Summary
Memphis District Attorney Bill Gibbons knows that surrendering to crime denies the American dream to those who no longer feel safe in their homes, on their streets, or in their schools. He describes the effective steps taken in his own community of Memphis as well as other successful efforts in communities across America. The clear message of NO SURRENDER! is that we can win the fight against crime. Citizens are fed up with drug dealers, violent gang members, the rundown properties that breed crime, repeat violent offenders still walking the streets, and juveniles roaming their neighborhoods looking for trouble. Rising crime and the fear it causes result in abandonment of communities by many with the resources to go elsewhere. The most vulnerable are left behind to fight the battle for safety and survival. The downward spiral continues, with loss of jobs, decline in property values, and a fortress mentality of fear, isolation, and failure. Yet, communities once plagued with crime are staging breakthroughs that few would have predicted or imagined. By using resources in smart, innovative ways, prosecutors and others in law enforcement are working with citizens to become agents of proactive change. Fear and surrender are being replaced with hope and victory over the culture of drugs and violence. Gibbons is driven by his strong belief that freedom from crime in our daily lives is critical to our fundamental right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He shares with readers how to re-establish strong, safe neighborhoods. After listening to the needs of thousands of citizens, he has developed a solid approach for communities to overcome the threat of crime. NO SURRENDER! is a street wise battle plan for communities to control their own destinies and win the fight against crime.
About the Author
Bill Gibbons serves as District Attorney for Shelby County (Memphis), Tennessee. Appointed by the governor in 1996, he was elected without opposition to a full eight-year term in 1998. In a landslide victory, he was re-elected in 2006. Prior to that, Gibbons was a partner at one of Memphis’ oldest law firms. He was previously elected to the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. He also served on the staff of former Tennessee Governor Lamar Alexander. As D.A., Gibbons places major emphasis on street and neighborhood crime caused by the deadly combinations of gangs, guns, and drugs, as well as domestic violence and child abuse. He’s implemented a no plea bargaining policy on the most violent crimes, and worked with other law enforcement officials to crack down on illegal possession of guns by convicted felons. Gibbons has also focused on more effective responses to the community’s “broken windows,” such as truancy, prostitution and problem properties that can rapidly escalate to more serious crime. Gibbons serves on the board of directors and as a vice-president of the National District Attorneys Association and is a member of the board of American Prosecutors Research Institute. Gibbons received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University. He is married to United States Court of Appeals Judge Julia S. Gibbons. They have two children.
