Jersey , is a good example . Nearly a decade ago , Camden disbanded ( abolished ) its police force and dissolved the local police union .
It is not accurate to say that the police abolition movement merely seeks to recreate policing . Rather , the abolition movement does indeed envision a society without police – or prisons , for that matter .
Notably , the Brookings article did not elaborate on the disbanding of Camden ’ s police department or its effects on the community . Camden is frequently advanced as an exemplar for communities looking to defund or abolish their police forces . But upon closer examination , it does not fit neatly into either approach .
The Camden Example : Disbanding , Rebuilding , and Rebranding In 2012 , while Camden was plagued with drugs and violence , its police department was corrupt and ineffective . Budget woes had compelled the city to lay off 160 of the department ’ s 370 officers the year before . And that led to a spike in violent crime . Still , in 2012 , the city laid off its remaining 220 officers . The city of roughly 75,000 residents recorded 67 murders that year , its most ever . According to FBI data , Camden was the most dangerous city in the nation . The disbanded city police department immediately gave way to a new “ county ” police department that serves only the city of Camden . Officers of the disbanded city department were required to undergo a rigorous process to reapply , and 155 of them did so . By the middle of 2013 , the new county department employed 401 sworn officers . In short , Camden did not defund or abolish its police force , and the city cannot fairly be held up as a success story for that movement .
But Camden did implement reforms . In the new department , leadership discouraged aggressive ticket-writing , emphasized de-escalation tactics , and adopted a community policing model . Officers were equipped with body cameras , and the department deployed surveillance cameras and thermal imaging cameras to monitor crime . All of these efforts , combined with an increase in officer headcount , led to a decrease in violent crime and complaints of excessive force . And yet , in spite of these improvements , Camden is currently ranked as the ninth most dangerous city in America . If Camden teaches us anything , it is that while reforms can be helpful , substantial progress can be painfully slow and difficult .
Public Support for Defunding the Police It depends on how you ask the question . Any change in public funding for law enforcement begins and ends with elected officials who are themselves accountable to the voters . In view of that connection , the success of the defund movement will largely depend on public sentiment .
To many in the public , calls to “ defund ” or “ abolish ” the police bring to mind frightening images of anarchy and unmitigated crime . As such , the “ defund the police ” slogan is overwhelmingly unpopular . A recent Ipsos / USA TODAY poll found that only 18 % of respondents support the movement identified with that phrase . Respondents were much more receptive to the idea of redirecting police funds to social services , with 43 % of Americans in support . While phrases like “ defund the police ” and “ abolition ” may well be liabilities for the movement , the policy ideal of redirecting funding finds substantial support amount the public , depending on the details of the proposal .
In contrast to defunding proposals , reform initiatives find
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