Why Does it Matter?
Since taking office in 2019, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins has championed not prosecuting low level crime (her office has declined to prosecute 57% of cases), focusing her office’s attention on higher level crime like the 1,300 unsolved homicides across Boston.
DA Rollin’s policy was mocked by police unions, district attorneys, and others who can’t see past the policies of over-criminalization, policies which have resulted in Massachusetts having a higher incarceration rate than most European nations. (Prison Policy).
Not only does this research vindicate the work of DA Rollins, it provides evidence disputing the notion that we can make our communities safer by being ‘tougher on crime’.
What Comes Next and How You Can help
As the Vera Institute for Justice noted, “we now have even more evidence that shrinking the footprint of the criminal legal system can bolster the wellbeing of our communities”. We need to continue to question the long held beliefs that increase in policing and incarceration will make us safer.
Unfortunately, none of the district attorneys or elected officials who derided DA Rollins’s policies have shown interest in learning from her office. Despite the evidence, they will likely continue to prosecute low level crimes because of the popular ‘tough on crime’ political message.
You can help by, and this may sound silly but it’s important, talking with your friends, family, and neighbors about this research. Increasing policing and punishments to prevent crime is a deeply held belief in our country and our city. Only by having conversations within our own communities about the future of public safety can we begin to make progress. Start today by sharing the Vera Institute’s summary of the research:
And if you are in a district that has a DA election coming up, make sure to learn about the candidates prosecution policies and reject the ‘tough on crime’ messaging.
