Atlanta Councilman Kwanza Hall looks like he's going to run for mayor next year and he now has staked out an issue to campaign on: an alleged overuse of "quality of life " arrests. The veteran pol is criticizing the so-called "broken windows" strategy as an overreach of law enforcement that enables cops to overwhelmingly target and criminalize young black men.
“Broken windows” says if cops enforce the little stuff, then big crimes will decrease. He wants to rewrite many of the city’s 85 “quality of life” offenses which criminalize “spitting, jay walking, and idling and loitering.”
The success of "broken windows" is now being questioned by some who saw crime rates continue to fall even after cities eased up on "quality of life crime" arrests. Police say they need tools to roust the ruffians who threaten communities and tear up the fabric of society.
Retired APD Deputy Chief Lou Arcangeli told me there are so many diversion programs these days, "for someone to get in jail, you have to really be the cream of the crud."
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