Robert Apel
Robert Apel is Professor of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University. He holds a Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland.
Voting History
Policing and public safety
Increasing police budgets will improve public safety.
| Vote | Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 4 |
| Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 7 |
Increasing social service budgets (e.g. housing, health, education) will improve public safety.
| Vote | Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 7 |
| Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 8 |
Comments
There is good reason to believe that social services which target low-income individuals (e.g., public assistance) have positive spillovers for public safety, although evidence for other services (e.g., housing vouchers) is mixed. Where there is the most bang for the buck is very unclear.
Increasing accountability for police misconduct will improve public safety.
| Vote | Confidence |
|---|---|
| Neutral/No Opinion | 1 |
| Median Survey Vote | Median Survey Confidence |
|---|---|
| Agree | 6 |
Comments
I don't think there is any solid evidence one way or the other. Although if greater accountability leads law enforcement agencies to respond like children and withdraw services from communities which need them, one could argue it could worsen public safety.
Comments
I buy the evidence that more spending *can* improve public safety. But so can reorienting existing police resources in a way that uses them more efficiently and along the lines suggested in the consensus report of the Committee on Proactive Policing.