Too quick to send My post: Signed;
G. W Reinhardt Flatfoot from Excelsior Not to be obtuse, but those in the police industry are aware that the number of arrest do not legitimize the further arrests of homeless people; but point out the futility of trying to arrest problems away. Homeless people are not inherently guilty of anything, simple cause of their economic status. Conversely, police officers are not guilty of oppression simply by the virtue of being a governmental institution One of the consequences of the of the citizen/government social contract is that citizens have, for the most part abdicated the day-to-day responsibilities of keeping public areas safe and secure to police agencies. Police departments in turn, police in public areas and are not allowed (except by warrant or exigent circumstances) to police in private areas. Homeless people, live in public spaces. Given the fact that citizens have engaged others (police) to control public spaces, conflict is a natural occurrence. Strictly, from a theoretical radical-criminologist position, the struggle for control (in this case: control of public spaces) inevitably leads to conflict. Conflict is neither good nor bad, but an opportunity for change. This week, there were 25 people arrested in Minneapolis who�s combined arrest records in the last 12 months total over 380 arrest. Have they failed or has the system failed. A significant portion of the homeless are mental ill and/or chemically dependent. Do we, as a community, have the moral right to force sanity and/or sobriety on them for the greater good of society? If so, how do we adequately support, and fund, interventions? Sadly, although homeless persons are not forgotten, they are lower on the community�s priority list. Other causes and social amusements continue to gander more attention and dollars. To prevent further arrests of homeless people, the city must find ways to prevent homelessness. Until this is accomplished, options imposed by societal expectations are limited. Police Departments, community institutions, and social agencies in league with citizens can cooperate and create solutions. Or take pot shots at each other, pointing out failures, and thereby maintain the status quo. REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
