Friday, November 21, 2008

U.S. Attorney says jail not enough to stem violence

We hear from Patrick Fitzgerald in the Lake Count News-Sun:
"We may think we can prosecute and incarcerate our way to a less violent society, but it is going to take more than that."

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said that Tuesday in his speech to the Lake County Bar Association at Greenbelt Forest Preserve.

Fitzgerald said public corruption gets all the headlines -- Tony Rezko, former Chicago Ald. Edward Vrdolyak and Republican power broker Bill Cellini -- and violence gets far fewer.

"People are tired of worrying about guns, gangs and drugs, but people are imprisoned in their own homes, afraid to go out even in the middle of the afternoon," he said.

"And some people believe if you just hire enough police officers, you can prosecute and incarcerate our way out of it," said Fitzgerald, attorney for the Northern Illinois District.

But there is another way, even though law enforcement is part of the solution, an important one. And it has to do with programs like Jobs for Youths. He said looking at the numbers concerning gang problems in Chicago is invaluable.

The latest estimates is there are 70,000 to 100,000 gang members. The Chicago Police Department has 13,000 officers. They only work five days a week and eight hours a day, whereas the gang banger, from the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed, may shoot someone.
WOW!!! The police is understaffed compared to the gangs. If only there was an answer to keep these kids out of gangs other than worrying about incarceration.

I certainly hope that Fitzgerald can stay on for a long as he wishes.

Article via Newsalert!

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