Public Hearing: YES ☐ NO ☒ Department: Police Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Commission District(s): All Commission Districts
National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay - Group Violence Intervention (GVI), $233,000.00
Body
Information Contact: Joseph H. Lumpkin, Sr., Deputy COO, Public Safety
Phone Number: 770-724-7670
PURPOSE:
•To consider approving the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) contract with The Research Foundation of the City University of New York on behalf of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; and
•To consider approving payment of $233,000.00, over a nineteen month period for the design and implementation of the Group Violence Intervention (“GVI”) initiative; and
•To consider authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to execute the necessary documents.
NEED/IMPACT:
The Group Violence Intervention (GVI) initiative is known by various names, including Operation Ceasefire (as used in Boston); it is focused on reducing homicides and gun violence. Research has proven that a small number of identifiable street groups commit crime putting the people in the community at risk. There are three core tactics of GVI: 1) a sincere, moral message against committing violence; 2) a credible law enforcement message about the group consequences of further violence; and 3) a genuine offer of social services to members of street groups (to leave and make positive changes). GVI aims to build partnerships between law enforcement, social service agencies, and community residents. GVI has been successfully implemented in various cities such as, Chicago, Detroit, Boston, Lowell, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and New Orleans. The outcomes were significant. Boston saw a 63% reduction in youth homicide, Indianapolis had a 34% drop in homicides, and Lowell had a 44% decrease in gun assaults. The DeKalb County Police Department aims to replicate similar decreases in crime across its communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Contract Amount: $233,000.00
Position(s) created: There are no positions created by this funding.
Effective Dates: September 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommended Action
•To approve the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) contract with The Research Foundation of the City University of New York on behalf of the National Network for Safe Communities at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; and •To consider approving payment of $233,000.00, over a nineteen-month period for the design and implementation of the Group Violence Intervention (“GVI”) initiative; and •To authorize the Chief Executive Officer to execute all the necessary documents.