The support we want is to reduce high crime rates by decreasing unemployment, increasing education, housing for all, and building a more effective welfare system. For instance decreasing unemployment remains central to breaking the cycle of poverty and crime and restoring some social harmony. Other strategies such as education in prison, or even college-in-prison providing with real diplomas, have been extremely efficient at helping integrate ex-convicts in society and reducing recidivism (Poverty and Crime: Breaking a vicious cycle of discrimination). As for housing for everyone, it is greatly needed especially in low-income communities. For instance, policies should focus on low-income housing as an opportunity to raise households' income and sense of social fairness. That is as long as the government doesn't create entire ghettos out of such social housing in a bid to separate the poor from the rest of the population.

           Maintaining quality social services and a well-functioning social ladder is key to building a just society in which every citizen if offered a chance to develop his own potential (Poverty and Crime: Breaking a vicious cycle of discrimination). In building an efficient welfare system the results are biased and policies are highly ineffective because of lack of observance and progress of the different strategies. A malfunction doesn't always mean the idea was bad, but sometimes bettering the system step-by-step is all that is needed. Fighting poverty should be more a long-term social justice plan, but welfare assistance has been disproportionately lower in the US than in other Western countries where welfare works much better. In many cases, poorly designed welfare policies has done damage to the very idea of welfare and led many countries to abandon welfare strategies to reduce poverty and crime (Poverty and Crime: Breaking a vicious cycle of discrimination). Given the entire connection between poverty and crime, any policy serious about undertaking crime, has to take poverty reduction policies into account.

           High crime rates have an impact on everyone, some directly and others indirectly. Don’t turn your head to crime, take a stance and help provide opportunities to those that feel like crime is the only way that one can receive pay or a step ahead in life. Coalitions and organizations can be formed within communities to do both, reduce high crime rates as well as provide those that feel obligated to commit crimes an opportunity to free themselves. This can be done simply by the creation of programs to gain the “law breakers” interest and give them the opportunity to do things other than hang out around the neighborhood where crime is most prevalent. Also providing individuals with the opportunity to go to school by way of providing financial assistance and to do other things, such as gain jobs in fields that they have a strong interest in and building on their interest can help provide a way out. This in turn can reduce the amount of crime, while providing opportunities and creating law abiding, productive citizens of this society.

            Please sign this petition to show your support for the need to increase employment, provide more resources in poverty stricken areas, and programs to be organized for those who commit crimes to get them involved in a more positive way in their community.