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CBC
a day ago
- Health
- CBC
N.S. court program looks to counselling to stop domestic violence
In the same year Nova Scotia saw a rash of domestic-violence related homicides, the Halifax Domestic Violence Court Program says it's seeing an increased number of applications. Since 2018, the program has been one aspect of the province's effort to control a problem it has declared an epidemic. The court, which is now handling more cases involving youth and people who are homeless, uses counselling to try to stop violence and repair harms. However, a researcher who's studied domestic violence courts says although there is "anecdotal" evidence that accused people learn better coping skills from the programs, measuring whether the approach prevents new offences is a "perennial problem" that's difficult to track and which the court may not be able to solve on its own. "I think it's definitely worthwhile. I just worry it's not enough," said Diane Crocker, a professor in the department of criminology at Saint Mary's University in Halifax. Crocker said she would also like to see more supports like community-based helpers who can become involved with families in a crisis without going through the criminal justice system. An evolving court Court data suggests the total number of yearly referrals to the court has gone down since 2018, but a court spokesperson noted as of this spring, it is seeing "increased application." Between March and May 2025, the program saw a roughly 30 per cent increase in applications over the same period last year, the data shows. According to an association that represents women's shelters, the Transition House Association of Nova Scotia, the number of women and children experiencing violence and seeking help has increased by 182 per cent since 2019. In response, Nova Scotia announced new funding for transition houses and is working on an " engagement table" that will incorporate views from experts and people with lived experience. 'They're unpacking a lot of things' Cases that come before the Domestic Violence Court Program begin in regular provincial court and are assessed for entry into the program if the accused person wants to be referred. The case must have the Crown's approval to proceed in the program. The program tries to use counselling to stop abusive behaviour. It's an approach that sometimes draws skepticism from both the victim and the accused. "I think some victims may be of the view that [the accused abuser is] only doing this so they won't get a record and they're getting out of real consequence," said Matthew Darrah, the Nova Scotia Legal Aid lawyer who is dedicated to the court and acts as the lawyer for many of the accused. Darrah said the program can be a "huge commitment" that might involve 30 counselling sessions. "They're unpacking a lot of things, talking about very personal matters, making significant changes. So it can turn out to be much different than what they expected it to be." How it works From when the court started in March 2018 to March 2025, 1,146 people applied to enter the program. Data from the court shows that of those applicants, 78 per cent were men and 21 per cent were women. For a case to be accepted, the accused must be willing to accept responsibility by entering a guilty plea. After the guilty plea, the person attends counselling in group or individual sessions, with the goal of better understanding why they acted violently and how to change course. Counsellors hold weekly meetings with court officials for updates on the progress of each case. WATCH | She was a victim of violence; here's why she's helping others: She survived domestic violence. Now she's giving hope to others 5 months ago Wyndolyn Brown witnessed domestic violence growing up and then found herself trapped in intimate-partner violence. After finding the strength to break free, she's helping others through her non-profit organization, Empowerment for Hope. She spoke to the CBC's Elizabeth Chiu. The counselling can take months: the average length of time participants spent in the program was 307 days, as of the last fiscal year. At the end of the counselling, the Crown and defence make a recommendation on sentencing to the presiding judge. If the court is satisfied the person has shown improvement, a recommendation could include an absolute discharge, which leaves them without a criminal record. Removals from the program However, not everyone gets into the program. Of the 1,146 people who applied to enter, 210 weren't accepted. Some accused people opt to go back to the regular court system so they can have a trial rather than plead guilty. The Crown may veto a case if it's judged not to be appropriate for the program. That veto has happened 72 times — 43 of those times the case was deemed high-risk, as evaluated by police or transition house workers using one of Nova Scotia's widely-used risk assessment tools. About 23 per cent of the overall cases are considered high-risk. Many types of violence are considered. Domestic violence cases can involve severe physical assaults, spitting, slapping, shoving, property damage, threats or intimidation on social media. Even after acceptance to the program, not everyone finishes it. N.S. announces funding to help survivors of intimate partner violence 5 months ago Advocates have been lobbying for more funding to address the epidemic. On Thursday, the Elizabeth Fry Society held a vigil in honour of Nova Scotians who have been victims of intimate partner homicide. Celina