Bawa

Tejeshwar Singh Bawa

Crime is a pressing issue that is in need of immediate attention in Detroit.
According to The Detroit News, Detroit is known to top murder rates and violent crime
rates among cities with populations of more than 100,000.1 The city of Detroit has a
reputation to be dangerous; quite frankly, it is such an issue that people will not move
into this city unless the crime can be controlled to a manageable level. 2
From a more localized lens, crime itself is a large issue that cannot be solved
within the constraints of this paper. The only way to tackle this omnipresent issue is to
evaluate it and find a potential solution to alleviate one aspect of crime. According to the
KHOU 11 News I-Team, Houston schools top list for campus crime. 3 The Department
of Public Safety at University of Houston (UHDPS), known for breaking the record by
having 267 reports of serious crime over the past three years on a Texas college campus,
invests its time to find the solution to crime.4 Thus far, the analysis they present includes
dividing crime up into three elements: desire, ability and opportunity.5 Their findings
state that if a person were to want to commit a crime and had the ability to commit a
crime, but we deny them the opportunity, then no crime can be committed.6 In Detroit,
poverty is so common that it causes people to redirect their attention towards how they
can potentially improve their quality of life. These communities tend to lack the kind of
1

Mann, Priya. "Family Remembers Loved One Killed in Violent NW Detroit Shootout."
ClickOnDetroit. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
2 Fowler, Geoffrey A. "For 40 Years, an Advocate for the Underclass." The Wall Street
Journal (n.d.): n. pag. 8 Sept. 2011. Web.
3 UHDPS. UHDPS. University of Houstan, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
4 Noll, Scott. "Houstan Schools Top List for Campus Crime." KHOU. N.p., n.d. Web.
5 UHDPS. UHDPS. University of Houstan, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
6 Noll, Scott. "Houstan Schools Top List for Campus Crime." KHOU. N.p., n.d. Web.

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social cohesion that offers a buffer against crime and blight7 because the people residing
within these communities turn to other prominent, more immediate problems (ex. shelter)
that are present in the citys culture. Poverty is a current issue that causes injustice to its
residents because they take the fall for the presence of a lack of proper political structure
and enforcement. However, when understanding the poverty in Detroit, one must realize
that few people choose to be poor, or to be undereducated, to be socially and
economically isolated; therefore, when being titled financially isolated and immobile,
crime travels hand in hand.8 In other words, crime is not a choice, but a requirement for
those titled individuals. It leans more towards the governments failure of properly
protecting the citizens who are trapped in a dilapidated area. In taking care of this
growing issue, as opposed to the historical approach of apprehending criminals, the focus
shifts towards preventing crime and also reducing the cost of crime.9
Currently, cities like Detroit are focusing on building multiple strong police forces
in order to stop crime; however, this serves as a very basic approach to stopping crime
from progressing after it has already begun. A prime example of this is the Brown v.
Ferguson case that was recently brought back into play. Detroits Free Press analyzes the
situation and reports the fatal police shooting in Ferguson. Recalling the incident on Aug.
9 when officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, CNN reports that
Brown, 18 and Johnson, 22 were walking in the middle of the street before the Ferguson

Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Detroit: n.p., n.d. Print

Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Detroit: n.p., n.d. Print
9 "What Happened When Michael Brown Met Officer Darren Wilson." CNN. Cable
News Network, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
8

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police officer confronted them. 10 According to the CNN Report, a controversial question
was brought into light: Brown ran down E. Canfield and then turned back but to
attack or surrender?11 An interesting case, such as this one, includes the amalgamation
of racial and criminal injustice. This case still lives on with the continuance of the
Ferguson riots. Showcasing the current state of mind, the police focus on stopping the
riots after they occur instead of before by eliminating the opportunity available during
the situation. What lead to the continuance of violence in the time of the riots was the
manifestation of racial motivation no justice for Browns death provided by the
decision that was made to not punish the officer. In fact, according to the Detroit Free
Press, 90% of blacks disagreed with the ruling, compared to the 60% of whites that
shared the disapproval of the final decision. This racial hate is the fuel that drives the
desire, creating opportunities for crime. Total opportunities were not eliminated in
the previous case, so how can it be completely eliminated to rid of this persistent
problem?
Studies at the University of Houston demonstrate that the only way to eliminate
crime on and off campus is to be able to advise others to make decisions in their every
day lives to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur.12 After analyzing the crime, the
response (riots) received was purely racially motivated; therefore, the opportunity
could only have been eliminated by immediate response of police to prevent any riots
from occurring. After the incident, President Obama said, events in Ferguson have

10

"What Happened When Michael Brown Met Officer Darren Wilson." CNN. Cable
News Network, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.ee press
11 "What Happened When Michael Brown Met Officer Darren Wilson." CNN. Cable
News Network, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
12 UHDPS. UHDPS. University of Houstan, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.

