Restoring Safety

Sep 1, 2011
: Detroit Moving Forward

Detroit is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in America and is currently on track to have one of its highest homicide totals in five years. Fear of living in the city has driven many families into the suburbs. Even school principals often feel threatened while at school, and some may even carry weapons.

Because a deficient tax base, the Detroit Police are far too sparse to be completely effective across the expanse of the city. Consequently, Detroit’s civil society has decided to restore the security of its citizens in tandem with law enforcement. One project, the Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, aspires to “transform Detroit neighborhoods into vibrant places for people to live, work, and play.” Another organization, the MAN Network, encourages men and women to take up leadership positions in Detroit as a citizen police force. In one specific case two women part of the MAN Network saved a teenage girl from an attack. In addition to these initiatives, Young Detroit Builders offers a variety of programs that encourage community service and educational achievement in order to build better communities.

Crime remains a major problem in Detroit, but through the efforts of law enforcement agencies and Detroit’s civil society the city can create safer communities for families.