Aalders has the story. Since its inception, 102 people didn't complete the program and were sent back to regular court to be sentenced. Most of them weren't attending their programming, didn't do the counselling work or kept offending. Jennifer Crewe, the dedicated Crown attorney for the court, says decisions to remove someone from the program are made on a "case-by-case" basis. "Ultimately, if it is determined by the team that this court is not a fit to address the risk or to address any concerns of violence or public safety, a person will be removed." New challenges The court is seeing changes in the cases coming through its doors. In 2018, it was unusual to get applicants who were homeless. Darrah noticed a change during the pandemic when people were forced to live in small spaces together. He's now seeing partners staying together because leaving is unaffordable, which raises tensions. He's also seen cases where the victim and accused are both homeless and living in the same encampment, but are under no-contact conditions. "That can be problematic when you are homeless and trying to find a place to stay," he said. "We will see cases where a client is breached for having contact because it's a small city, limited number of encampments. So it can lead to further involvement with the authorities." WATCH | Access to child care a key barrier to leaving violent relationships: Lack of child care a barrier to escaping domestic violence: experts 3 months ago As Celina Aalders reports, without access to child care and the ability to earn an income, victims of domestic violence often find themselves stuck. More interpretation, younger people The court is also seeing more cases that involve newcomers who require interpretation. Interpreters are available to assist during court, but it's not practical to send someone who needs an interpreter to a group counselling session. They must be assigned to an individual counsellor, and that can mean a waitlist of a few weeks. Some newcomers may be in Canada without full citizenship or permanent residency, and a criminal record could affect a person's ability to stay, Darrah said. "There's real consequences for not complying with the program as well, and that would be hanging over their head throughout that process." WATCH | Black men meet at barbershop to discuss preventing domestic violence: Barbershop meetings discuss ways to prevent domestic violence in N.S. 18 days ago A group of Black men in the Halifax area is talking about ways to prevent intimate partner violence. It's considered an epidemic in Nova Scotia, and Black communities face high rates. Elizabeth Chiu sat in on the group's final meeting and met the people who are helping to bring change. Some content may be triggering for viewers. The court is an adult court, but began this year to accept cases involving youth in their late teens. Darrah said he's "definitely" seeing more younger clients and the court is trying to "get at these issues as soon as we possibly can." Is the court reducing violence? Crocker, the professor of criminology at Saint Mary's University, helped conduct an evaluation of the pilot program to bring a domestic violence court to Sydney in 2016. She said measuring whether someone who completes the court program is likely to reoffend is difficult. "That's a really tricky question, unfortunately. It's the one that everybody always wants answers about," she said. "It's unfortunately one that is very hard to answer." CBC asked about statistics on recidivism, but the court was not able to provide any. Crocker said she feels the domestic violence court's approach is an effort to be "more human" to victims and those who are accused, but it should be supplemented by supports that can help people without needing to get the criminal justice system involved. "To me, it is a good idea — and it is not enough," she said. Nova Scotia Justice Minister Becky Druhan acknowledged the difficulty of tracking recidivism in a recent interview, but said domestic violence is a complex issue on a societal and individual level.
Forbes
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Inside America's Quiet Safety Revolution: How Local Leaders Are Cutting Crime Without More Cops
Collage of Getty Images featuring the three Mayors on the frontline of America's Crime Rate ... More Reduction : (1) Birmingham Mayor, (2) Chicago Mayor, (3) Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott /Getty Images. Used with permission from Getty Images. After years of headlines and reports warning of rising violence and disastrously high crime rates, something remarkable is happening: America's crime rates are quickly dropping. According to new data from the Vera Institute of Justice and the Council on Criminal Justice, homicides in the U.S. fell by 16 percent in 2024, with early 2025 showing an even sharper decline. In some cities, shootings are down nearly 40 percent. The national murder rate is now approaching pre-pandemic levels—despite political rhetoric suggesting otherwise. 'In and even in 2024, we are nationally at crime rates that match pre-pandemic lows.' said Insha Rahman, vice president of advocacy and partnerships at the Vera Institute of Justice. 'The increase in crime that happened as a result of the COVID-19 was basically wiped out entirely by 2024 and now we are witnessing declines that go even beyond pre-pandemic lows.' Rahman, who's also director of Vera Action, an independent, but aligned, sister nonprofit organization, highlighted double-digit declines in homicides and violent crime in Chicago, Baltimore, Birmingham, and Detroit. She and Vera Institute credit this decline to the work of municipal leaders and their crime prevention strategies. 