D.C. is seeing an increase in homicides, even as it continues to fund programs that it hopes will deter crime.
Compared to the same time period last year, homicides are up in the District by 11%,. So, how soon will those programs works?
“If I institute something by Monday, would I see results by Friday?” asked Charles Adams, chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Bowie State University. “What I see is a, 鈥榃e don鈥檛 quite understand what鈥檚 happening, but we have to do something.'”
Adams is urging residents to have patience.
鈥淲ith any program or any intervention, we don鈥檛 know when it鈥檚 going to take effect,鈥� Adams said.
鈥淭his spike in violent crime, of gun violence, we saw the uptick beginning around 2015,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was at that point that many municipalities 鈥� we should鈥檝e been at the table discussing the possible wave.鈥�
In the short and long term, Adams said leaders should focus on a comprehensive approach.
“We need to look at the school system; we need to look at the economy, address the issues around parenting,鈥� he said.
In 2017, D.C. recovered three ghost guns; but in 2021, that number rose to more than 400, Adams said.
鈥淭he availability of ghost guns have proven to be problematic,” but he said over policing is not the solution.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not that simple. It鈥檚 not 鈥� let鈥檚 just flood the street with police officers because we have so many things that鈥檚 taking place now, that we don鈥檛 have a clear grasp on it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a community issue, it鈥檚 a societal issue.鈥�
