6 Reasons why New Bedford has high crime and how to reduce it (Part 1)

According to New Bedford’s mayor Jon Mitchell crime is down 10% in New Bedford. While I’m sure the statistics are accurate, a lot of people find it hard to believe. My guess is that when crime is so high, a 10% drop really isn’t that noticeable, especially for those that still live in high crime areas.

Let’s look at some of the data available to the public. According to city-data.com, in 2013, there were 6 murders, 100 rapes, 256 robberies, 677 assaults, 916 burglaries, 2,186 thefts, 335 auto thefts and 20 arsons in New Bedford. That’s roughly a rape every 3 days, 2 assaults a day and a car stolen every day. Looking even deeper into the numbers, New Bedford has three times the violent crime rate (632 rating vs. 203 rating) than the average U.S. city and those numbers have been consistent for a decade.

Why is does New Bedford have high crime and how can we reduce crime even more than 10%? In order to come up with solutions you need to know the problems.

1. Secret City: No Snitching

One of the biggest issues facing New Bedford is the ‘no snitching’ narrative that rules many New Bedford neighborhoods. Look, I get it. If you are a mobster and your fellow mobster gets pinched by the Feds and then snitches to get a reduced sentence, he’s a snitch or a rat. That’s snitching and the snitch deserves to get whacked. But if you see a person committing a crime and you don’t call the police because you “ain’t no snitch” then you are the #1 problem with New Bedford. You are worse than a snitch; a coward. Reporting crime is not snitching, it’s alerting the good guys about the bad guys and taking care of your neighbor.

Even more disappointing, attacking people as snitches for reporting crime happens very often in New Bedford. Not reporting crime and labeling those that do as a snitch is a great way to ensure all the good people on your street and city move somewhere else. Then you’ll be surrounded by fellow ‘no snitchers’ who could care less about you.

Solution: Stop acting like you are in the mob and report crime. Stop punishing others that report crime. Take back your neighborhood and push out the criminals on your street. Sending them to prison is a great way to do that.

2. Weak Judges

Spend 10 minutes in a New Bedford court room and you just might have a stroke. Criminals with long rap sheets are being released back onto the streets by judges. Most of the crime in New Bedford is committed by repeat offenders. The police do an excellent job catching criminals and the judges do an even better job at freeing them.

For example, a New Bedford man with 7 outstanding warrants was arrested recently with a .357 revolver, a semi-automatic handgun and over 100 rounds of ammunition. He did not possess a license to carry a firearm. The Bristol County District Attorney asked for a $10,000 bail, but the judge lowered it to $3,000. If a man with a history of not showing up to court gets such a low bail, what do you think these judges are setting bail for other offenders committing lesser crimes? Even when these criminals are successfully prosecuted they are seeing low prison sentences and then being released back into the public.

Solution: Hold judges accountable. Push District Attorneys and state legislators to be tougher on crime. Follow local sentencing and call your elected officials when outrageous sentencing occurs. Apathy is almost as bad as not reporting crime.

3. Drugs, drugs and more drugs

In 2013, Joshua Silva, a man living in New Bedford and a known heroin user, brutally murdered 69-year-old Joyce Howland, a retired school teacher living in Fairhaven. Brutal really doesn’t really describe the murder well. Then Bristol County District Attorney Sam Sutter stated that her spine was fractured and her head was nearly severed from her body. She was found lying face down in her bedroom on a blood-soaked area rug. Joshua Silva murdered her for some jewelry that he later pawned for cash. Joyce Howland’s life was cut short so a heroin user could score some drugs. The Standard Times published a thorough article on the case here.

While most heroin addicts are not killing people for drugs, they are breaking into cars and homes, shoplifting and committing other crimes. When one user overdoses, they cost tax payers thousands of dollars as police, fire, EMTs and hospitals provide services. Then they are released back into society to repeat using drugs, cost tax payers millions and commit crimes.

Solution: Lower the heroin abuse in New Bedford and you will lower crime and save lives. How do you do that? Arrest the doctors that over prescribe opioids, pass legislation that forces addicts to get help and lock up the drug dealers.

Stay tuned for part 2 where I tackle importing people with criminal records, absentee landlords and lack of parenting/community.

What do you think New Bedford has high crime? Post a reply!