'Cities in particular, and this isn't just big urban cities, but actually more suburban communities, are making real investment in building out a larger, comprehensive public safety infrastructure that supports police to focus on serious crime and then expands the tools and the toolkit of who should be the right first responder to a crisis to prevent crime,' she said. Insha Rahman (Photo by David Buchan/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images) While the downward trend began nearly a year before President Trump's return to the White House, the Trump administration has taken credit, without any evidence linking their deportation strategy to an overall decrease in crime. 'We've removed thousands of violent criminal, illegal aliens from our communities… and just a few months into office, the national murder rate has plummeted by 28 percent,' the President said during a roundtable with the Fraternal Order of Police. Despite shifting political rhetoric from Washington, the data tells a different—and encouraging—story. The United States is in the midst of a sustained, nationwide decline in violent crime. Part of a broader, multi-year trend led by local governments, the decrease began in the wake of the pandemic's peak. However, federal budget cuts stand to threaten the progress driven by targeted community investments, data-informed law enforcement, and a renewed focus on public and mental health. This multi-year decline comes at a time when local police departments are operating with fewer officers. A 2024 survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that departments are operating with a nearly 10 percent staffing deficit, with 65 percent reporting reduced services. Rahman sees this as further evidence that violent crime can't be solved through law enforcement alone. 'There has been decades of research that have found that simply adding more police is not going to drive down crime rates,' she said. She went on to explain that, 'we have actually seen in recent years as police departments have gotten smaller and again seen crime rates go down. So there's just no correlation between investing more in police and more funding for police and crime going down.' Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former middle school social studies public school teacher, visiting ... More Englewood STEM High School on the city's South side. As part of his mayoral agenda, Johnson has been focused on centering the voice of young Chicago residents and investing in all of Chicago neighborhoods—especially those usually left behind by previous mayors. Rahman also referenced a 2024 Brookings study which, based on the analysis of police records, found a direct connection between the 2020 spike in violent crime and local unemployment and school closures in low-income communities. The report highlights how violence is concentrated in areas of poverty due to a lack of opportunity, weaker social networks, income disparities, and environmental hazards, like lead paint and air pollution, which are linked to violent behavior later in life. Municipal leaders and mayors, Rahman argues, have been on the front lines of bringing violent crime to historic lows. In mid-July, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson marked the one-year anniversary of the Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago (SC2) initiative. The program targets neighborhoods on the South and West Sides where gun violence surged. "It's policing and affordable housing, policing and mental and behavioral health services," Mayor Johnson said at the event. "We have 29,000 young people that will have summer jobs this summer: a 45 percent increase. But it is also working with every single level of government.' The $400 million public-private partnership expanded violence intervention efforts and aimed to address gun-related crime through holistic solutions. According to the mayor's office, fatal shootings are down 25 percent over the past 12 months, and overall crime is down 33 percent. As Rahman explained, Johnson's administration has invested in public schools, parks, and programs to support vulnerable residents—all while navigating a politically resistant city and statewide apparatus. Investing and supporting Community Violence Interruptors is a core element of Chicago's efforts to ... More make communities and neighborhoods safer. At a visit to the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, Johnson sat down with a group of Interrupters to hear about their 4th of July weekend efforts to reduce violence. 'There's a lot to be said about managing a big city where a lot of politics is against you, as Mr. Johnson has experienced from the beginning of his mayoralty,' she said. Given those circumstances, Johnson told Forbes he and his team are proud of what they've accomplished. 