How Do We Sustainably Reduce Crime?
Only time will tell if the Memphis Safe Task Force will succeed in reducing crime in Memphis. A specific timeline for their deployment in Memphis has not yet been provided, and any reported gains will need to be evaluated in the long term.
So I want to, instead, focus on a detail from Governor Lee’s press conference last week that has not gotten as much attention as the deployment of federal agents. Lee announced that the state will be providing an additional $100 million in grants for public safety in Memphis, though he did not provide many details. As we learn more about how these resources will be utilized, we will share in follow-up newsletters.
We, at Seeding Success, maintain that sustainably reducing crime in Memphis is a cradle-to-career effort. Children who grow up with the resources and opportunities that they need to thrive will be less likely to become involved in the justice system. In fact, national research shows that the majority of state and federal inmates have a high school diploma or less. The sum of $100 million could go a long way toward providing those resources across Memphis, particularly in zip codes where opportunity is scarce and crime is high. The investments should not just focus on enforcement, but rather prevention and intervention opportunities through strategic investments in children and families.
For instance, one high-impact intervention that is known to reduce crime is afterschool programming. We took a deep dive on this topic a couple of months ago. Keeping kids busy after school keeps them safe and out of trouble. In Memphis, we have an array of effective organizations that are making a positive impact in this space, which we highlighted in a previous communication. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who has been very vocal about her support for the Memphis Safe Task Force, is also sponsoring a bill to provide federal grants for this very purpose.
Another investment that is already paying dividends locally is expanding early childhood interventions. The city and county just passed a joint “Pre-K for All” ordinance following persistently excellent outcomes reporting from First 8 Memphis. This is an additional step on the path to true universal Pre-K, which will take additional time and funding to achieve full scale execution. Porter Leath is expanding its reach in the child care and Head Start space, which will improve the early education of children and the ability of parents to enter and remain in the workforce.
Early childhood interventions are also extremely effective at improving literacy outcomes long-term. Investments in early childhood programming, coupled with intentional literacy coaching, would have a tremendous impact on the achievement gap in Memphis. As literacy improves and children hit achievement benchmarks, long-term crime decreases, according to Literacy Mid-South.
Another proven way to impact the reduction of crime, about which we have also recently written, is through targeted investment in economic development and workforce pathways. This is particularly true for the 45,000 opportunity youth (those aged 16-24 who are disconnected from school and work) in Memphis. Partners like Startco and the Greater Memphis Chamber are eliminating barriers and building new pathways to economic self-sufficiency, building entrepreneurship incubators, and strengthening credential programs at institutions like Southwest Tennessee Community College. This provides young adults with real opportunities to access and sustain living-wage jobs. By connecting youth to viable career pathways and reducing disconnection, these interventions not only boost economic mobility but also address one of the root causes of crime: lack of opportunity.
This is not a comprehensive list of investments needed to reduce crime in Memphis, but rather a sample of some of the highest impact ones. For more examples, please refer to the More For Memphis strategic plan.
