Boston, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Milwaukee and other cities across the US are starting to implement a new crime prevention tactic that is somewhat controversial. The new program involves talking to non-violent offenders and showing them the evidence against them and telling them that if they quit, then they won’t be prosecuted. Basically, the program is a way for law enforcement to sit down with small-time criminals, tell them that the police are watching them, and tell them that if they continue their criminal activities, they will be arrested and sent to jail.

The program has had surprising success and based on pioneering programs in Boston and other locations. For example, in Boston, authorities claim that they cut youth homicides by two-thirds and all homicides, city wide, in half. Those are some pretty significant numbers when considering that basically all the police did was sit down and talk with people they considered at-risk for becoming violent offenders.

Even though these small time criminals are not prosecuted for their previous offenses, if they promise to change their ways, advocates of the program are quick to point out that violent and repeat offenders are not eligible for such treatment.

Can this type of program have similar results in other areas? Leave a comment.

Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124485494811811689.html

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