Pittsburgh Adopts Boston Model for Fighting Crime

Pittsburgh is adopting what Mayor Luke Ravenstahl says is a proven model for fighting violent crime. It was developed in Boston. Some call it the "Boston Miracle" because gun violence dropped there 70 percent. The architect of the plan is Professor David Kennedy of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He says it’s not about devoting more resources to the problem; it’s about structuring them in a different way. He says in most cities, small street groups are responsible for the majority of violent crime. Kennedy’s model focuses on confronting them directly. He says part of the challenge lies in enlisting people who street criminals trust, like their families and older ex-convicts who can tell them about the potential consequences of making poor choices.