Violent Crime Reduction Strategy

By Charlie Winburn

An extensive initiative that will dramatically decrease violent crime in the City of Cincinnati. The plan calls for the targeting of drug and illegal gun offenders and establishes a sense of law and order in crime-ridden neighborhoods.

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Gun Elimination Initiative

by

Charles Winburn M.ED.,

August 2005 ...a four year plan to restore law and order

Overview

Crime in our city has become the number one issue in both the mayoral and city council campaigns. Crime in the city of Cincinnati has a profound impact on the health and welfare of individuals who must endure it and on the city's ability to grow and prosper. The city's population since YR2000 has decreased by an estimated -5.2% to approximately 314,000 in 2004[1]. The city's ability to attract new, much less retain existing, residents and businesses, depends greatly on whether citizens feel safe and secure in their homes and in their workplaces.

It is incumbent upon the future mayor of Cincinnati to truly understand the issue of crime: those affected by it, the public safety officials who police and prosecute it and the portrayal of it by the media.

The City's Escalating Homicide Rate

In the time period since Charles Winburn's departure from city council, the number of homicides has risen 62% (CY2000's 40 homicides to CY2004's 65 homicides) and guns are much more prevalent in these crimes.

Mr. Winburn intends to dramatically decrease the homicide rate with a back-to-basics, violent crime reduction strategy of assertive policing combined with true community control of criminals and criminal activity.

With regard to reducing homicides, Mr. Winburn draws upon best practices proven elsewhere; in particular, from Washington D.C.[2], where at one time the District of Columbia had the infamous distinction as being the nation's murder capital. The principal components of their homicide reduction effort are as follows:

1. Suppression: Prevent homicides by targeting violent, drug and gun repeat offenders.

2. Deterrence: Establish a sense of order in our most crime-ridden neighborhoods that criminal acts result in swift and severe punishment.

3. Intervention: Partner with public safety and anti-violence groups such as Who Killed Our Kids, the Neighborhood Support Center (http://www.cincynsc.org) and others.

4. Investigation: Develop witnesses who are willing to testify by seizing opportunities for cooperation (volunteer or otherwise). Employ criminal and geographic profiling to narrow the search for suspects and in conducting surveillance.

5. Prosecution: Continue aggressively pursuing federal prosecution of drug and gun related violence whenever possible. Provide short-term and, if necessary, long-term witness protection.

The Strategy can be viewed in full at http://www.electwinburn.com/docs/crimeprop.pdf