“This proves to us is what we all knew as defenders: You can end broken-windows policing without ending public safety,” said Justine M. Luongo, the deputy attorney-in-charge of criminal practice for the Legal Aid Society. I recall the pro argument was that policing these petty crimes often brought in many with outstanding warrants for greater ones. It makes logical sense, but crime has fallen all over, not just in NYC while they practiced these policies. At any rate, I can only hope the lesson learned here is that much policing isn't necessary. First and foremost, they should provide for safety. Culture is not their job.Few managers in the court system expect the current downturn to last. Many public defenders, however, said they hope the steep decline in minor arrests will become permanent. They noted felonies did not rise over the last three weeks as arrests for low-level crimes plummeted.
I wonder if we're seeing the disproval, in some way, of Broken Windows policing.
I think this is the most interesting quote in the whole piece. There are so many things - like riding your bike on the sidewalk - that you don't need to be arrested for, or get a ticket for. Just tell them to get the hell off the sidewalk, and make sure that pedestrians know their right to a safe sidewalk. I guess the greatest difficulty is the one of creating a culture where people don't think it's okay to commit minor crimes all the time. Some of that process comes from deciding what is a "crime" and what is being an asshole but not criminal, Some of that process comes from implementing things like Bike lanes so that bikers don't feel unsafe on the road. ‘We are going to stop making arrests unless we absolutely have to.' ”