Shootings in Augusta have become so common that it almost seems like it is a daily occurrence, and now the violence seems to be spilling over into North Augusta.
Sperling currently rates Augusta at 60.1 out of 100 in violent crime. The national average is 22.7. I trust the Sperling ratings because they draw their average by including cities such as Naperville, Ill. and Glen Falls, N.Y., which are relatively crime free, along with war zones such as Detroit, Mich. and Chicago, Ill.
This is not a police problem, nor a district attorney problem; it is a community problem.
We, as a community, should not have to be fearful that we might find ourselves in someone’s crossfire when filling up at the gas station or sleeping in our beds.
Sheriff Richard Roundtree cut his teeth as an officer in some of Augusta’s most crime ridden neighborhoods and would likely testify that most of the violent crimes are gang related. There are areas of town that can be identified as being gang turf by the brand and color of tennis shoes hanging from power lines.
These gangs are emboldened because they know the law-abiding folks nearby are too terrified to talk to the cops. These predators know that even if they are sentenced to prison, they will only serve a fraction of the sentence while enjoying three meals a day, cable TV and a workout gym.
Gang members are also aware how porous the prison walls are and importing contraband such as cell phones and weed is never a problem.
This is a multi-faceted problem, and there is no simple solution; however, there are steps that can be taken to bring that Sperling rating down.
While Richmond County may not have the resources to install the omnipresent camera system that Columbia County has; the Augusta Commission could finally put the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office on the list of SPLOST items and redirect unused SPLOST funds to install cameras in public housing complexes and other high crime areas.
Roundtree has made requests on the last two SPLOSTs and was soundly ignored.
The community should be outraged that the Augusta Commission gave raises and bonuses, using American Relief Act funding, to county employees who can’t seem to properly operate a lawn mower, but left the Sheriff’s deputies out entirely.
While District Attorney Jared Williams has received earned criticism in the past, he is by no means pro-criminal. Williams’ mindset has also been that a criminal should be given the chance at rehabilitation, but he is well aware that some people cannot be helped.
Giving law enforcement the resources to remove criminals from the streets is only the first step; this is a societal problem and it is going to take the village to act and get it under control.
If a firearm is involved in a crime, there should be an extra minimum penalty of 10 years.
As a society, we need to demand that parole only be given to those who are highly unlikely to commit repeat offenses. Overcrowding is no excuse for turning out a predator, knowing that the person will return to their predatory ways.
If need be, build more prisons.
While I do not believe that criminals should be given the treatment of that of a Supermax prison, where convicts are kept in their cells for 23 hours a day, the prison experience shouldn’t be that of a Sandals’ Retreat either.
Convicts should not be given cable television, workout gyms and plenty of free time in prison yards to form gangs. Phone calls should be limited to attorneys and close family members and that policy should be enforced.
As a society, we can either shrug our shoulders when we read a news article about a little girl being gunned down as she petted a horse, or we can take action and take our streets back.
I vote we take action.
Scott Hudson is the Senior Investigative Reporter and Editorial Page Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
