UPI Applauds Recent Arrest Reductions in Los Angeles
The L.A. Times recently reported a seemingly troubling statistic, arrest rates are “plummeting” throughout California. However, the recent reduction in arrests throughout Los Angeles is cause for celebration, not alarm.
While the article suggests increased police accountability and public scrutiny lowers officer motivation, it fails to recognize the growing contribution of gang intervention and relationship based policing efforts that simultaneously reduce crime and arrest rates. UPI is proud to lead Los Angeles’ Community Safety Partnership initiative which conducts LAPD officer training and community leadership development to prevent and reduce violence. This initiative has reduced both violent crime and the number of arrests by more than 50 percent in three Watts housing developments.
The Urban Peace Institute believes modern policing calls for forming authentic relationships and trust with community. We applaud the City and LAPD for recently expanding the Community Safety Partnership model to Harvard Park.
The article cites a decline in the use of field investigation cards as concerning for officers. However, the harms of these practices have been well documented in a recent state audit. UPI is an active leader in representing children and adults appealing their inclusion on California’s gang database, and discourages the use of often unjust labeling through practices such as field investigations. UPI is also working with partners on system wide reforms to end the use of highly controversial CalGang database in Los Angeles and across the state.
Learn more about recent news regarding the Community Safety Partnership, and CalGang database reform efforts: