Civilian District Councils and Reduction of Violence

LWV Chicago’s Chicago in Focus program continued the discussion of community policing at its latest lecture, held on September 14.

Adam Gross, Executive Director of the Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability, described the City Council’s Empowering Communities for Public Safety Ordinance and its implementation at the March Chicago in Focus lecture. Just a few days ago, Gross explained how communities will work in district councils so the police and residents can build connections, work together, and strengthen partnership. District councils, Gross said, will be the “heart and soul” of police reform efforts to improve policing and public safety.

Community policing programs have effectively reduced crime and violence in both Los Angeles and New York City. New York has a long history of community policing, beginning in 1984. Los Angeles’ community-based problem-solving advisory board began in 2011. As Kim Smith, Director of Programming and Education for the University of Chicago Crime Lab, noted, homicide rates in these cities have declined steadily while they remain high in Chicago. 

One alternative to policing is the community-based Narcotics Arrest Diversion Program. NADP connects individuals who have substance abuse issues to treatment, reduces police officers’ time on processing low-level drug offenses, and increases public safety, she said. To learn more, watch the program above.