BLACK ON BLACK CRIME - THE CAUSE, THE CONSEQUENCES, THE CURES

ALTHOUGH THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXTERNAL CONDITIONS THAT SYSTEMATICALLY CREATE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR CRIME, THE COMMUNITY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DOING WHAT IT CAN TO ATTACK THE PROBLEM FROM WITHIN. THIS RESPONSE IS NEEDED BECAUSE SUCH CRIME CREATES MISTRUST, UNCERTAINTY, FEAR, AND ANXIETY IN THE COMMUNITY. MORE BLACKS WERE KILLED BY OTHER BLACKS IN 1977 THAN DIED IN THE ENTIRE, 9-YEAR VIETNAM WAR. SUCH CRIME HAS DRIVEN BUSINESSES AND JOBS FROM THE COMMUNITY. PROPERTY CRIMES ALONE HAVE COST BLACKS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY. MOST IMPORTANT THE YOUNG HAVE BEEN PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED BY CRIME, AS THEY ARE MOST OFTEN THE PERPETRATORS AND THE VICTIMS. SUCH UNDERLYING CAUSES OF CRIME AS RACISM AND OPPRESSION MANIFEST THEMSELVES IN HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (THE MAJORITY OF FIRST OFFENDERS ARE OUT OF WORK), DRUG ADDICTION, THE BREAKDOWN OF THE URBAN FAMILY, AND AN UNJUST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH SHOWS MORE COMPASSION FOR WHITE VICTIMS OF CRIME THAN FOR BLACK VICTIMS AND WHICH PUNISHES BLACK CRIMINALS MORE SEVERELY THAN WHITES. IN ADDITION, THE PRISON SYSTEM SERVES AS A TRAINING GROUND FOR FURTHER CRIME, AND THE MEDIA MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE CRIME PROBLEM BY PORTRAYALS OF VIOLENCE IN MOVIES AND ON TELEVISION. RESPONSES TO THE PROBLEM INCLUDE THE PUSH FOR EXCELLENCE PROGRAM, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMS, REFORMATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO DEAL SEVERELY WITH CRIMINALS, DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL PLAN FOR ALLEVIATING THE ECONOMIC ILLS OF THE GHETTO, AND THE REAFFIRMATION OF RELIGIOUS VALUES. (KCP) www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=60118