Vision and Values
SAFETY
The Problem
Violence strikes too many San Francisco residents. Last year San Francisco suffered its highest number of homicides in a decade — 96 murders. Female homicide victims are more likely to be killed at the hands of their intimate partners than anyone else and yet research indicates that many domestic violence homicides are preventable. Though the root causes of violence are many, there is much that can be done.
The Solution
As a survivor of domestic violence, I am all too aware of the shortcomings of violence prevention policies in San Francisco, and I was disappointed that Proposition A failed to pass in June 2006. I am personally committed to doing everything to make sure that our law enforcement agencies and emergency services have the necessary resources — funding, training, coordination and specialized personnel — to prevent violent acts where possible, and in all cases, hold violent offenders accountable for their actions. No one should have to live in fear of violent crime.
Homicide Prevention:We must address the root causes of violence in San Francisco, including:
- Funding anti-violence projects and intervention services, including job training, mental health and substance abuse programs and programs for youth
- Targeting resources to the communities hardest hit by violent crime
- Developing a citywide violence prevention plan
And critically, we must ensure that those most affected by violence are involved in developing solutions to the problem. More community policing — not just more cops — will go a long way to deter crime in our most violence-prone neighborhoods. This includes citizen input and feedback, more foot and bike patrols, consistent geographic beats, and easy public access to crime information.
Domestic Violence:Law enforcement officers, probation officers and emergency service workers are not all properly trained to handle the unique circumstances of domestic violent crime. To make sure that these violent crimes are effectively investigated and prosecuted, we should:
- Hire more specialized personnel and improve training of all personnel to ensure that the City is meeting the needs of survivors
- Increase coordination and communication between departments to facilitate more effective prosecution
- Develop appropriate protocols and policies for domestic violence cases and criteria for evaluating compliance
- Improve data collection and management so that resources can be targeted appropriately