Posted on 10/05/2007 5:19:04 AM PDT by William Tell 2
Despite the proclamations of the city’s leading citizens, Philadelphia has a crime problem - not a gun problem.
More specifically, it is a problem of Philadelphia’s criminal justice system, although, this is not quite an accurate characterization either. Calling what occurs in Philadelphia’s courts as “criminal justice” does a disservice to Noah Webster.
The words “criminal’ and “justice” really have no meaning in Philadelphia. There used to be a saying about the Old West that there was “No Law West of the Mississippi and No God West of the Pecos.” A modern version would state there is no law east of the Schuylkill - because the Philadelphia court system is at best dysfunctional and Philadelphia is more dangerous than Dodge City, Tombstone, Deadwood ever were.
Consider these examples of what passes for crime and punishment in Philadelphia:
•Khalil Slights of South Philadelphia had a record of 25 arrests including 3 for attempted murder and 11 for gun violations when he was arrested yet again in 2006 for – you guessed it – shooting someone.
•Ernest Odom was also a repeat violent offender when he stabbed and killed someone in 2001.
•Solomon Montgomery, the person arrested and charged with killing Philadelphia Police Officer Gary Skerski had a prior record for violent crimes. He was also acquitted by a lenient Philadelphia judge after he shot somebody.
•Wayne Hogue, “Imam Wadir” was arrested for selling guns and ammunition, including hollow-point bullets, between May 9, 2003, and March 23, 2004. Hogue was a convicted felon – which automatically prohibits him from possessing firearms.
None of this comes as a shock to Philadelphians. It also is not a shock to those who study the causes of crime in Philadelphia – even though it is rarely mentioned by the reportage of the liberal mainstream media.
For example, the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center, which is an organization that promotes “ sound social policy and public debate on national priorities… gathers and analyzes data, conducts policy research, evaluates programs and services, and educates Americans on critical issues and trends” addressed Philadelphia’s crime issue. It published a 2006 study titled, Instituting Lasting Reforms for Prisoner Reentry in Philadelphia, which noted that:
“The Philadelphia Prison System ( PPS) population has high recidivism rates. Over the eight years studied in this report, many of the same individuals churn into and out of PPS (and quite possibly other Pennsylvania jails and prisons as well). As is described below, a relatively small population accounts for a large percentage of all admissions and releases. If PPS can identify these high rate prisoners and successfully address the issues that lead this population to commit large numbers of crimes, the impact on PPS, and on the city of Philadelphia, would be enormous. PPS maintains data that can identify these frequent prisoners…Between 1996 and 2003, there were a total of 240,729 individuals admitted to and released from PPS. However, during those eight years, only 106,849 different persons were incarcerated and released… many prisoners proceed through the system multiple times. The second column counts only the first time an individual was released in a given year. …Almost exactly half of this population (53, 228) entered and were released from PPS once. The other half (53,621) account for all other releases – 187,101. Only 22 percent of all those admitted and released to PPS during this period passed through the gates one time….Given that this study only examines those released between 1996 and 2003, the number of individual ‘churners’ is likely to be even higher than indicated by these data. For example, some of those admitted only once would have been too young to enter PPS before 2003. Others may have served time before 1996 or served sentences in state prison. ”
However, it is easier for Mayor Street to make casuistic statements such as, “This is just a classic example of the problem with the proliferation of guns on our streets," after another police officer was shot, rather than actually solve the problem of violent criminals not staying in prison.
Chances are that the criminal who shot Officer Decoatsworth, Antonio Coulter, has a prior criminal record. More than likely a criminal record that includes a violent crime (or crimes) for which he was either paroled, placed on probation, or not prosecuted.
After all, federal data indicates that two thirds of convicted murderers have a prior felony conviction and one of eight convicted murderers has a prior murder conviction.
Yet, it is easier to blame access to guns.
The idea that access to guns cause crime is sheer sophistry. If that were so, then gun clubs, where there is access to alcohol and guns, would be the most dangerous places on the planet. They are not.
However, it is more convenient for liberal politicians, jurists, lawyers, journalists and academicians to blame guns for the mayhem in Philadelphia than the lack of punishment, the lack of incarceration, or the inefficacy of probation and parole. If they did, they would discredit themselves and their failed liberal social policies.
This they will not do.
