Crime Prevention

Preventing crime related to drugs and gang violence is, no doubt, of great concern, and requires involvement of local citizens.

In this regard, I wish to call upon our authorities to establish neighborhood grand juries in our communities which would be given the power and responsibility to investigate and indict persons involved in drug or violent gang-related crimes. Such a system would greatly enhance citizen involvement in the fight against common local crimes.

Local citizens are in a good position to observe and identify persons who are engaged in criminal activities in their own local districts. With their legally authorized active participation in crime prevention, crimes in our neighborhood can be checked in their earlier stages.

The “probable cause” requirements in going after suspected offenders would be established through the neighborhood juries’ indictments. Once the arrest warrants are issued by the court through such indictments, the police officers could simply pick up suspects wherever they are found without the necessity of waiting to arrest them in the act.

The presence of the juries would serve as a psychological deterrent against would-be offenders in their own neighborhoods.

MARLOWE O. CAMELLO

Los Angeles