The crime rate is falling in spite of Trump — and because of Democratic mayors like me – MSNBC News

Report on Urban Crime Reduction and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Recent data indicates a significant reduction in violent crime and homicides across numerous U.S. cities. This report analyzes the strategies employed at the municipal level that have contributed to this trend. These local initiatives are framed within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), demonstrating a strong alignment with global targets for creating peaceful, just, and sustainable communities. The primary focus is on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), which are being actively advanced through innovative local governance and community partnerships.

Core Strategies for Achieving SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Municipal administrations are implementing multi-faceted public safety plans that directly support the targets of SDG 16, particularly Target 16.1 (Significantly reduce all forms of violence) and Target 16.6 (Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions). Key strategies include:

• Community-Based Violence Intervention: Programs designed by and for communities are being deployed to interrupt cycles of violence.
• Alternative Crisis Response: Investment in non-police response units, such as mental health professionals, to handle appropriate situations, thereby building public trust and ensuring a more effective allocation of resources.
• Youth Engagement and Opportunity: The creation of youth employment programs and other opportunities provides pathways away from violence, contributing to long-term peace.
• Modernization of Safety Infrastructure: Strategic investments in technology and improved law enforcement processes enhance the capacity of institutions to address violent crime effectively.
• Strengthening Community Trust: A focus on building partnerships between law enforcement and residents is central to creating a foundation of trust necessary for effective public safety.

Case Studies: Localizing SDG 11 for Safer Cities

Numerous cities provide evidence of successful strategies that advance SDG 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable). These examples showcase how targeted local action can produce measurable results in urban safety.

• Baltimore: The city’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan, a multi-stakeholder effort, has contributed to its homicide rate falling to a 50-year low.
• Los Angeles: The work of community violence interventionists has put the city on pace for its lowest homicide total in 60 years.
• Cleveland: The “Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE)” Initiative has led to a 26% decline in homicides. This was achieved through:
  1. Expansion of technology, including a camera sharing program and the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system.
  2. Strengthened regional law enforcement partnerships.
  3. Enhanced police recruitment efforts, including increased pay and a streamlined application process.
• Nationwide Trend: Similar reductions in violent crime are reported in a majority of the 70 largest Democratic-led cities, including Boston, Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and San Antonio, as well as smaller cities like Birmingham, Hartford, and Little Rock.

The Importance of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The progress in urban safety is a direct result of effective multi-stakeholder collaborations, a core principle of SDG 17 (Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development). Success is attributed to strong partnerships between:

• Municipal governments
• Law enforcement agencies
• Community violence interruption groups
• Local civil society organizations

This collaborative model demonstrates that achieving complex goals like violence reduction requires a unified effort across public, private, and community sectors.

Broader Contributions to the SDG Framework

The reported public safety initiatives contribute to a range of interconnected SDGs beyond peace and sustainable cities.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Reducing violence and deploying mental health responders are public health interventions that improve physical safety and mental well-being in communities.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Creating youth job programs as a violence prevention strategy directly supports Target 8.6 (substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training).
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By focusing resources and building trust in historically underserved neighborhoods, these initiatives help reduce inequalities and promote social inclusion for all residents.

Challenges in Federal-Local Cooperation

Municipal leaders report that progress is being achieved despite challenges related to federal support. Reports indicate reductions in federal funding for programs considered critical for sustaining local efforts. These include cuts to government and community-based public safety programs, violence prevention initiatives, and resources for mental health response. Consistent and supportive federal partnership is identified as a crucial factor for scaling these successful local models and ensuring their long-term viability.

Conclusion

City-level leadership, through intentional investment and community-centric strategies, is proving highly effective in reducing violent crime. These actions represent more than just improvements in public safety statistics; they are tangible contributions to achieving a broad range of Sustainable Development Goals. By building modern safety infrastructures, fostering partnerships, and investing in people, cities are creating more peaceful, just, and sustainable urban environments in direct alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • The article’s primary focus is on reducing violent crime and homicide rates in U.S. cities. This directly aligns with SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The discussion revolves around public safety strategies, law enforcement, violence prevention programs, and the rule of law.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • The article discusses efforts to make urban environments safer and more livable. By highlighting strategies that make “neighborhoods safer” and ensure residents “feel safe in their homes, schools and neighborhoods,” it connects to SDG 11’s goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  • The article mentions the deployment of “mental health professionals” and the creation of “alternative crisis response programs.” This connects the issue of public safety to health outcomes, specifically addressing mental health as a component of a comprehensive safety strategy, which is relevant to SDG 3.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   • This is the most direct target addressed. The entire article is a commentary on the reduction of violent crime and homicides. It explicitly cites statistics like “HOMICIDES DOWN 17%” and notes that cities like Baltimore and Los Angeles are seeing homicide rates at 50- and 60-year lows, respectively.

2. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…

   • The article’s emphasis on making communities and neighborhoods safer directly contributes to this target. The goal is to ensure residents “deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools and neighborhoods.” Reducing crime is a prerequisite for creating safe and inclusive public spaces where communities can thrive.

3. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

   • The article points to a strategy of deploying “mental health professionals and community-based responders when they’re needed most.” This indicates an approach to public safety that integrates mental health support, aligning with the goal of promoting mental health and well-being within the community.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 16.1 (related to official Indicator 16.1.1: Number of victims of intentional homicide)

   • The article provides direct quantitative data to measure progress. Specific examples include:
     • “HOMICIDES DOWN 17% across 30 U.S. cities”
     • Cleveland’s homicides “declining by 26%”
     • Baltimore’s homicide rate reaching “its lowest in 50 years”
     • Los Angeles being “on pace for the lowest homicide total in 60 years”

2. Indicator for Target 16.1 (related to official Indicator 16.1.3: Proportion of population subjected to violence)

   • The article repeatedly refers to the reduction of overall violent crime, not just homicides. It states that “Democratic-led cities are seeing major reductions in violent crime” and that “over half of them [the 70 largest Democratic-led cities] have seen violent crime decrease so far this year.” This serves as a direct measure of progress.

3. Implied Indicator for Target 3.4

   • While the article does not provide statistics on mental health outcomes, it implies a process indicator: the establishment and use of specific programs. The text mentions the creation of “alternative crisis response programs” and the deployment of “mental health professionals.” The existence and expansion of these services can be used as an indicator of commitment to promoting mental health and well-being as part of a public safety framework.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators Table

Source: msnbc.com