SLU Criminologist:  The same communities that are helped can be harmed by federal enforcement surge

SAINT LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - The ATF announced this week it's leading a federal law enforcement surge to combat violent crime in St. Louis called "Operation Show Me Justice." If you think it sounds a lot like what happened when a crime emergency was declared in Washington D.C., you'd be right. Dr. Kenya Brumfield-Young, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Saint Louis University says we can draw parallels with the DC operations, as well as those in Kansas City, Chicago, Detroit, and Baltimore. "These are short-term suppression measures. These are not designed to be a long-term, sustained reduction."

Multiple federal and local agencies are part of Operation Show Me Justice.

Speaking on KMOX"s Total Information AM, Brumfield-Young tells KMOX there are benefits to a surge like this when it comes to combating crime including the development of stronger intelligence systems and disrupted trafficking networks.
But she points out, the same communities that are helped by a crackdown can also be harmed. "These are the communities that bear the brunt that people are being removed from their home, there's a surveillance burden, disruptions of daily life. These are the communities that are gaining the most but they may also be bearing the greatest burden."

Will it make citizens feel more safe? "People right now as long as we still have the level of violent crime, I think that feeling safe -- people aren't there yet," says Brumfield-Young. She adds people do see something being done, but want to know what happens after federal agents leave.