From Investing in What Works for America's Communities
The thesis of Ellen’s piece is that public safety is an important element of community development both because people subjectively care about it, but also because crime objectively destroys the fabric of neighborhoods and heightens stress. She suggests three strategies: increasing collective efficacy—the willingness of residents to monitor public spaces and intervene when those spaces or their neighbors are threatened; reducing physical blight and disorder; and community courts, which often also house a variety of social service programs.
Author: Ingrid Gould Ellen, New York University
Date of Publication: August, 2012
Last Updated: August, 2012