Alabama’s big cities are plagued by high crime rates, with many residents feeling frustrated and helpless. In a state with a strong conservative leaning, many are looking for solutions that echo the populist approach of former President Donald Trump. How can Alabama’s mayor-turned-politicians tackle the rising crime rate like their D.C. counterparts?
From high-profile violent crimes to petty thefts, the statistics paint a grim picture for some of Alabama’s major cities. In Birmingham, the number of murders more than tripled in 2020 compared to the previous year, with the total climbing to 58. Nearby Montgomery and Mobile reported 50 and 16 homicides respectively (Birmingham News, 2021). To combat this, residents seek answers and solutions that work.
Learn from Washington D.C.’s Efforts
Washington D.C. has seen a surge in violent crime in recent years. In response, the city has employed its own version of a Trump-style crime crackdown, which includes additional police on the streets in an effort to more aggressively engage and monitor high-crime areas. This extra presence has created a normalization around a stronger police presence.
This “tough-on-crime” approach has garnered mixed reviews, with some calling it a cosmetic change, but it undoubtedly sends a message to potential offenders that their actions will be met with increased action.
Plagued by High Crime Rates, Alabama’s Major Cities Seek Change
The residents of Alabama’s major cities are fed up with high crime rates, with some seeing a requirement for bold action (montgomeryadvertiser, 2021). Through communities of all faiths and backgrounds expressing vigor for more intense security presence as solution.
Statistics highlight growing distrust in local law enforcement, making efforts to prevent distrust vital. Leaders must protect the right of elections by sending resources and reinforcing perceptions of safety in those same areas. Connectivity between residents and police the solution needed.
What Strategies Might Work in Alabama’s Big Cities?
For Alabama’s cities to prevent more aggressive local crimes, residents should tell the truth about what deterring criminal engagement would look like in their community. Research from Oxford’s legitimacy-boosting community programs that incorporates strategic sensation to show growth and revitalizing areas effectively reducing offense crime through measures implemented at local discretion instead by Washington D.C.’s geodesic policing with collaboration (researchgate,[1′)