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revealed a deep distrust between a community and its police force.13 With attention
placed on this issue, Obamas approach to take out the opportunity for a potential
future problem is by creating a strong, collaborative relationship between local police
and the communities they protect. 14 He plans to do this by announcing new steps, one
of which is advancing the use of body worn cameras and promoting proven community
policing initiatives.15 From the college aspect, the campus at UH, UHDPS offers a
variety of crime prevention programs, one being: Residential and office Security.
In the efforts of enhancing the campus, UHDPS has taken its first step at establishing
these programs in order to get more involved with the community and attract specifically
college students to learn more about the dangers present in the nearby area in order to
eliminate the opportunity aspect of crime. From this viewpoint, it is advantageous to
warn college students of what actions can lead to potential crimes.
Even though this solution is informative for the students, it is not as effective
since there is a lack of interest among college goers in attending such meetings. Taking a
step out of the confinements of a college campus, tackling the crime in the city is the
main issue that needs to be attended to. In Detroit especially crime prevention and the
problem of improving the quantity and quality of social services in a community have
been conceptually lacked.16 There should be a design of an environment that is capable

13

Hudson, David. "Building Trust Between Communities and Local Police." The White
House. The White House, 01 Dec. 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
14 Hudson, David. "Building Trust Between Communities and Local Police." The White
House. The White House, 01 Dec. 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
15 Hudson, David. "Building Trust Between Communities and Local Police." The White
House. The White House, 01 Dec. 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
16 Pasek, Josh. "Race Defines Americans' Views on Ferguson Shooting." Race Defines
Americans' Views on Ferguson Shooting. Detroit Free Press, n.d. Web. 03 Dec.
2014.

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of meeting basic human needs especially for those who are in the risk of falling into
crime and disorder.17 Philadelphias House of Umoja (unity in Swahili) program is
a unique grassroots program that has based its operations at home by creating familycentered community institutions that have effectively mediated gang conflicts and has
come to serve as a source of counsel and individual development for neighborhood gang
and non gang youth.18 The targeted age groups range from 15 to 18 year-old African
Americans that live along a strip of 23 houses in Philadelphia. The House of Umoja
strives to halt the self-destructive behavior that results in premature death. In effect, the
program hones in on the transformation of hundreds of young frightened, frustrated, and
alienated African American males to self-assured, competent, concerned, and
productive citizens. 19 By tackling both the opportunity and desire to enter gangs,
there is an immediate decline in the opportunity that the gang has. By becoming a
family-centered organization, the program effectively guides youths by acting as a
primary human support system that particularly models the right to make decisions.
Another model organization that demonstrates how to deal with crime in the
appropriate fashion is Mimi Silbers Delancey Street Foundation. This foundation is
based on the idea of bettering the lives of substance abusers, ex-convicts, homeless and
others how have hit bottom.20 To tackle the opportunity aspect of crime in this
particular situation, Ms. Silber has created a foundation that runs, with neither staff nor
17

Pasek, Josh. "Race Defines Americans' Views on Ferguson Shooting." Race Defines
Americans' Views on Ferguson Shooting. Detroit Free Press, n.d. Web. 03 Dec.
2014.
18 Boostrom, Ronald L. "Community Action and Crime Prevention." JSTOR. N.p., n.d.
Web.
19 Woodson, Robert L. "Government National Gang Center." N.p., n.d. Web.
20 Silbert, Mimi. "Delancey Street Foundation." Delancey Street Foundation - Home.
N.p., 2007. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.

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funding, by developing the strengths and hopes of the fellow residents. This grassroots
approach lays down a foundation for building up confidence and creating proper work
ethic within the residents. When put into effect, 250 people who had never worked and
had no skills were taught to build a 400,00 square foot complex as our new home on
the waterfront.21 For over 40 years of service, The Delancey Street Foundation has been
developing a model of social entrepreneurship, of education, of rehabilitation and
change that has revolutionized the lives of potential criminals into those who have
become builders, teachers, general contractors, and truck drivers. During an interview
with the Wall Street Journal, Ms. Silber said, In our first 30 years, we lost less than
20%, which showcased the struggles of keeping the attention of the residents.22 In the
end, however, though there was struggle, the organization currently has an annual budget
of about $18 million and educates 2,000 people at any given time in San Francisco and
satellite operations in Los Angeles, New Mexico, North Carolina, New York and
Massachusetts.23
Acknowledging that cities such as Philadelphia (21.5 murders per 1000 citizens)
and San Francisco (8.4 murders per 1000 citizens) are able to have crime-preventing
programs coexist in crime filled cities, it is possible for Detroit (54.6 murders per 1000
citizens) to adopt a similar ideology in order to lower its substantial crime rate.24 The

21

Silbert, Mimi. "Delancey Street Foundation." Delancey Street Foundation - Home.

