Guest Blog
Posted on: November 9th, 2011 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
Each year, the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council, along with its many partner organizations, sets aside a day where the focus is to simply say “hi” to people with whom we interact. It’s a simple concept that builds on the notion that it’s harder to victimize or stigmatize another person when you see them as worthy of a greeting. Much like the ‘golden rule’, it asks us to acknowledge another’s humanity by simply saying hello to them with a genuine smile.
Several years ago, when gaining additional qualifications as a teacher, I came upon the work of William Purkey, known as the founder of Invitational Education. His theory is that if schools (and by extension any organization) treats people with trust, respect, intentionality, optimism and caring, then embeds these concepts in their policies and processes, we will see more engaged and happier students and staff. The “Say Hi” program is the kind of intentional program Purkey would support. Simply greeting people each day and offering them a positive interaction creates happier places. Happier places are safer places because each person feels more of an investment in creating and maintaining the caring culture that results. We move from simply saying ‘hi’ to more of a relationship with another. We become connected and sociologists will tell us that the more connected we are, the safer we are. And one thing we can all agree upon is that we want to feel safe in our communities.
Based on the success of this venture I’d like to suggest we go a bit further.
How about pledging to keep our smartphones in our pockets, backpacks or purses when we sit across from people in a restaurant? How about we use this time to actually look into the other’s eyes, listen to what they are saying and not to whip the smartphone out like a cowboy preparing for a gunfight? Is it just me or have you noticed the same thing? Just yesterday I watched what appeared to be a happy couple waiting for their food to arrive. Each had their BlackBerry out and sat for several minutes responding to or sending messages with no interaction between them. It’s like the other wasn’t even in the same room. Think about it…how many of our messages/texts are so vital that they can’t be ignored for 30 minutes? Why not invest this time to chat about movies, books, the weather or perhaps even to explore shared or even diverse values and beliefs? Use that time to make or build upon a connection. A face to face connection that allows us to explore our commonalities and differences.
Maybe we could call it “Just Sit Tight”.
Author: Frank Johnson is a regular guest writer for Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region. Frank is a retired principal with the local Catholic school board, a dad, and sometimes runner who possesses an irreverent sense of humour that periodically gets him in trouble. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario.
Author: Frank Johnson is a regular guest writer for Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region. Frank is a retired principal with the local Catholic school board, a dad, and sometimes runner who possesses an irreverent sense of humour that periodically gets him in trouble. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario.
Frank Johnson’s writing reflects his own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of the Crime Prevention Council.
Posted on: November 2nd, 2011 by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
I read with some dismay that the parliamentary committee created to hear submissions on the Government of Canada’s omnibus crime bill, often referred to as C-10, allowed only five minutes per submission. Five minutes to outline the deep and myriad concerns with this bill. Your time would be up shortly after the introductions. And this for a bill that would make significant changes not only to our criminal justice system, but to the very core of what we believe about rehabilitation, restorative justice and mitigating circumstances. All at an increased cost for taxpayers worried about another recession, led by a government perceived to be fiscally conservative.
While most public institutions like hospitals and schools are required to be more accountable by using the best available research to make responsible decisions, we appear to be seeing a government blind to the experience of other jurisdictions who used a ‘tough on crime’ approach. Even the United States, which has the highest incarceration rate in the world, is increasingly moving to alternative measures in diverting perpetrators from jails. And not necessarily because it reduces recidivism, but because it is simply less expensive to reduce jail time in favour of alternate approaches.
While we all want safer communities, how we get there is a matter of some dispute. Naturally with any proposed legislation there are supporters and challengers. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, not surprisingly, supports the legislation for its focus on victims while the Canadian Bar Association had this to say:
“In our view, the initiatives in Bill C-10 go in a contrary direction. They adopt a punitive approach to criminal behavior, rather than one concentrated on how to prevent that behavior in the first place, or rehabilitate those who do offend. As most offenders will one day return to their communities, we know that prevention and rehabilitation are most likely to contribute to public safety. The proposed initiatives also move Canada along a road that has clearly failed in other countries. Rather than replicate that failure, at enormous public expense, we might instead learn from those countries’ experience.”
You can read the full submission here.
The Bar Association exposes serious flaws in the proposed legislation, namely that it does not address the root causes of crime in any proactive way. It does not deal effectively with poverty, addiction, low levels of educational achievement, mental health, trauma or other factors that will still be there when the offender is eventually released. And all, in their words, “at enormous public expense”. It seems the Government does not know the difference between ‘spending’ and ‘investment’.
