The fundamental premise of Roland Gallatin's April 10 letter is that lower crime requires stronger police presence. However, law enforcement officials respond only after crimes have occurred.
Crime prevention requires an empowered citizenry working in cooperation with formal societal controls to realize a common agenda. All too often, however, the police are more akin to an occupying force rather than an ally in the process of prevention.
Rather than "get tough on crime" strategies and further militarization of the police, we must learn community strategies to assist residents in defining their dreams for a safe neighborhood, and then assisting them to attain it.
When the legal structure undergirds a community rather than marginalizing it, crime prevention will occur. Tactics such as those advocated by Gallatin have resulted in Louisiana becoming the most incarcerated state in the country but without any substantive reduction in violent crime.
Harsher laws, more police presence, a system of retributive justice and mass incarceration have not accomplished the goals for which they were established. Perhaps it is time to explore more novel ideas and forward-looking strategies.
KEVIN BROWN
New Orleans
