Rethinking Public Safety: Prevention and Rehabilitation

Public safety should aim to prevent people from entering the criminal system and reduce their chances of returning. For decades, public safety discussions focused on enforcement and punishment. Rarely do we discuss stopping crime before it starts.

After over 50 years in corrections, I know the limits of our current approach. Reducing crime and protecting communities shouldn’t rely on reaction alone. We need real crime prevention, not just punishment. A unique survey of law enforcement provides insights for change.

Law Enforcement Insights

The survey revealed that 92% of officers feel burdened by social issues beyond crime. Additionally, 80% believe community members trained in conflict mediation and violence diversion improve safety and ease their work. This number rises to 90% among those familiar with these programs. This agreement is significant; these are professionals from diverse environments and challenges.

Prevention Before Crime Occurs

These findings reveal modern policing challenges. Officers often handle mental health crises, substance abuse, and homelessness, areas better managed by mental health experts. Without the right tools and partnerships, officers deal with repeating situations due to unresolved issues.

Neighborhood-based prevention programs can make a difference. Investing in community violence intervention and mental health crisis programs can prevent crimes before they happen. This reduces repeated calls, allowing police to focus on major public safety threats. Consequently, both communities and police departments become safer.

Rehabilitation and Early Release

Prison programs offering job training, education, and treatment reduce future crimes. Inmates participating in education and job training are more likely to succeed after release. They contribute to the workforce, pay taxes, and boost local economies.

Law enforcement values tools for crime prevention; correctional officers know how to make prisons safer and reduce recidivism. Survey results showed nearly three-quarters of officers support policies favoring early release for those demonstrating change through rehabilitation and training.

Rewarding rehabilitation and transitioning eligible prisoners to community supervision cuts wasteful spending, enhances public safety, and protects prison staff.

Cost-Effective Solutions

A holistic approach yields better outcomes and financial savings. Connecticut saved nearly $40 million annually from rehabilitation programs. Pennsylvania achieved over $400 million in savings over a decade from recidivism reduction.

These results demonstrate that prevention and rehabilitation policies can cut costs and improve public safety. Enforcement and incarceration alone don’t ensure safety. Investing in prevention, supporting rehabilitation, and aligning resources with law enforcement realities create a central focus on safety. By moving from outdated crime and punishment models to evidence-based prevention strategies, safety improves for everyone, law enforcement lives are enhanced, and taxpayer funds are used wisely.

Gary Mohr is the retired director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the 106th president of the American Correctional Association.