Christie Talks Crime In Camden As Part Of Pres. Campaign
By David Madden.
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Chris Christie returned to New Jersey, where the Governor made an appearance in Camden to tout his community building efforts in places like Camden as part of his ongoing Presidential campaign.
Christie's been trying to contrast his approach on crime by using the experiences here and elsewhere in New Jersey and insisting they could work from coast to coast.
Summarizing his overall approach, Christie told some 100 supporters at the Clemente Community Center "We should stay tough on dealing with violent offenders. For offenders who have paid their debt to society and are trying to reclaim their lives. We need to give them a real second chance."
His plan reflects heavily on things that have worked in New Jersey. Options like community policing, reform the drug war with emphasis on treatment, making bail reasonable for people to meet making sure non violent offenders have alternatives to incarceration.
Christie highlighted successes in bringing down Camden's crime rate, as well as the state, by taking a different approach.
"Peace on our streets is more than just an absence of violence" said Christie. "Justice isn't something that we can jail our way out to. Justice is something we have to build together in our communities."
The Governor reminded people of his pro-life stance, but added "I believe that if you are going to be pro-life, then you ought to care about life beyond the womb. An unborn child is life. But life is also that 16-year-old addict lying on the floor of the county lockup."
Christie's time in New Jersey was brief. He quickly returned to New England to resume his campaign in New Hampshire.
