A fantastic article from The Star today offers a glimpse of a report released Tuesday at the Board of Police Commissioners which calculates the cost of crime in Kansas City at least in terms of the expenditures that the KCPD must take on in tackling whatever cases come their way.
Here's the damage:
As far as repeat offenders go . . . They're even more expensive. Here's some of the bill racked up by real life cases of recidivism:
And as far as an alternative approach to crime that focuses on prevention . . . This really is a brilliant way to frame the topic of crime in Kansas City. KCPD Chief Corwin notes that if there was some way to intervene before criminals became part of this EXPENSIVE process it would not only save innocent victims but also save the City a ton of cash . . . Finally, while the local elections proved that politicos didn't want to touch the subject of crime and the few voters who cast their ballots didn't believe that the topic mattered on the bright side of Troost . . . This study offers proof that even if folks in KC naively think they won't fall victim to violence or crime because of their blessed demographic . . . It's still hurting the pocketbook of this entire city.
On the flip side calculate the cost to KC of the tens of thousands of taxpayers who have fled the city because of crime. Money spent EFFECTIVELY on crime prevention is much better spent than any TIF.
ReplyDeleteIt's not a bad idea to look at it crime in terms of cost to the public but I think it also speaks volumes that it take salesmanship in order to get people to care about their community.
ReplyDeleteThe only politico speaking about crime is Mike Sanders. You complain that "no one is talking about crime," but every time he does it, you whine and criticize him for doing it "again" (very shallow and hypocritical of you, FWIW). BTW, Sanders has a plan for prevention that rolls into his regional jail concept (it has been discussed at length in the media by him on several occasions), but you are too busy trying to find fault with "whitey" to open your ears and listen. Your rhetoric is beginning to ring as just that, rhetoric without thought or substance.
ReplyDeleteI heard Sanders at a neighborhood forum talking about using his new reginal jail as really a regional treatment facility, given that over 90% of that crime is drug-related anyway. Sounds interesting, but expensive. Don't know if he can pull it off with all of the sniping that is sure to follow, but it makes sense given what Corwin is saying.
ReplyDeleteSo where's the news, Tony? I actually would have thought a murder cost us a heckuva lot more, but I guess we get what we pay for considering the number of UNSOLVED MURDERS.
ReplyDeleteSo, back to my point, where's the insight, humor or insult? That's why I read you and I'm not seeing it here.
Yer off yer game, man.
Please stop reading.
ReplyDeletePlease grow up.
ReplyDelete