O’Brien is speaking
about crime

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Pennsylvania House Speaker Dennis O’Brien is not interested in quick-fix solutions to crime and violence across the state.
Instead, O’Brien (R-169th dist.) preaches a "systemic" approach.
"We have to look at long-term solutions," he said.
Since the House’s summer recess in August, O’Brien has hosted six open forums on five subjects: criminal justice; education and economics; drug, alcohol and behavioral health issues; community outreach; and mental health.
The most recent and final meeting took place last week at CORA Services in Fox Chase. The subject was mental health, and the session attracted judges, legislators and officials with agencies such as United Way, the city Department of Human Services and the state Departments of Public Welfare and Health.
O’Brien chose CORA as the site because of its reputation in the community for working effectively with at-risk youths and families.
"If we don’t give them preventative services, they go to the next level and are involved in the criminal justice system," he said after the three-and-a-half-hour Jan. 10 session.
The other inclusive conversations have drawn policy experts, service providers, police officers and prosecutors, who have brainstormed to identify solutions to crime and violence.
In the speaker’s view, the more voices the merrier, but those people must have a commitment to the cause and be creative in finding workable, cost-efficient solutions.
As examples of organizations that do good work in various fields, he cited the Moore College of Art, the Academy in Manayunk, and Self-Help Movement, the Somerton organization with a great success rate of treating alcoholics and drug addicts.
O’Brien plans a Speaker’s Symposium on Crime and Violence on March 5 in Harrisburg. There, participants will break into work groups and present their findings to propose solutions at the legislative and administrative levels.
One of those solutions will probably not be the hiring of 10,000 police officers across the state. Rep. John Perzel (R-172nd dist.) — a former speaker and O’Brien rival — has introduced such a bill and was scheduled to hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda this week to help move the measure out of the Appropriations Committee.
O’Brien argues that too much emphasis is placed on the number of murders in Philadelphia and that the decrease in shootings and violent crime has been overlooked. He favors the hiring of more officers but not necessarily that many. He wants more probation and parole officers hired to address recidivism.
"All the cops in the world are not going to solve the problem," the speaker said.
O’Brien’s approach includes drug and alcohol treatment, GED classes, anger management courses, job skills training, housing advice and tips on transitioning back into the community.
His dream is for the police, district attorneys, the courts and prisons to work well together. He’s looking forward to working with longtime friend Ron Castille, a Rhawnhurst resident and former Philadelphia district attorney who was sworn in Monday as chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The symposium and resulting recommendations won’t entirely focus on criminals. Victims will be empowered in court and at trials.
"We have to be very victim sensitive," O’Brien said. "Continuances are justice delayed, which is justice denied."
The speaker believes all citizens have a role to play. As one example, he credits members of Calvary Athletic Association with starting a Town Watch.
"As a community, if we see a problem in the park or a drug dealer on the corner, we can intervene," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com