It makes one wonder who wrote the various pieces of legislation that make up Bill C-10. Are they using all the information available to them in crafting the bill? Do they truly understand the impact on correctional facilities and families if this moves forward in its present form? Are they truly consulting widely and listening fully to the concerns raised by citizens and organizations with experience, expertise and understanding about crime?
I don’t think so. It reminds me of a quote from former president Dwight Eisenhower:
“Farming looks pretty easy when your plough is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from a corn field.”
Author: Frank Johnson is a regular guest writer for Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region. Frank is a retired principal with the local Catholic school board, a dad, and sometimes runner who possesses an irreverent sense of humour that periodically gets him in trouble. He lives in Waterloo, Ontario.
Frank Johnson’s writing reflects his own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views or official positions of the Crime Prevention Council.
Posted on: November 2nd, 2011 by Smart on Crime
We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome Frank Johnson as our new regular guest blogger for Smart on Crime in Waterloo Region! If you do a web search for “Frank Johnson” you will find there are quite a few of them in this world. But there’s only one Frank Johnson willing to roll up his sleeves and dive into the world of Smart on Crime! Just so you know who we’re talking about, here’s a little bit more about Frank Johnson, in his own words.
Frank Johnson
Tell us a little about yourself
I am a retired principal with the local Catholic school board, dad, and sometimes runner who possesses an irreverent sense of humour that periodically gets me in trouble.
What has inspired you most about your life’s work…. so far?
That positive change is not only possible, but inevitable if we treat people, especially youth, with respect and kindness.
How is crime prevention related to the work you do?
As a school principal one sees some level of crime regularly. My interest is in how to teach and inculcate pro-social behaviours as a prevention strategy.
What does ‘smart on crime’ mean to you?
Using available research and data to guide our actions and reduce our prejudices, to continue to go deeper to ask better questions and hopefully find better solutions.
What can readers expect from your guest blog posts?
Passion tempered by experience and optimism.
There you have it folks! Look for Frank’s first post tomorrow!
Welcome Frank!
Posted on: October 12th, 2011 by Smart on Crime
As we all strive to find innovative ways of creating safe communities and reducing crime, sometimes the solutions can be quite astounding. But how do we go about doing this and have an impact? The famous slogan utilized by Nike is a great start – Just do it!
We often spend so much time thinking about these strategies and trying to seek out funding for them that we get sidelined and forget that we are seldom able to achieve great things without the help of others. Another chronic problem we hear about often is there’s not enough capacity. In 2010 I was doing some research on street pianos in New York City. I was truly inspired by Luke Jerram, an artist that had successfully done this and calls the initiative “Play me, I’m yours”. Could this be done in a much colder climate with short summers and unpredictable weather, I asked myself. The answer was overwhelmingly – Yes it can! And so the adventure began with another great summer launch this year in downtown Red Deer, Alberta.
The Ross Street Piano
It’s difficult to imagine having such great success without sharing it and engaging others that can help make a difference in their community. I consider this the key to great community-building initiatives such as the Ross Street Piano project. Local musicians, artists, businesses and residents have all done their part to make this a success. I tell people that it’s music to my ears. When I see the activity and the street “buzz” this has created throughout the summer, I’m further inspired. We don’t always need to reinvent the wheel when many successful initiatives and best practices already exist.
Does having a street piano downtown prevent crime? Well, if you consider the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, better known as CPTED, yes it does. There is a direct connection between our built environment and the human condition. We interact daily with people in the various spaces we inhabit. When you generate positive activity on the street, it attracts more people. Jane Jacobs wrote “you don’t really get a clear picture until you get out of theory-land and into the streets for a closer look.” This is what I do each and every day and it’s best practices such as CPTED that are preventing crime and supporting a proactive, well-balanced approach.
Our local initiative recently inspired another street piano project in the small community of Cochrane, Alberta. Their piano was placed outside this summer on a busy street next to an ice cream parlor and pie shop. Two criminology students from Mount Royal University in Calgary, with the help of their instructor made this a reality. Randi Boulton, a rising young star attended with me at their launch and played for several hours, entertaining a large crowd of bystanders. The more entertainment and activity we can generate on our streets, the less crime. Events such as this can also be the catalyst for connecting us with each other, a critical aspect of building community and improving quality of life.
Our community piano has now been brought inside for another winter. We’ve found a great new home for it at The Hub, a local arts and culture hotspot where people in our community connect daily. Residents, visitors, clients or anyone wishing to play a tune or two will be welcome to do so every Wednesday morning. Since it’s a local hangout for many talented musicians, I’m sure the Ross Street Piano will not sit quietly this winter and there is already some ideas brewing about the new artwork that will appear on it next summer – stay tuned.
