As journalists, we dutifully report on what's going wrong, from scandals and corruption to natural disasters and social problems. But far too often the media fails to show the whole picture, neglecting to tell the stories of what is working. From scientific breakthroughs to successful crime-reduction initiatives, the What’s Working Honor Roll highlights some of the best reporting and analysis, from a range of media outlets, on all the ways people are working toward solutions to some of our greatest challenges.
In 2010, Richmond, California, was ranked the sixth most dangerous city in America. But in 2013, the homicide rate plummeted to its lowest number since 1980. Although Police Chief Chris Magnus' community-outreach efforts have been partially credited for the decrease, the drop has also been attributed to a controversial new program that incentivizes criminals to end gun violence -- by paying them.
Created by Devone Boggan,Richmond's city neighborhood safety director, the program grants 18-month fellowships to active firearm offenders. After an initial six months, youth in the program -- who range in age from 16 to 25 -- can earn anywhere from $300 to $1,000 for each month they stay out of trouble. The program has been successful: 65 of 68 fellows have not committed any violent crimes in the program's first four years.
"If we're going to seriously end gun violence in this county guys like the young men that we're working with have to been seen as part of the solution equation," says Boggan, who developed this program after discovering that 28 individuals were responsible for most of the city's gun violence.
Despite the positive results, the program has been criticized by those who feel that criminals should not be rewarded for doing the right thing.
Boggan dismisses that view. "These young men are out on our streets isolated, idle, navigating untreated trauma, vicarious trauma using all kinds of substances to cope," he said. "Left to their own devices, we're going to see more violence ... Why not go at them full steam ahead and engage them in a different way?"
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