The Gap: Over-policing doesn't reduce crime with Partnership for Safety & Justice and Gift Giving Strategies

On this episode of the Gap, Tammy and Althea start the show by interviewing two folks at the Partnership for Safety and Justice, Shannon Wight, the Deputy Director, and Julianne Jackson, the Movement Building Director. A few opinion pieces have been penned in Street Roots by members of the organization, pointing out, importantly, that the narrative that violent crime will be solved by more police funding is misleading and damaging. It's an easy narrative with a seemingly simple solution - get more cops so there won't be as much crime. But in reality, crime is a slippery thing to define its causes, but more police funding doesn't decrease crime rates. We don't know exactly what causes crime, but we do know what works in communities with low crime rates. 

Shannon and Julianne walk us through the work that their organization does, and how Oregon's core values, of healing, of keeping families together, can help guide us to find solutions to the problems created by the general overreach of our criminal justice and public safety system. 

Then, in the second half of the show, we ask our listeners about what their gift-giving strategy is. It's the holiday season, a season of giving, but how do you figure out what to get someone? We hear about donations in someone's name, getting someone something they might like but can't justify, or something they need, but not badly enough to get it themselves and a surprising amount of love for the dollar store. Dollar Tree eat your heart out!

P.S. Here's what one caller said were the 4 gifts they give to their nieces and nephews - one thing they want, one thing they need, one thing they wear and one thing they read.

Related links: 

Partnership for Safety and Justice 

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