Can Nonprofits Reduce Violent Crime?

The answer, according to Patrick Sharkey, Professor of Sociology at Princeton University, is unequivocally yes! Sharkey's rigorous research shows that local nonprofits, including job-focused and drug-focused organizations, have significantly reduced violent crime in many U.S. communities. He cites the East Lake neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia as a vivid example of what nonprofits can accomplish. Sharkey also reflects on the relative roles of nonprofits and traditional law enforcement agencies.