be putting a loved one’s life in danger, as well as their own life. Police officers are also two to four times more likely to commit domestic violence than other community members, making them a poor choice for survivors seeking help. 

Responding to Violence 

We can’t discuss how to respond to violence in our communities without acknowledging that police cause violence in our communities – directly, through beatings and shootings, and indirectly, through harassment and criminalization. If we want to end violence in our communities, ending police violence is a necessary step. 

I'll leave it at that. If time permits, in the coming weeks, I might revisit this and fact check the statistics.