Keeping People Safe from "Safe Homes"

Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner recently proposed a resolution that will "urge" the Boston Police Department (BPD) to temper its controversial Safe Homes Initiative.

In the six-month initiative that began March 27th, BPD officers search, with consent from a parent, the bedroom of a child aged 17 and who police suspect of gun possession. If a gun is found, neither the parent nor child will be charged with possession of a firearm, unless the gun has been involved in a "serious crime" … then, no protection from prosecution exists.
The initiative was created to curb youthful gun violence in the city, but has drawn privacy rights criticism.

Turner's resolution suggests that the BPD either add blanket immunity from prosecution, or conduct informational visits and then leave it up to parents to call if they want their child's room searched. The latter, according to the proposal, will "ensure that the 'consent to search' is indeed voluntary."

Councilman Charles Yancy, along with several of the 15 community members who testified at a hearing last week on the proposal, expressed worry that people will not say no to the police, out of fear or ignorance of their rights

Gerald Stewart, an assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, said that a separate informational visit prior to a search would lead youngsters to remove the guns from their homes before the search could be performed.

Since Safe Homes began, three homes have been searched, in each instance as a result of the parent calling and requesting a search, said Deputy Superintendent Gary French. Currently, the program allows police to act on a tip from anyone—neighbors, schools and community organizations, there's even an anonymous tip line.

"I really appreciate the fact that you've been very hesitant with moving forward aggressively," Turner said at the 150 minute hearing. "Given that reality ... I think it would serve the interest of the parents, the police department, and the city in general well to formalize that."

French said that the department's response to the proposal would have to be discussed with other officers before a decision could be made, but he said the City Council would hear from him in a couple weeks.