Augusta is no different from the rest of the country in that crime has run rampant and efforts to reform the system are necessary.
As some public safety experts have written, it shows the need for police to focus or refocus their resources on the most serious problems that plague our community— and the need for us as a community to keep working on social conditions.
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This should be a constant endeavor by all of us, because we know that some adverse social conditions can– and in some cases, will– cause crime.
I read a report that serious crimes in Augusta increased overall in 2020. Violent offenses such as aggravated assault and murder rose– however property crimes were down. This probably could have been predicted since most of us were on lockdown last year.
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On a larger scale, the wide availability of guns– both legal and illegal– is a national problem that makes it harder to deal with violent crime on a local level. If local area law enforcement agencies focused on ways to better collaborate, we could look at out-of-the-area connections and close proximity connections to local crimes. This could help us be able to take a more proactive approach in tackling the root issues.
I would also like to dive deeper into alternative ways of dealing with crimes. Dismantling and rebuilding the system in a way that doesn’t just let criminals go free and clear but can help to reform and renew them for the future.
Legislation has been discussed for years in reference to legalizing marijuana. We have taken steps locally to decriminalize it, in some instances. However, I believe we still have miles to go in fully addressing that issue.
I believe that if we had serious strides toward that effort– Augusta’s jail would not be bursting at the seams as we always find it. I also believe that if local law enforcement worked to improve relationships with the community, particularly with its young people– we would see an increased sense of cooperation and trust.
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We should increase initiatives like the one presented last week by a few commissioners to address blight: more after-school programs and summer programs to help keep at-risk youth out of trouble.
But more must be done to ensure all residents— no matter their race, income level or location—get the preparation in school and at home and have the economic opportunities to be able to succeed in life.
I mentioned blight because that is an ever-growing problem for our entire community. If you have never heard of the “broken window theory,” take a moment to Google it!
All I ask is that we genuinely help people in this city and not wait for cameras to be in place to spur on change.
And unlike some in the community, I won’t just call out an issue– let me give you an idea. Let’s launch a program called the Augusta For All Initiative to help address racial and socioeconomic disparities in this community. Its design would be to come up with recommendations that can balance inequities involving crime, education, health, housing, jobs, families and transportation. Oh! Wait! I think tax commissioner Steven Kendrick has already created that committee.
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Augusta’s best hope at preventing crime and preventing the resulting consequences is smart policing, combined with community support for real change. This will help provide struggling residents an equitable chance at truly improving their lives.
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As my dad Henry Ingram has long said, “Relationships that are win-win can last forever. Relationships that favor one side only last until the loser finds out.”
We should be working on win-win relationships here in Augusta… then we can address the term limits for board members– Oops. That’s an article for another week.
Michael Meyers is a Columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
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