Camden Safer Cities Initiative CSCI

1
Camden Safer Cities Initiative(CSCI)

• Principal Investigator Dr. Richard Harris
• Project Manager Tracy Swan, MPA, MCJ

2
Statement of the Problem

• Roughly 1,000 aggravated assaults per year,
  10-12 are committed with a gun
• Of those arrested, 28 on parole or probation at
  time of offense 24 previously committed a
  maximum prison sentence
• Similar percentages for victims
• Majority of suspects victims aged 18-24
• Both victims suspects average 3 prior arrests
• Underlying motive for street violence in Camden
  is the drug market

3
What was CSCI?

• A Collaborative, Problem-Solving Program
• Organize the criminal justice community and local
  leaders from Camdens faith-based, neighborhood,
  social service organizations to reduce violent
  crime in Camden
• Help Camden residents feel safe in their city
• Prevent probationers and parolees (adult
  juvenile) from killing or being killed
• Reduce recidivism of probationers and parolees

4
What was CSCI?

• Identify notify probationers and parolees
  (adult juvenile) at risk of involvement with a
  violent crime to the CSCI caseload
• Assess participants to identify social service
  needs
• Regularly review participants progress
• Refer participants to needed social services
  track their compliance
• Identify gaps in social services work with
  policy makers to address gaps

5
Initiative Results(February 2005 June 2007)

• 143 participants were included on the CSCI
  caseload
• Probation 36
• Juvenile Parole 33
• Adult Parole 74
• Services Provided
• 71 of CSCI participants made at least 1 contact
  with Employment Services
• 31 were linked with Education Services
• 29 were linked with Alcohol Drug Treatment
• 21 were linked with Mental Health Services

6
Initiative Results

• No CSCI participant was arrested for gun-related,
  violent crimes while on the caseload.
• No CSCI participant was killed as a result of a
  shooting or a gun-related crime while on the
  caseload.
• 4 CSCI participants were rearrested on charges
  that include possession of a firearm.
• 1 CSCI participant was a victim of a shooting.

7
CSCI Participants Re-Arrest through 18 months
Recidivism Rate
8
Other Important Results

• Surveys administered to CSCI Steering Committee
  members demonstrated that Safer Cities has
  significantly increased the level of
  communication and problem-solving among its
  partners.
• Survey results pointed to the neutral convening
  provided by WRI as the leading factor to agencies
  being much more willing to reach out to other
  criminal justice entities for information and
  help.
• WRI staff gained expertise in data collection and
  analysis of violent crime in Camden.

9
Other Important Results

• Due to the results of CSCI and WRIs growing
  reputation as a go to organization for design and
  implementation of public safety initiatives, WRI
  has since been awarded
• Operation CeaseFire
• Prevention Policy Initiatives in Camden, Trenton
  Vineland
• Operation ReConnect Re-Entry Center
• PRI Respect
• PRI Corp