Full story in Red Deer Living Magazine
Author: Steve Woolrich is a crime prevention practitioner based in Red Deer, Alberta and works with communities across North America. Steve is a believer of the ‘walk the talk’ philosophy and spearheaded The Ross Street Piano project with the support of family and friends. It’s truly a labour of love and passion for community. Steve Woolrich also writes his own blog, Target Crime.
Posted on: July 11th, 2011 by Smart on Crime
This is the final blog post in the victims of crime series. This post points you to helpful resources and links for agencies that support victims of crime in Waterloo Region.
The first three posts included:
There are many agencies within Waterloo Region working to support victims of crime, as well as many provincial and national advocacy agencies working for victim’s rights. Services to support victims of crime can be found by contacting 211 Ontario or Victim Services of Waterloo Region. Many agencies offer counselling and other support.
A few things victims need are protection, information, to be heard and believed and to be treated with dignity. With the support of those close to them, victims are more likely to seek professional support. With professional support, victims are more likely to define their own needs in overcoming the situation or dealing with the trauma.
A few local resources:
Advocacy for Victims of Crime
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime
Office for Victims of Crime
Victim Services of Waterloo Region
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region
Victim/Witness Assistance Program
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
Drug and Alcohol Helpline
Author: Tracie McGrath-Levis
Tracie McGrath-Levi is a completing a student placement with WRCPC and has contributed previous posts to Smart on Crime. In addition to completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Tracie works full-time with the John Howard Society in Milton. In her role there Tracie works in court four days a week in an adult diversion program and in bail.
Posted on: July 10th, 2011 by Smart on Crime
This is the third in a series of blog posts regarding victims of crime in Canada. In the second post I mentioned the importance of root causes of crime and building resiliency. This blog looks at the consequences of being a victim of crime and some of the issues they experience.
Prevention is important, but so is assisting victims to deal with the trauma they have experienced. The more likely a victim is to receive support from people close to them, the more likely they are to seek professional help. Having support from people close to victims, and seeking professional help, allows victims to deal with the consequences of being a victim of crime in a constructive way.
One of the major consequences of being a victim of crime is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms include terrifying memories, avoiding reminders of the trauma, increased anxiety and sleep disturbances. These symptoms usually begin three months after the trauma occurs, but may surface years later.
In addition to PTSD, victims may use substances to deal with the consequences of their victimization. Victims may engage in substance use to mask the pain they experience. This is important to be aware of when working with victims, or those with substance use issues.
Resources used in this post:
The Impact of Victimization (Pdf)
The Impacts and Consequences of Criminal Victimization
Correlations between Substance Abuse and Victimization (Video)
Author: Tracie McGrath-Levis
Tracie McGrath-Levi is a completing a student placement with WRCPC and has contributed previous posts to Smart on Crime. In addition to completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Tracie works full-time with the John Howard Society in Milton. In her role there Tracie works in court four days a week in an adult diversion program and in bail.
Posted on: July 7th, 2011 by Smart on Crime
This is the second in a series of four blog posts regarding victims of crime in Canada. In the first blog I mentioned that 2% of the population experienced 60% of all violent crimes. When people experience more than one violent crime this is called multiple victimization. Multiple victimization is why such a small amount of the population experiences such a high volume of the violent crime in Canada.
So what allows the 2% to experience 60% of all violent crime? Can we prevent multiple victimization for these people? Would the prevention of multiple victimization lower the crime rate? Are there characteristics that make that 2% more vulnerable to violent crime?
Research doesn’t exactly answer all of those questions, but it does acknowledge that certain risk factors are associated with becoming a victim of crime. Research also states that these same characteristics do not increase the likelihood for being the victim of multiple crimes.
If there are no characteristics to help protect that 2% of the population from experiencing multiple victimization, we need to focus on preventing crime. To prevent crime, and ultimately people becoming victims, we need to look at the root causes, something the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council stresses as important. To be smart on crime means understanding why it happens, and preventing it before it does.
Protective factors are also important to prevent people from becoming victims of crime. Some of the protective factors highlighted by the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council include problem resolution, organized recreation activities, possibilities for participation in the community, self-confidence, self-control, and a strong self-image. These protective factors encourage resiliency and autonomy.
When we encourage resiliency and autonomy, we help protect people from becoming victims of crime. This is something that will take time, so how can we deal more effectively with victims of crime in the mean time. What are the consequences of being a victim of crime?
I will take a look at these questions in the next article on the consequences and aftermath of being a victim of crime.