N.p., 2007. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
22 Fowler, Geoffrey A. "For 40 Years, an Advocate for the Underclass." The Wall Street
Journal (n.d.): n. pag. 8 Sept. 2011. Web.
23 Fowler, Geoffrey A. "For 40 Years, an Advocate for the Underclass." The Wall Street
Journal (n.d.): n. pag. 8 Sept. 2011. Web.
24 "Detroit City Data." Crime Rate in Detroit, Michigan (MI): Murders, Rapes,
Robberies, Assaults, Burglaries, Thefts, Auto Thefts, Arson, Law Enforcement,
Police Officers Statistics. City Data, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.

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primary solution to eliminating the opportunity in the crime triangle is to establish
support groups that can be used to alleviate the stress that families may be experiencing.
Martelle, in Detroit: A Biography, mentions that Greg Mathis, a one-time Detroit judge,
witnessed black males being arrested and beat for unclear infractions. In these segregated
times, the police were the face of authority, and of society.25 Being brought up with
these cruel experiences, Mathis made a personal decision to become a thug, robbing
and harming innocent citizens during concerts in order to establish audacity.26 Mathis
reported to have left the gang in high school; however, the gang was an experience that
reeled in kids to give them the hope that in pursuing crime, they were bettering the
city.27 Experiences like these are very common in Detroit. Not only is it possible for a kid
to deviate from a educational path and be brought into gangs, committing violencerelated acts, due to just seeing an incident Mathiss experience but also from being
one of the victims that were killed during these mass raids. Revenge fuels the
metaphorical fire of motivation to act upon our thoughts. On the contrary, readily
available support groups can be sent to certain streets and specific families to assist in
explaining the downsides and upsides of crime, similar to what Philadelphias House of
Umoja had done. Support groups should be sent out to specific areas of Detroit (ex. all
the houses connected to Charles Street, Hamtramck, MI) to look over the younger
generation and provide guidance on how to avoid crime. These groups can serve as a
mentor in educating children on how education and having respectful morals is a superior
pathway of gaining power and audacity as opposed to resorting to violence.

25

Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Detroit: n.p., n.d. Print

Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Detroit: n.p., n.d. Print.
27 Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Detroit: n.p., n.d. Print
26

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Accepting that our city, Detroit, is a classic anthology of answers, one must
recognize the many issues that this city has.28 Focusing on crime, it is evident that help is
lacking in establishing the basic human needs for the citys residents. This approach of
sending out aides is the first step in bringing forth all of the people to establish some sort
of common ground and evaluate the situation of Detroit. This first step will definitely and
drastically increase in effect, as presented by the successes of the House of Umoja and the
Delancey Street Foundation. In transforming Detroit from city beautiful into a practical
and functional city, the necessity to reduce the role of crime is a priority.

28

Rybczynski, Witold. City Life: Urban Expectations in a New World. New York:
Scribner, 1995. Print.

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Work Cited
Boostrom, Ronald L. "Community Action and Crime Prevention." JSTOR. N.p., n.d.
Web.
"Detroit City Data." Crime Rate in Detroit, Michigan (MI): Murders, Rapes, Robberies,
Assaults, Burglaries, Thefts, Auto Thefts, Arson, Law Enforcement Employees,
Police Officers Statistics. City Data, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
Fowler, Geoffrey A. "For 40 Years, an Advocate for the Underclass." The Wall Street
Journal (n.d.): n. pag. 8 Sept. 2011. Web.
Hudson, David. "Building Trust Between Communities and Local Police." The White
House. The White House, 01 Dec. 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
Mann, Priya. "Family Remembers Loved One Killed in Violent NW Detroit Shootout."
ClickOnDetroit. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
Martelle, Scott. Detroit: A Biography. Detroit: n.p., n.d. Print
Noll, Scott. "Houston Schools Top List for Campus Crime." KHOU. N.p., n.d. Web.
Pasek, Josh. "Race Defines Americans' Views on Ferguson Shooting." Race Defines
Americans' Views on Ferguson Shooting. Detroit Free Press, n.d. Web. 03 Dec.
2014.
Rybczynski, Witold. City Life: Urban Expectations in a New World. New York:
Scribner, 1995. Print.
Silbert, Mimi. "Delancey Street Foundation." Delancey Street Foundation - Home. N.p.,
2007. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.
UHDPS. UHDPS. University of Houstan, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.

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"What Happened When Michael Brown Met Officer Darren Wilson." CNN. Cable
News Network, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
Woodson, Robert L. "Government National Gang Center." N.p., n.d. Web.