TEN_18-21_Attachment_1.pdf

ETA Advisory File Text

I-1 CVI Program Models and Select Examples. 1. The Group Violence Intervention GVI model applies a problem-solving orientation to policing to achieve specific goals such as reducing youth homicide and gun violence. A working group comprised of key local entities works in close partnership to define the problem and coordinate a multi-faceted solution. Working groups often include law enforcement agencies such as local police and District Attorney s offices school systems faith- and community-based organizations and trusted community members. The model minimizes harm to communities by replacing enforcement with deterrence and fosters stronger relationships between law enforcement and the people they serve. Pioneered in Boston in the 1990s as Operation Ceasefire GVI focuses on the groups at highest risk for violent victimization and offending with the intention to keep those in them alive safe and out of prison. Results are striking. The original implementation was associated with several statistically significant results including a 63 percent reduction in youth homicide a 25 percent decrease in gun assault incidents and a 32 percent decrease in citywide shots-fired calls for assistance.27 The GVI model has been implemented in dozens of cities across the U.S. including Boston Massachusetts Minneapolis Minnesota Bronx New York Winston-Salem North Carolina Oakland California Stockton California Indianapolis Indiana Chicago Illinois Detroit Michigan Memphis Tennessee New Haven Connecticut Portland Oregon and New Orleans Louisiana. Additional information about GVI is available at www.nnscommunities.org strategies group-violence-intervention . Select examples of GVI programs include the following i. Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination BRAVE Baton Rouge Louisiana . This program in Baton Rouge Louisiana aims to eliminate violent juvenile crime in the area of the city in which the most crime of this kind occurs. Goals include changing community norms providing alternatives to gang and group violence participants and increasing awareness among group or gang members that their risk of being arrested convicted and heavily sanctioned is significant. These goals are accomplished through engagement and educational activities that increase the social cohesion of the community and forge the development of an authentic community-police partnership coordination of social service and educational partners to help youth and implementation of a focused deterrence approach to community-based policing. BRAVE is administered by the Victim Assistance Bureau in the East Baton Rouge District Attorney s office in collaboration with the Mayor s office the law enforcement community the public school system local service providers faith-based organizations and Louisiana State University. Additional information on BRAVE is available at 27 Braga et. al. 2001 . Attachment I IA I-2 http www.ebrda.org victims-assistance english index.php scroll down to What We Do and click on the BRAVE box . ii. Community Crisis Intervention Program CCIP Philadelphia Pennsylvania . CCIP combats violence by intervening where the violence is most prevalent. Credible messengers who are products of Philadelphia s most violent neighborhoods participate as outreach workers to foster meaningful relationships with all residents. CCIP works to provide those involved in criminal activities with positive alternatives. The program responds to neighborhood crises with mediation and resources and a willingness to support anyone looking for a peaceful alternative. CCIP operates with support from several City of Philadelphia agencies and community-based organizations such as the Philadelphia Anti-Drug Anti-Violence Network. For more information visit https www.paan1989.org programs. 2. In the Cure Violence model outreach workers are trained to identify conflicts within their community and help resolve disputes before they spiral into gun violence. These outreach workers are credible members of the community and well-respected by individuals at a high risk of violence. Outreach workers use their credibility to interrupt cycles of retaliatory violence help connect high-risk individuals to social services and change norms around using guns to solve conflicts. This model utilizes a public health approach and is aimed at stopping the spread of violence after an incident occurs much like the spread of disease through violence interrupters to stop the bleeding when volatility is likely to erupt into violence. The model is highly adaptable to local context and as such can be used in diverse places with relatively good effect if implemented properly.28 Additional information about Cure Violence is available at https cvg.org . Select examples of the Cure Violence model at work include i. St. Louis Area Violence Prevention Commission St. Louis Missouri Region . The Commission works through its nearly 70 member organizations to reduce violent crime in the region by promoting and advocating for coordinated well- resourced policies support systems and interventions among area governments institutions and agencies that serve individuals and families most at risk of violent crime. Additional information is available at www.stlareavpc.org . ii. Safe Streets Baltimore Maryland . Safe Streets is a community safety initiative to reduce shootings in several Baltimore communities where homicide is one of the greatest risk factors for teenagers and young adults ages 14-25. The core strategy of Safe Streets is to engage community stakeholders in planning and carrying out community activities publicly responding to shootings and 28 Butts et. al. 2015 . I-3 homicides and mobilizing residents to take the streets back from criminals and gangs. In addition Safe Streets employs Violence Interrupters to go into the community and mediate disputes before they escalate to violence while simultaneously recruiting troubled or adjudicated youth to be a part of the program. These outreach workers provide appropriate connections and referrals to clients including but not limited to GED and job-training programs professional counseling individual and family transitional housing and health and family services. Additional information is available at https monse.baltimorecity.gov safe-streets-0. iii. Save Our Streets S.O.S. Brooklyn and Bronx New York . S.O.S. outreach workers attempt to defuse conflicts before they erupt into violence. Program staff also work to address the traumatic effects of experiencing violence on young men of color and act as mentors to those at risk of perpetrating or being the victims of violence. The goal is to help service recipients make behavioral changes by providing them with services and linkages to meaningful educational and employment opportunities. Additional information is available at www.courtinnovation.org programs save-our-streets-sos. 3. Founded in East Los Angeles California Homeboy Industries helps formerly gang involved and previously incarcerated individuals by offering hope training and job skills. The goal is to help former gang members redirect their lives and become contributing members of their families and communities. They accomplish this through a unique 18-month employment and reentry program that provides free wraparound services including case management substance abuse resources mental health services legal aid workforce development and apprenticeship programs and tattoo removal. Since 1988 the organization has served over 7 800 community clients and transformed not only their clients lives but also those of their families and communities. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang intervention rehab and reentry program in the world serving as a model for other organizations and cities in the United States and around the world. For more information about Homeboy Industries visit https homeboyindustries.org .