There is nothing compassionate, however, about going soft even on so-called “nonserious” and “nonviolent” crime. What about the victims of such crime? Where is the concern for them among those eager to reduce criminal penalties?
California is not the only place where going soft on crime has had negative effects on urban centers. Similar trends have occurred elsewhere. These realities beg the question: Can policies that make things intolerably worse for everyone really be called compassionate at all?
Increasing homelessness is transforming the landscape across many of our nation’s largest urban centers. People living on the streets are creating unsanitary conditions, engaging in threatening behavior and generally making our cities less inviting. And there’s a paradox involved. Many of these cities have invited more homelessness in the first place – all in the name of compassion.