( Michael P. Tremoglie is a former Philadelphia police officer and the author of the novel "A Sense of Duty," available at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. He is an advisor to Rep. Duncan Hunter’s presidential campaign )
However, it is more convenient for liberal politicians, jurists, lawyers, journalists and academicians to blame guns for the mayhem in Philadelphia than the lack of punishment, the lack of incarceration, or the inefficacy of probation and parole. If they did, they would discredit themselves and their failed liberal social policies.
I would add to that a lack of parenting.
Hi there ..long time no see.
A little plug plug here....not only the book, but I have always enjoyed reading his columns in the Philly paper too.
Quite good.
and....
Its not a gun problem...its a corruption problem. From the tippy top all the way down.
Thanks for the comments.
I’ve been working on the Duncan Hunter campaign the past several months.
Good talking to you again.
You are absolutely correct. Lack of parenting may be the main reason - and liberal social policies may be responsible for the lack of parenting.
However, incarceration deals with the problem has it exists and protecting the innocent. This is what is needed now.
Once again let me recommend my novel which addresses these issues in a fictitious way ( I admit this is a shameless plug).
Another excerpt:
***
(Foster is a newspaper reporter and Barnett a police LT.)
‘“Now even you must admit, Mr. Foster,” Barnett interrupted, “ clubbing somebody to take their money is not an act of altruism.”
“I don’t know what precipitated that, but I do know that
poverty and racism drive people to criminal acts.”
“Oh really,” snickered Barnett, “so black criminals are not
responsible for their actions because of poverty and racism? Then what about their victims, who for the most part are also poor and black. How is it that they are not criminals? Or is it your contention that all poor, black people are criminals?”
“Of course not. Are you saying poverty doesn’t cause crime?”
“Exactly, the proof of that is that most poor black people are not criminals and some rich white people are criminals. Besides are you aware that there have been scientific studies that say poverty reduces crime?”stated Barnett.”’
Philadelphia: The City of Brothers Killing Eachother...
I swear, they should BULLDOZE the Italian Market area and build condos/townhomes. What a blight so close to Center City!
You’re welcome. (bump)
That would be a little tough to do since the townhouses/rowhomes/condos in that area are selling in the $500,000 range.
My old house around 8th and Oregon is selling for about $200k
I still think that South Philly is a prime candidate for urban renewal. The old row homes are of negligible historical values (although I'm sure they have sentimental value for you and others who lived in the nabe back in the day).
Didn’t you understand what I wrote or are you purposely not reading it?
You are completely out of touch with what is going on. When was the last time you were there in the 1950’s? 1960’s? the 1970’s? It would have to be.
South Philly is one of the hottest markets in the city - if not the hottest. Queen Village, Bella Vista ( which is what Little Italy which includes the Italian Market is now called) SWCC are all extremely expensive areas. Some wealthy people are using them for vacation properties.
The Italian market rowhomes go for $500,000 to start! Homes around that area - where my grandfather lived after coming from Sicily - are “gentrified.”
West of there, in what you used to be African American areas, around Graduate Hospital, are also in the $300,000 to $500,000.
The old Naval Home on Gray’s Ferry Avenue( which was the original Naval Academy in the 1800’s) has Toll Bros condos going in the $750,000 to $1million range.
You need to get out more.
And the City of Chicago, Illinois, home of some of the strictest gun laws in the country, is riddled with crime and filled with murdeous pyschopaths, aka gangbangers. How can that be?
Yeah A Sense of Duty is a great conservative novel and Tremoglie is a great writer.
Likely not enough guns.
I’ve got a few that won’t fit in the safe....any takers?
I still think the market should either be cleaned up or bulldozed. I am also happy for the children of the old folks, as they can sell those ugly rowhomes for a pretty penny. The same phenomenon happened in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, so I am not surprised that it is happening in So. Philadelphia.
I guess that I am most shocked by what is happening in Northern Liberties. Now if only they could send the National Guard up upper Broad...
Well there is no sense in me arguing with you. None of what you said is true.
You are content to be secure in your own ignorance. You have no idea what it going on around there and apparently don’t want to learn.
I can’t help you.
I don’t know where you get your information about South Philadelphia however it is obvious you have not been there for many years. The exact opposite of what you say is true.
Indeed, you could probably not afford to live in those areas in any more - which are mostly owned by professional and executive types.
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