Browse By Policies & Programs

• Laws

   

  Drug Laws

  Many men living in inner-city neighborhoods, including several of the fathers of the children involved in Witnesses to Hunger, sell drugs to make a living. While this is clearly a criminal activity, and drug possession and distribution in Pennsylvania is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, many young men see drug dealing as their only opportunity in areas where education is sub-par, legitimate jobs are scarce and wages are low. Experts are divided on ways to tackle drug trade and addiction in the United States—some argue that tighter regulations are needed, while others argue that the drug trade is so lucrative exactly because it is illegal.

   

  Gun Laws

  Philadelphia remains one of the most violent cities in the United States, with 380 homicides in 2008 (which is a significant decrease from previous years). Stricter gun laws and police monitoring implemented by Mayor Michael Nutter in 2008 have been challenged by Pennsylvania state legislature—in a largely rural state, the gun lobby is strong and Harrisburg, the state capital, is distanced from the reality of gun violence within Philadelphia.

   

  Police Presence

  Police presence on the streets of Philadelphia has increased significantly since Mayor Nutter began implementation of his “Safety Now” crime reduction plan and declared a state of emergency in high-crime areas in early 2008. As a part of violence reduction efforts, police on foot patrol cover traditionally high-crime areas and the number of police on patrol has increased. This increase in police presence is met by varying responses from residents—some welcome the increased sense of security, others say that the police are ineffective; still others cite instances of police brutality, especially following the murders of several on-duty Philadelphia cops in 2008.   

   

  Prison and Ex-felons

  In 2008, the Pew Center on the States released a report revealing that 1 out of 9 black men aged 20 to 34 is in prison and more than 1 out of every 100 adult Americans is incarcerated—the highest incarceration rate in the world. And Philadelphia County has the highest incarceration rate in the country, with 602 per 100,000 people behind bars (Justice Policy Institute). With such a large percentage of the population serving or having served time in jail, the coexisting challenges facing Philadelphia are those of prevention and reintegration in a society reluctant to give criminals a second chance; Philadelphia is experimenting with programs that offer businesses a tax benefit for hiring ex-convicts because, as Mayor Nutter has said, “the best crime prevention is a good job.”

   

  Drug Laws, Gun Laws, Police Presence, Prison and Ex-Felons