“Defund the police” is a slogan that supports divesting funds from police departments and reallocating them to non-policing forms of public safety and community support, such as social services, youth services, housing, education, healthcare and other community resources.
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@8JYHPGF4yrs4Y
No, police officers need this money to be trained on how to properly deal with mental health situations, and deal with crime in their area.
@B2VW5DK2mos2MO
The police end up spending to much time and man power on situations that would be better handled with social work.
@9WPPMKFRhinoceros6mos6MO
Redirect some police funding to other non-violent social service programs to help people instead of hurt them.
@9VYXS7LNew Democratic6mos6MO
No, existing funding in local police departments should be used more appropriately. More focus on mental health resources and training for officers. Social and community based programs should have boosted funding but it should not come from police departments necessarily.
@9SGVNRZNew Democratic8mos8MO
Train police officers in de-escalation techniques for those citizens who suffer from mental illness. MORE intense training to be the actual PROTECTION of the community, including people of ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
@9GNXXXT1yr1Y
No, it would be much better to tie funding to different issues in the census, as well as other statistics such as crime, that way it would be better tailored to the community that it's in.
@95K5YQG3yrs3Y
Depends. If the community based programs work like the John Howard Society, and are known to reduce recidivism and actively help stop problems before they occur, then yes. But we also can't neglect issues that police departments face like labour shortages and adequate training, as well as resources to help officers, so it has to be a balance between the two.
@94C42JL3yrs3Y
No, it should really be dependent on the area. If an area needs more police officers, and training/supports to help with those officers, it should be allowed to get the funding it needs to help keep the community safe. But, at the same time, if we know that there are programs that are community-based and work to help reduce recidivism and help protect the public/create awareness, we should also fund those as well. It's not an either or thing, it's not that simple.
@945C4M23yrs3Y
It varies. If a community needs more officers, and more training/support, they should be able to get the funding to solve the problem. But if there are also programs that make the community safer, and reduce recidivism/crime they should also be funded too.
@93FG53G3yrs3Y
Depends and should vary on the police department. If a police department needs training and extra support, we should fund the department whilst also funding community-based programs that reduce recidivism rates and keep the public safe.
@92NSVSP3yrs3Y
No, this could have the capability to be disastrous, as every community has different needs. I say instead of outright abolishment, have a look at police budgets and give more funding if there needs to be more training and programs for officers to get help, but also invest in community-based programs to reduce crime if they prove effective in doing so, such as those of the John Howard Society.
@8ZN4YG43yrs3Y
I'm neutral on this. There should be training for police officers so that they feel that they can adequately deal with a situation, even funding for mental health professionals that go on duty with them. But, if social and community based programs show that they do work, we should by all means consider funding them as a way to reduce recidivism. Let's not cut anything first, and let's talk and give adequate consultation to both police departments and community organizations, and then make our decisions based off of that.
@8YMFT99New Democratic3yrs3Y
Yes, some funding should be directed to social and community based programs but the police should not be abolished
@8XBG7KF3yrs3Y
Yes funding should be redirected to other social and community based programs, but the police force is still needed. Certain class, they should not lead in.
@8VQGQL54yrs4Y
Police should not lose funds. More funds from another source should go towards social and community based programs
Yes, but we still need police.
@8VDJCQN4yrs4Y
Police should be accompanied by a social worker or given proper training for de-escalation.
@8V7GV6J4yrs4Y
No, but increase collaboration between police and public health
@8V53PS94yrs4Y
Police should be funded to an operational level and audited for overspending, they should be held accountable for making sure that assets are properly allocated. Any excess spending that is skimmed from their budget should be directed at improving our communities. we should strive to live in a time where police are present yet not always needed.
@8TZ7J3D4yrs4Y
No, but police departments should be focused on solving actual serious crime. Eg. my neighbourhood routinely has people roaming around in the middle of the night checking for unlocked cars, stealing stuff, and sometimes doing drugs in people's yards. As far as I'm aware, the police do nothing about this and yet I often see cops on the highway trying to catch speeders. We should prioritize important stuff, not catching ordinary law-abiding citizens doing what virtually everyone does. This may be a problem of the courts, not the police, though.
@8TX6H9X4yrs4Y
Increase training for police, while also funding community and harm reduction
It could help a lot of people help stay out of trouble with the law, so yes we should consider it, but we should also consider the needs of the police department as well, with proper training to respond to different situations, and programs they may need.
@8RJTV9G4yrs4Y
Maintain current police funding, but increase funding resources to establish more community based non violent calls. Also increase training on de-escalating tactics and use of deadly force.
@9BK2RQ62yrs2Y
Have the ability for communities to decide what works best for them on a community to community level, and have options open for helping to fund social and community-based programs to keep recidivism from happening, keep people out of trouble and crime from ever starting in the first place.
@9948T952yrs2Y
It should be well managed. If it is necessary to redirect or put more depends on the administration.
It shouldn't be an "either-or" thing. If police departments need the funding to hire and retain staff, as well as give support, we should do that if it's in the community's best interests. But, we can also have community-based programs to reduce recidivism, as well as keep people from going to crime, as it is a good thing additionally for the community. But regardless, it depends on the community.
@97MCDDT2yrs2Y
Depending on where you live this answer may vary
@8VMKWJGNew Democratic4yrs4Y
Reallocate the funds to other emergency responders
@8SL83G24yrs4Y
It should be split into funding non armed responders for no violent calls
@8R5HRK34yrs4Y
There might be some benefits to doing this, as it might help reduce crime, but we also need to properly train law enforcement as well to deal with certain situations.
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