Strong civic and social networks are the best deterrent to crime. These supports enable communities to develop early interventions to prevent activities that can lead to risky, violent, or criminal behavior. This is especially true in the cases of youth crime, hate crimes, and domestic violence. Our central approach to winning the peace on Brockton’s streets includes supporting strong and stable families and creating opportunities for employment -- all proven efforts that encourage healthy behaviors.

Yet, despite access to the best models on how to prevent and fight crime in urban cities, the current administration has lacked the foresight to develop a citywide and regional game plan for keeping Brockton’s streets safe. Residents from all over the city have communicated to us that crime-fighting in Brockton has to change, that the “them-against-us” tactics of hidden street cameras and teenage curfews just don't work.

Our public safety plan lays out a clear strategy for reducing crime on our streets. Jass Stewart will work to build a community where smart crime-fighting strategies, strong social networks, investment in our youth, and effective collaboration at all levels promote safety at home and on the streets of Brockton.

Fighting crime with data, versus shooting from the hip
Brockton’s crime problems are concentrated among a small number of high-activity offenders, repeat victims, and hot spot locations. Yet, there has been too little systematic data analysis on these statistics to ensure the safety of all Brocktonians. Jass Stewart believes that turning this data into action is key to fighting crime in the city. For example, chronic offenders, who are often well-known to the criminal justice system, commit a large share of homicides, gun violence, robbery, breaking and entering, domestic violence, drug dealing, and other types of violent crime that plague Brockton’s streets. Knowing and utilizing the specifics of this data, Brockton’s criminal justice agencies can be effective in preventing crime by focusing part of their resources on these high-risk individuals and places. One key step in leveraging crime data is replacing the city’s antiquated Computer Aided Dispatch system with a system that can be loaded into an advanced crime mapping program. Jass Stewart will implement a data-driven approach to law enforcement that moves toward a proactive method of analysis and swift justice.

Strengthening law enforcement through stronger community and regional partnerships
Jass Stewart believes that partnerships are often the key to successful crime fighting programs. Structured and focused collaborations between City Hall, the police department, faith-based organizations, local business, community-based groups, and state agencies in Brockton send a loud message to offenders that law enforcement and the community are working together. To this end, Jass Stewart will spearhead the creation of Neighborhood Counsels. These counsels will go beyond the traditional existing neighborhood block watches. Block watches are instruments of the police to assist in crime reduction. Neighborhood counsels on the other hand, provide feedback on what are the most important problems in a neighborhood. We will also work to form partnerships beyond our city limits. Every town and city in the area is concerned with drugs, guns, and crime. We will strengthen existing regional collaborations, and form new ones, through a set of regular forums that will include Brockton and regional players. The major goals of these forums will be to create citywide and regional approaches for disseminating existing crime-fighting knowledge, and to identify best practices for effective law enforcement.

Providing strategic intervention for likely offenders and those in the system returning to the streets of Brockton
National data shows that a lack of early intervention in the lives of children involved in violence usually results in problems later on in a child’s life. With Brockton’s youth population (12 to 17 year olds) peaking at 24 percent in 2005, Brockton is far behind the curve in developing a comprehensive, proactive strategy to deal with youth crime -- which inevitably turns into adult violence. Jass Stewart believes that early childhood and out-of-school programs throughout the year are essential ingredients to set the stage for safer streets in Brockton. Frequently, the police are the only contact that many young people and their families have with a formal government system. We envision a police department that does more in referring at-risk teens to affordable counseling, substance abuse programs, and conducting home visits during non-school hours. Being smart about fighting crimes also means understanding the system of incarceration. Of the juveniles and adults who are locked away and complete their sentences, a majority return to Brockton to jumpstart a new life. Unfortunately, these young people quickly return to crime because Brockton is absent a coherent re-entry and post-release program. To win the peace on our streets, Jass Stewart will identify and fund prevention programs and strategies that have been demonstrated to reduce crime. We will also develop partnerships with community-based organizations to provide early re-entry programming, strengthen job training to remove obstacles in obtaining employment, and facilitate housing arrangements to keep our young people off the streets.

Supporting our police with the best training and technology
The demands on Brockton’s police department have changed dramatically in recent years. There are more expectations that our police officers will intervene in increasingly complex situations. In addition, in all areas of crime fighting, we are embracing a more inclusive approach to providing public safety in our communities. Today, Brockton’s police demand a more sophisticated set of skills when compared to the history of traditional law enforcement. Jass Stewart will push for new training and professional development programs to prepare our police for the variety of issues they will face. These programs will stress the use of innovative law enforcement technology, training on how to solve more complex, analytical problems, and the teaching of communication and listening skills to be aware of cultural differences. Better training (both in seminars and at daily roll calls) will play a direct role in improving our police department. In addition, Jass Stewart is committed to solving the shortfalls in necessary equipment that plague Brockton’s police and prevent them from effectively serving the public.

Connecting Brockton’s public safety, health, and quality of life efforts
In addition to the police and District Attorney’s Office, Brockton’s public safety network is comprised of a number non-policing agencies, including the Brockton Fire Department, the Brockton Emergency Management Agency (BEMA), the health department, and the Traffic Commission to name a few. These agencies provide vital services to our city, but are generally under funded and understaffed. Currently, there is no up-to-date strategy to offer a coordinated response to a major disaster in Brockton -- whether manmade or natural. Brockton cannot afford to take a reactive stance in this area. All of our public safety and public health agencies need to the vision and resources to lead the way for a healthier and safer Brockton. Jass Stewart will work to strengthen our public safety network by creating a coordinated outreach and response plan, fully available to the public, that involves key stakeholders and introduces new technologies for improved communication across agencies.