How do we reduce the murder rate in PR?

[El_Jibaro]

I just learned that the murder rate of New York City went down from the days of the Dinkins Administration 2300 per year to the present 600 per year.

Now we know that in tiny PR with a third of the population of NYC the murder rate is around 1300 per year.

How would you guys reduce the murder rate short of imposing the Death Penalty?

Any ideas that work?

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Manuel Alonso

[EL_BORICUA]

FIRST YOU HAVE TO TRAIN A MORE PROFESSIONAL
POLICE FORCE AND PAY THEM ACCORDINGLY,YOU
MUST HAVE AN EFFECTIVE INTERNAL AFFAIRS TO
HANDLE ANY CORRUPTION AND ABUSES.
YOU MUST TRY TO RECRUIT PEOPLE WITH DEGREES,
AND YOU MUST LET THEM GO AFTER CRIMINALS
AGGRESSIVELY,MOST MURDERS IN PUERTO RICO ARE
DRUG RELATED,STOPPING THE FLOW OF DRUGS MUST
BE FIRST ON THE LIST.
THERE ALSO HAS TO BE A GOVERNMENT THAT IS NOT
CORRUPT,A GOVERNMENT THT LEADS BY EXAMPLE AND
I DONT MEAN A CORRUPT EXAMPLE,HOW CAN THIS GOVERNMENT FIGHT THE STREET CRIME WHEN IN ITS
TOO BUSY TRYING TO DEFEND CORRUPT BUREAUCRATS
ITS NOT POSSIBLE.

[This message has been edited by EL BORICUA (edited 28 March 2000).]

[El_Criollo]

You are right Boricua. One of the key ingredients of the murder reduction in NYC is the big increase in police activity.

Policemen (or policepersons) have to be smarter than criminals, otherwise the criminals will always be one step ahead. Education should be a must for PR State Troopers; they should be required to have at least a Two Year Degree (Associate Degree).

Also, they should have an IQ of 100 at least [and that is an average IQ].

But more important than requiring them an education is to recruit MANY. I think that the PR Government should double, or triple its state police force.

Also, the pay should reward for the hazard. In PR they should be earning about $40K on average.

Another thing that will help is to increase the fines. In NYC a speeding ticket is several hundred dollars. It is painful, but it helps one to avoid them. [If my mommy only gave me sweet talk instead of spanking me I would have turned into a spoiled kid.]

About corrupt governments; no country in the entire planet is without corruption. But, a government can try to be the least corrupt it can. In the case of the MD turned Gorvernor, I think he is a weak narcissistic person. Even Charlie Horse was better than him. Sila doesn't seem to me to be better than Hillary Rodham. The PNP kid Engineer [and I am one] doesn't seem any better than the "lambeojos" I have seen at my former office. The PIP's Ruben, he is Don Quijote, all ideals and nothing of reality. I wish there was a Prosecutor Type like Giulliani to crack the whip on crime. But then I don't know whatever happened to Rivera Cruz [remember Maravilla?].

Bottom line: if we are to become a State, or become a Republic, we must eliminate first the LAWLESSNESS that is currently destroying our Island.

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desde_el_Jurutungo_de_Bairoa

[Nicoletta]

it's so sad...our island is so small...and we have so many problems. it's hard to know where to start. a lot of prayer, a lot of hard work, and a lot of cooperation from government and from the people themselves. if we want things to be better, WE have to start it. WE have to lift ourselfs out of the dirt to rise above.

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Nicoletta
;oD

[Poncepr68]

El Jibaro,

I agree with what El Boricua is correct but the Police in Puerto Rico have improve incredibly in these recent years. Now what do we also do with all the police being killed, yes that is correct 1999 we only fell short to California. We have to deal with this and many other problems that our Police in Puerto Rico incounter.

[PabloIV]

Ok, I've got a couple of suggestions, that I believe are rather good but some more conservative members of this discussion might find appaling. First get the Marines out of Vieques, second instead of maintaining this economically taxing and silly war against drugs, legalize them and tax the hell out of them. After all who's the government to tell us how we can harm ourselves. And when I say legalize drugs I mean ALL of them. obviously the war against drugs isn't working, all that anyone needs to get some Marijuana for example is 6 bucks and half an hour, Extasy you can find in any club, and Dealers are just antsy with all the acid they want off their hands. I don't believe that drugs are good or good for you (except maybe weed if used properly) but if you can't beat them use them for your own good. Plus a legal market of drugs would bring about less harmful versions, than the chemically unstable horrors we have out there right now. Besides being controlled by supermarkets and convenience stores instead of 16 - 22 year old dealers age limitations could be put on them like 18 as cigarettes are. Plus also as cigarettes, taxes could prove rather welcome for the economy, think about it. A pack of cigarettes sells for about 2.50 depending on where you are, without taxes it would be about 2 dollars, on the opther hand enough weed for a single Marijuana Joint goes for about 2 dollars in the more stable markets and for as much as 15 in those with a low quantity of product and high demand. Now make those 2 dollars into a 24 pack as cigarettes are it turns into 48 dollars apply taxes on it and you add 12 dollars of economic growth for every pack of weed you sell of course taxes on presently ilegal drugs would probably be much higher than those of Tobacco or Alcohol. Besides all this, gang wars over drug selling territory would be greatly reduced, as well as drug-debt associated murders, munggings for crack money, ect... all these evils would be greatly reduced if the government just decided to legalize drugs and take control of them. As we all know drugs are a huge multi-Billion dollar industry on the island and most murders are based on the existence of this presently ilegal industry. Now think what would happen if the government took control of it?

I hope I make sense, any discrepancies from ny Ideas please respond on this board.

[Poncepr68]

Pablo,

Concerning your comments getting the marines out of vieques will not resolve crime in any way shape or form and another thing it is part of a complete different topic. Now your drug comment have you thought this out completely? what do we do with do people that will steal, kill to get money to still be able to pay for drugs this may deter people from wanting to sell but will it stop those that will still do it illegally, remember one thing these are the ones that run our streets.