Pastor leads efforts to get to the root of crime in Shelby County and Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - There are new efforts find the root causes of crime in Memphis and Shelby County.

Right now, those who’ve been involved in crimes can fill out a survey to share their experiences - and what shaped their decisions.

Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher is leading the effort and says this data matters when it comes to finding solutions to crime.

“It’s about making sure that we document and confirm some of the perspectives from people who have been directly involved in criminal activity, especially violent crime,” Dr. Fisher says.

It’ll be a fresh perspective to a long-time issue in Memphis and Shelby County.

Dr. Earle Fisher, pastor of Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church in Whitehaven, is partnering with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, the Office of Re-entry, Just City, The Ben. F. Jones Chapter of the National Bar Association and other attorneys to better understand why certain crimes are committed.

It’s called the V.O.I.C.E.S project, Vital Observations on Individuals’ Criminal Experiences and Stories.

“As a scholar I know that this is some valuable data that no one had picked up on,” he said. I knew in the conversations in the rooms that I’d been in ... people of good will, people who really want to see change happen have been missing this part of the equation.”

So far 65 surveys have been completed, with the hopes of getting at least 200 in the coming weeks.

“We’re aspiring for 500 and if we get up to 1,000 then I will thank God, and the citizens of Memphis and Shelby County,” Dr. Fisher said.

He also tells Action News 5, this data will speak for itself.

Data that Dr. Fisher says he hopes, helps Memphis leaders and decision-makers gain a better understanding, to SHIFT how crime is addressed.

“We are some brilliant people, some beautiful people, some bold people, and people full of ingenuity, which is part of the reason why we should find ways to remedy some of the social ills,” Dr. Fisher said. I have probably as much anxiety as the rest of the people in the city and the county about what could happen, but I’m definitely committed to doing the work to make sure the things that should happen end up happening and so that’s why we put this project together.”

You can fill out the survey here, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PSXSYNL.

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