There are multiple ways to help prevent Arizona crime and decrease violence in our streets.
The Phoenix police and Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) have determined that helping homeless get the social services they need helps reduce violent and property crimes.
This outreach program has been happening for almost two years and in that time they have helped 1,800 homeless people.
This street team addresses issues such as mental illness and substance addition that are root causes to someone losing everything and becoming homeless.
Police Sergeant Sean Connelly stated that police are used to arresting their “way to solutions.” But that is an expensive method to solve this problem. It costs the city almost $200 to book a suspect and put them in jail for a misdemeanor violation and then the suspect is usually released within hours anyways.
Connelly last Thursday morning at a news conference described the program as “Outreach is taking those social services out to the community and engaging those who are disengaged from the shelter.” The program includes staff from the CASS as well as Phoenix police.
This group caravans to the streets of downtown Phoenix four nights each week. They look for those without shelter and offer them assistance i.e. a place to sleep or enrollment into a detox program.
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