Murder in America is a Million Dollar Problem. One Researcher has a Solution

Each one of those murders carries an unimaginable weight for victim’s families and loved ones. But it’s also a problem that affects every one of us.

More than 17,000 people were murdered in the United States in 2017. And last year, according to the Detroit Police Department, there were 261 murders right here in Detroit.

Each one of those murders carries an unimaginable weight for victim’s families and loved ones. But it’s also a problem that affects every one of us.

Each murder costs society somewhere between $10 to $20 million dollars according to Harvard University senior research fellow, Thomas Abt, who is also the author of Bleeding Out: The Devastating Consequences of Urban Violence — And a Bold New Plan for Peace in the Streets.

Abt, who served as a policymaker in Barack Obama’s Justice Department, speaks with Detroit Today host Stephen Henderson about the root causes of urban violence, which is by far the leading cause of death of young black men in the U.S., and real solutions to the problem.

Click on the audio player to hear Harvard research fellow and author, Thomas Abt, discuss solutions to urban violence on Detroit Today. 

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  • Detroit Today
    Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.