CRIMINOLOGY REVIEW OF D. KENNEDY, 2012 - Essay Example

Open air drug markets even exist in these areas and the author is suggesting that a holistic approach such as engaging the gangs involved in drugs market can provide a long lasting solution than arresting them. To that effect, the author has proposed the “ceasefire program” and to date, it has proved to be effective in combating the drug related crimes in different communities across different cities in the US. The author argues that drug related violence is widespread in historically distressed, minority neighborhoods that are home to African-Americans.

Kennedy cites the following statistics: “Between 2000 and 2007, the gun homicide rate for black men between the ages of 14-17 increased by 40 percent and the rate for men over the age of 25 increased by 27 percent. In some neighborhoods, 1 in 200 black men are murdered every year.” The other problem with the aspect of drug dealing is that the drug dealers operate in groups and gangs and they live within the societies comprising of other law abiding citizens. The author argues that taking a vigilant approach against the drug dealers does not provide a solution to the problem but can only increase it.

Violence is likely to erupt following the implementation of such approach. An intervention strategy that involves all the stakeholders including attorneys, law enforcement agents, drug dealers as well as other ordinary members of the community can be very effective in as far as mitigation of drug related violence and crime are concerned. Therefore, the author has observed that the ceasefire program can provide a long lasting solution to this problem. The research methods used include participation and observation.

The ceasefire program as noted above was piloted in Boston and later spread to other cities. The author actively participated in this program since he is the one who pioneered