'We've seen a significant reduction in crime and violence in Chicago because of our focus on more effective and strategic policing, our partnerships between law enforcement and community violence intervention groups, and our investments in people, particularly mental health services and youth summer jobs, " he said. Johnson, a longtime resident of Chicago's Austin neighborhood, which was deeply impacted by the pandemic crime spike, focused safety efforts on the 35 most violent police beats in the city, often characterized by the convergence of poverty, unemployment, and historic disinvestment. Mayor Brandon Scott, a father of three, visiting residents of Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood ... More as part of a Listening Session with the Baltimore City's Mayor Office for Overdose Response. In 2017, Baltimore sued the opioid industry for their role in fueling the city's opioid epidemic and its impact on public health and crime. With those settlements dollars, the city has been able to tackle the opioid epidemic head on and make neighborhoods safer. In Baltimore, more than 700 miles east of Chicago, a similar approach is unfolding as second-term mayor Brandon Scott makes crime reduction his political north star. Once labeled one of America's most dangerous cities, Baltimore has seen a 22 percent drop in homicides, a 19 percent drop in nonfatal shootings, and a 71 percent reduction in juvenile homicide victims—a 50-year low. "As someone who grew up in Baltimore in the 80s and 90s, the era of stop and frisk, I know from experience that making our city safer cannot be the job of the police department alone,' said Scott, a native Baltimorean whose high school is just blocks from City Hall 'It takes all of us working together, with a shared vision, to deliver the kind of sustained progress we're seeing today.' As part of its Group Violence Reduction Strategy, the city coordinates law enforcement, community leaders, and health providers to address the root causes of crime. The program includes job training, education, and relocation services for individuals most at risk. Baltimore is also seeing citywide declines in auto thefts (down 34 percent), robberies (22 percent), arson (10 percent), and carjackings (15 percent). Scott credits the work of residents and long-term investments poured into the community under his leadership. 'It takes investments beyond the police department, including in resources like rec centers, parks, pools, and schools, to build healthy, resilient communities that nurture healthy, resilient people,' Scott said. These gains also come as migration to the city increases at a relatively high rate. Scott attributes this gain to community members who are making the choice to heal their city. Mayor Brandon Scott addressing youth at Baltimore's 5th Annual Safe Summer Event. 'But our work is far from over. 68 lives lost to violence is 68 too many,' Scott said. 'While we acknowledge the historic lows we are experiencing, we must simultaneously acknowledge that there is much more work to do and our success makes me commit even further to doing it.' In Birmingham, the year-to-date homicide rate dropped by 52 percent as Mayor Randall Woodfin champions a community-first approach. 'The Birmingham Police Department is extremely aggressive in what they are doing and how they're taking a different approach in policing our community.' Woodfin told The Washington Informer. Birmingham, Ala., Mayor Randall Woodfin, moderates a conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris ... More at the National Urban League Annual Conference, on Friday, July 22, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Like Johnson, Woodfin is making progress without full support from higher levels of government. While the Chicago mayor faces opposition from fellow Democrats in City Hall and the State Capital, Woodfin contends with a Republican-led state legislature. This past spring, in what was seen as a power grab, Alabama lawmakers passed a bill to restructure the city's locally controlled Water Works Board. The success of all three mayors, all of whom are Black men, has been aided by federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Signed by President Biden, the law created 2,300 new early-intervention programs and allowed 3,500 public schools to expand their violence prevention teams. It also triggered investments in mental health care, housing, and responses to other root causes of crime. But in July, much of that funding was repealed through President Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which cut Medicaid, food programs, and community-based safety initiatives—returning to a traditional law-enforcement-heavy strategy. Mayor Randall Woodfin addressing city residents at during the National Institute for Criminal ... More Justice Reform's community feedback session. Johnson believes this could unravel local progress. 'Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill will cut healthcare, food and education funding for poor Chicagoans, undermining our efforts to stabilize our neighborhoods to reverse the gains we've made,' he said. Rahman agrees and warns the rollback could lead to a reversal in crime trends nationwide. 'President Trump has actually done a number of things that are likely to actually drive crime rates back-up, with the clearest example being cutting almost $1 billion worth in Department of Justice funding for crime reduction programing,' she said. While Rahman pointed to cuts in crisis response, incarceration alternatives, after-school programs, and community-based mental health care, she believes voters are paying attention. Referencing recent Vera exit polling from the New York mayoral primary, she noted that 75% of Democratic voters preferred investments in 'good schools, jobs, and affordable housing' over a 'tough on crime' approach. While it's too early to gauge the long-term effects of Trump's strategy, one thing is clear: the locally led, community-driven approach adopted by mayors like Johnson, Scott, and Woodfin is working and reshaping what public safety looks like in America.