Resources used in this post:
Public Safety Canada
Institute for the Prevention of Crime
Root Causes of Crime Map
Author: Tracie McGrath-Levis
Tracie McGrath-Levi is a completing a student placement with WRCPC and has contributed previous posts to Smart on Crime. In addition to completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Tracie works full-time with the John Howard Society in Milton. In her role there Tracie works in court four days a week in an adult diversion program and in bail.
Posted on: July 5th, 2011 by Smart on Crime
Being a victim of crime affects the victim personally, and the larger community. This is a series of blog posts about victims of crime in Canada. Throughout the series, I draw on several current resources to help us understand victimization, and why preventing victimization is smart on crime.
We need to understand victimization, and the needs of victims of crime, because of the impact being a victim has on their lives, and the huge cost to society. As a caring society we need to support victims. We need to help them overcome the trauma they have experienced.
Here are a few things you might not know about victims of crime in Canada:
- Only one quarter of Canadians reported being victims in 2009
- 93% of Canadians feel safe and think they will not become victims
- 81% of assault victims know the perpetrator
- 50% of victims of a violent crime suffer moderate or extreme distress
- The cost of pain and suffering experienced by victims of crime in 2008 totaled over $65 billion
- In 2004, 2% of the population experienced 60% of all violent crime
Information like this raises questions about how to best support people when they become victims of crime. For example, what is it about that 2% of the population that make them so vulnerable to violent crime? What can we do to help them? Can we prevent further victimization?
I will look at these questions in more depth in three additional blog posts. I will take a look at the importance of addressing root causes of crime, the consequences and aftermath for victims of crime and supports for victims within our Waterloo Region community.
Resources used in this post:
Introduction to Intervention with Crime Victims (2011)
Multiple Victimization in Canada, 2004
Author: Tracie McGrath-Levis
Tracie McGrath-Levi is a completing a student placement with WRCPC and has contributed previous posts to Smart on Crime. In addition to completing her Bachelor of Social Work degree at Renison College, University of Waterloo, Tracie works full-time with the John Howard Society in Milton. In her role there Tracie works in court four days a week in an adult diversion program and in bail.
Posted on: June 17th, 2011 by Smart on Crime
Waterloo Region is host to the fifth largest population of newcomers in Canada. As a student completing my masters in social work and doing a work placement at the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council (WRCPC), I’ve come to wonder about the perceptions that citizens have about immigration and crime. During my time at WRCPC, this topic really caught my interest because I am very interested in new comers’ experiences and addressing the challenges they face when integrating into Canadian society.
Last year, approximately 280,000 immigrants were granted permanent residence status in Canada, making 2010 the highest in over fifty years. In the June issue of The Walrus magazine, Rachel Giese writes a very relevant article, “Arrival of the Fittest”. She sets the context for a discussion on dropping crime rates and rising immigrant within the story of a ship from Sri Lanka carrying 492 Tamils, including women and children. She brings attention to the poor reception of these refugees who desired to come to Canada to flee the devastation in their country, twenty-six years of civil war and the 2004 tsunami. Giese talks about Canada’s lack of understanding or empathy for this population, who have been referred to as “gatecrashers” for wanting to come to Canada for safety.
Canada’s acceptance of immigrants has become and will continue to become one of the staples of our economy. In my studies I have come to understand that not only is immigration necessary for the stability of our workforce and economy, but it also allows Canada to welcome a variety of talented, caring and unique individuals and families into our diverse nation. Giese points to a recent Canadian poll that found that 46% of Canadians believed immigration was having a negative effect on the country. Additionally, she mentions that “in times of social upheaval and economic hardship, immigrants are a convenient scapegoat, accused of bringing with them an element of deviance and criminality: they upset the social order, the line goes, steal our jobs and our property, and ruin our neighborhoods.”
But, is there really evidence to show that immigration contributes to higher crime rates? On the contrary, “Arrival of the Fittest” suggests that crime rates are dropping as immigration increases, especially in areas with high immigrant populations. Several American studies mentioned in this Time magazine article show similar evidence that increased immigration does not lead to increased crime. For example, results of one study showed that third generation Americans were 45% more likely to commit violent acts than first generation immigrants of any background.
I believe that we have some valuable lessons to learn from the sense of community and support that new comer populations often bring with them from other countries. A connected community means a strong community. Instead of allowing new comers to become the “scapegoat” for criminal activity and crime rates, Canadians should take advantage of the opportunity to get to know their neighbours, no matter where they were born, and forge a new, stronger sense of community. A community where neighbours accept, care and look out for one another. Just some food for thought!
Author: Jacinda Clouthier
In addition to completing her Masters of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University, Jacinda works with Veteran’s Affairs in Pembroke,Ontario, assisting ill or injured military members upon their return from the Canadian Forces.
