General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Biden tells civil rights leaders that 'defund police' was 'how they beat the living hell out of us' [View all]Caliman73
(11,738 posts)They were calling for that money, which is millions and in some places billions of dollars, to be reinvested in other services that attack the root causes of crimes.
If you can alleviate or eliminate homelessness, increase drug and alcohol treatment, fund jobs programs, hire more counselors, therapists, and community organizers, then you can attack the root causes of criminal activity instead of reacting to it by arresting and investigating crimes after they happen.
You are absolutely correct that, "Defund the police" captured none of what would be funded in their place, but the aim of the movement is to shift away from policing to trying to resolve the problems that facilitate crime.
I think there will always be some need for a police type force, but not the massive, militarized police we have now.