There are several indications that the neighborhood is suffering from social disorganization, a critical concept in criminology. Social disorganization theory suggests that crime is a result of the breakdown of social control in a community, often caused by poverty, residential instability, and ethnic heterogeneity (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021 Pg. 73). Some indications of social disorganization in the neighborhood are:
- Abandoned and dilapidated buildings.
- High levels of poverty and unemployment.
- High rates of single-parent households.
As the chief of police, it is essential to make a plan that includes the police department, community leaders, residents, and the mayor’s office, among other groups (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021, Pg. 218). The plan should address the underlying issues of social disorganization and restore social control in the community. The program has the following steps:
Step 1:
Set up a community policing program that helps the police department and the community work together. This will involve the community (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021, Pg 156). The police should work with community leaders and residents to find out what worries them, devise a plan to deal with those worries and build trust between the police and the community. The police department should also hold regular meetings with the community to discuss crime and other issues affecting the area.
Step 2:
Implement targeted policing strategies such as hot spot policing, problem-oriented policing, and community-oriented policing. Hot spot policing involves concentrating police resources in areas with high levels of criminal activity. Problem-oriented policing addresses the underlying causes of crime, such as abandoned buildings, drug activity, and prostitution (Goffman, 2015 11:58). Community-oriented policing aims to build relationships between the police and the community, increasing trust and collaboration to solve problems.
Step 3:
To address the issues contributing to societal disorder, collaborate with other agencies, such as social services, housing, and health departments (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021 Pg. 218). To avoid crime, the housing department should guarantee that all abandoned buildings are secured and maintained. The department of health should give treatment and assistance to individuals with drug addiction and mental health disorders, which can lead to criminal activity.
Step 4:
Implement enhanced prosecution strategies such as gang injunctions and asset forfeiture to disrupt the operations of criminal organizations (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021 Pg. 218). Gang injunctions aim to restrain the activities of gang members in the neighborhood. At the same time, asset forfeiture involves seizing the assets of criminals, such as cash, vehicles, and property, linked to criminal activity.
Step 5:
Involve the mayor in the design and execution of the strategy to ensure their support. The mayor’s office should provide the police department, community leaders, and people with the necessary funds and resources to carry out the plan and support its implementation.
The plan would effectively address the underlying issues of social disorganization that contribute to crime in the neighborhood. The program aligns with the assumptions of social disorganization theory by focusing on the breakdown of social control in the community, which leads to crime (Schram & Tibbetts, 2021, Pg 156). Community engagement and collaboration with other agencies would help to build social cohesion and address the underlying causes of poverty, residential instability, and ethnic heterogeneity. The targeted policing strategies would address the high levels of drug activity and prostitution and reduce violent crime. Finally, the mayor’s support and involvement in the plan would provide the resources and support necessary to implement the project effectively.
In conclusion, abandoned and destroyed structures, high levels of poverty and unemployment, and a high incidence of single-parent households indicate that the area is afflicted with social instability. It is crucial to design a strategy incorporating the police department, community leaders, residents, and the mayor’s office, among other entities. Develop a community policing program to facilitate cooperation between the police department and the community. Include the mayor in the design and implementation of the strategy. The plan adheres to the concepts of the social disorganization theory by focusing on the breakdown of social control in the community, which leads to crime. The development of social cohesiveness and addressing the root causes of poverty, home instability, and ethnic heterogeneity would be aided through community engagement and partnership with other groups.
References
Goffman, Alice. “Alice Goffman: How We’re Priming Some Kids for College — and Others for Prison.” YouTube, May 2015, youtu.be/-2Dj9M71JAc.
Schram, P., & Tibbetts, S. (2021). Introduction to criminology: Why do they do it? (3rd ed.). Sage.
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