With the Winnipeg municipal election nearing, the issues of crime and safety have been at the forefront of the policies proposed by mayoral candidates Sam Katz and Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

Both candidates have different approaches regarding how they believe crime prevention can best be accomplished.

Katz’s approach is focused primarily on reactionary responses to crime, such as his proposal to hire 58 additional police officers.

Katz has also promised to devote 20 new officers to the Winnipeg Police gang unit, who would track and monitor prominent gang members in an effort to increase public safety.

These “get tough” approaches are not long-term solutions to crime.

Adding more police officers is not a bad idea, but it must be balanced with community policing initiatives and more crime prevention programs. More police alone will not significantly reduce or prevent crime.

Additional police officers mean more arrests, more cases being sent to court, more convictions and ultimately, an increase in the prison population.

To reduce gang violence, we need to address the root causes of gang involvement, such as a youth’s real or perceived lack of belonging, acceptance, nurture and support.

These needs are often unmet in an at-risk youth’s home environment. These youths in turn seek other social groups to fulfill their needs.

Winnipeg does need an anti-gang plan, but we also need a plan to reduce poverty. Social conditions surrounding poverty such as unemployment and lack of education are often contributing factors to deviance and crime.

“ To reduce gang violence, we need to address the root causes of gang involvement

Wasylycia-Leis has unveiled more proactive and preventative approaches to crime, which have been proven in research to be more effective at crime prevention and reduction.

The effectiveness of the “tough on crime” approach has not been proven in research. Responding to crime in a “smart” manner will help to create safer communities in the long term.

Wasylycia-Leis unveiled the Community Works program last month, aimed at helping to end the cycle of re-offending through job training and employment opportunities.

The program would create 120 job training positions in an effort to encourage young people to leave gangs or prevent at-risk youth from initial gang involvement.

Ex-offenders and at-risk youth would help to improve the city’s infrastructure by pruning trees, repaving back lanes and boarding up derelict houses, amongst other duties.

This strategy would provide individuals with structured, supervised employment programs, as well as marketable skills in order for them to secure meaningful job opportunities in the future.

When provided with an encouraging and supportive environment where they can succeed, and by developing a sense of accomplishment and achievement, these youths might lose the desire to be part of a gang since employment offers an alternative to the gang lifestyle.

Simply hiring more police officers is a “band aid” solution, according to Wasylycia-Leis.

“We have a choice,” she said in September. “We can leave highly vulnerable young people to continue the cycle of violence in our neighbourhoods, or we can work to stop the cycle, break down the barriers to employment and get people going to work and contributing to their communities.”

Wasylycia-Leis is on the right path in terms of the focus of her crime platform. Crime prevention is an effective response to the causes of crime.

Getting “tough on crime” has had little proven impact on crime rates.

What Winnipeg needs is a comprehensive crime prevention plan and currently the only mayoral candidate offering this approach is Wasylycia-Leis.

Brittany Maria Thiessen is the communications officer for the University of Winnipeg Criminal Justice Association.

Published in Volume 65, Number 7 of The Uniter (October 14, 2010)