Bloomberg
15-07-2025
- Bloomberg
Manhattan, Chicago Murder Rates Plunge in 2025, Officials Say
By and Miranda Davis Save Officials in Manhattan and Chicago touted sharp drops in homicides in the first six months of 2025, compared to the same period last year. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday that homicides and shootings in the New York City borough both fell by more than 40% in the first half. He said there were 22 murders in the borough in the six months ending June 29, a 46% drop from 2023. Shootings in Manhattan fell 43%.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Milwaukee's 2025 homicide increases continue as overall crime drops
While violent and property crime across almost every category has been down in Milwaukee in 2025 compared to this time last year, homicides have risen, continuing a trend that began six months ago. This year, there were 69 reported homicides in Milwaukee between Jan. 1 and June 30, a 13% increase from 61 a year ago. The year-to-year comparison statistics are now closer in the first week of July, which were not included in the mid-year crime report, with homicides now outpacing last year by 6%. "We'll continue to monitor that. The police department, of course, monitors that. The Office of Community Wellness and Safety continues to go out in the community and works to address those situations in Milwaukee as well," Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said at a press conference Wednesday detailing the second quarter's crime stats. In a prepared statement, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman cited "poor conflict resolution, petty arguments and interfamily conflict" as the root of the increase, and he also asked for help from the community to curb the heightened level of gun violence. "We do our best to go above and beyond by engaging with youth, mentoring and working with community partners to give young ones in our community positive outlets. But we can only do so much," Norman said. "MPD asks how we as a community get into the hearts and minds of those who place more value on petty arguments and violence than on the value of human life." The rise in homicides comes at a time when overall shootings are dipping, with nonfatal shootings dropping from 294 to 274, something Johnson called an "interesting dichotomy." The city's clearance rate for 2025 homicides was at 82%, a figure that factors in closed cases of past year's homicides in the total. Having an increase in homicides, Milwaukee stands out against other cities across the United States. As of July 1, Baltimore saw a 22% decrease in homicides from the same time in 2024. Philadelphia's homicides went down 9% and New Orleans has seen record low murder numbers. Despite the recent uptick, Johnson said he was confident Milwaukee's homicide numbers would soon see a decrease like other cities. "Typically those numbers have been going down," he said. "So we'll continue to emphasize the need for partnerships to address those things. Call out adults that are doing bad things out there, working to invest in kids as well. I think we will eventually continue down the path to success as it relates to homicides of Milwaukee, because we've seen that it has been working." Overall, part 1 crimes — which the FBI defines as homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and vehicle theft — have decreased 11% from last year. Total violent crimes went down 17% and property crimes 7%. Robbery and aggravated assault both went down 19%, along with decreases to burglary (3%) and theft (7%). Positive change was seen in reckless driving as well. There was a 4% decrease in both crashes and hit and run crashes, and crash fatalities were cut in half to 18 from 36. Another category that, like homicides, has increased this year is human trafficking with 25 offenses, six more than at this time last year (19) and seven more than two years ago (18). Rape also went up from 215 instances last year to 218 this year. At the press conference, both Norman and Johnson emphasized the importance of helping the city's youth to curb the violence. Norman brought up two shootings involving teenagers: one in late June in which 15-year-old Hezile J. Frison shot his older sister, Ashley Hudson, over a social media dispute; and another where a 13-year-old shot four people, killing one. Johnson said programs like Camp Rise, a city-led summer camp, and the YMCA are important to keeping kids safe. "We want to make sure that more young people in Milwaukee have opportunities just like [the YMCA]," Johnson said. "I know that it's important for kids to be safe and to make the right choices." Jack Albright can be reached at jalbright@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee continues to see increase in homicides in 2025
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Dozen dead by midday as drug violence, homicides flare in Juárez
A tidal wave of violence struck Juárez, Mexico, leaving at least a dozen dead by early afternoon on Thursday, July 10, with homicides at various locations across the city. The killings were suspected of being linked to fighting among drug-trafficking groups, but the investigations were still ongoing. More: Tiger found in Juárez with no water or documents seized by Mexican authorities The rash of bloodshed began in the morning when the body of a man, who had his hands and feet tied, was found along a street in the Senderos de San Isidro area in the southeastern corner at the edge of the city, El Heraldo de Juárez reported. Previously: Drug cartels: Bodies hanged from bridge outside Juárez. Armored vehicles seized. The homicide would be followed that morning by the killing of a woman inside a house in Colonia Heroes de la Revolución in southeastern Juárez before another woman was fatally shot at a home in Colonia Aztecas in the central area of the city, El Heraldo reported. The killings would continue to mount with two men gunned down at a home and another two men fatally shot a few blocks away in the Granjas de Chapultepec area in the southcentral part of Juárez. Mexico violence: Juárez gang war: Lawyer killed, bodies burned as violence continues in border city Five other men were killed in separate attacks by gunmen at homes in different locations as the day continued into the afternoon, the Norte Digital news site reported. The Mexican border city across from El Paso has seen fluctuating violence this year, believed to be linked to fighting between drug gangs, including La Línea, also known as the New Juárez Cartel, and a Sinaloa cartel faction called Los Cabrera. Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@ and @BorundaDaniel on X. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Mexico drug violence flares in Juárez with dozen homicides by midday
