SITE OVERVIEW ♦ DETROIT | MICHIGAN
Target Area: Eastern District • Population: 28,000
Fiscal Agent: Detroit Crime Commission (DCC)
Research Partner: Wayne State University’s Center for Urban Studies
Crime Concerns: Gang-related violence, gun-related violence, aggravated assaults, burglaries, and other violent crimes
BCJI Funding Year: 2012 Planning & Implementation
Neighborhood Profile
The Eastern District is one of the most challenged areas in Detroit - a city beset by steep population declines and high levels of housing and business vacancies. In the target area, urban blight exists on an almost unprecedented scale. Within the 24 square mile area that comprises the Eastern District, there are over 5,000 abandoned properties. In addition, a few census tracts in the target area have address vacancy rates of nearly 50 percent, which means that almost every other home is vacant. Crime rates are also exceptionally high. The Eastern District of the Detroit Police Department reported the following crime statistics for the period of January 2010 through May 2012: 170 homicides; 13,793 aggravated assaults; 9,216 burglaries; 2,223 armed robberies; 6,200 larcenies; 516 rapes; and 5,902 motor vehicle thefts. In addition to violent crimes, the target area is a haven for gang activity. A sampling of gangs in the community include well organized criminal groups like the 7 Mile Bloods, the Monopoly Kings, and the Hustle Boys. A growing concern is that the lack of economic and educational opportunities as well as personal safety concerns makes gang membership virtually inevitable for both young men and women in the community.
Planning Process
Partners for the Detroit BCJI project, Detroit Eastern District Initiative (DEDI), included the Detroit Crime Commission (DCC), the Detroit Police Department, and Wayne County Sheriff, Michigan Department of Corrections, Wayne County Prosecutor, Children’s Aid Society, Detroit Community Initiative, and Wayne State University’s Center for Urban Studies. The planning phase proceeded through a series of meetings with a community-based team over the course of nine months, from October 2012 through June 2013. These meetings provided opportunities for partners to (a) review data and research on crime drivers, (b) discuss neighborhood characteristic and dynamics, (c) investigate community sentiments and priorities, and (d) identify areas for interagency collaboration and cooperation. Several focus groups and listening sessions were also held where residents, community organizations, and business representatives were invited to discuss the most pressing needs and opportunities for crime prevention efforts.
Implementation Strategies
The DEDI was one of several major efforts that focused on revitalizing a set of distressed neighborhoods in Detroit’s Eastern Police District. DEDI was joined by the ongoing work of the local philanthropic community, the Detroit Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, Ceasefire Detroit, and other organizations. The need to collaborate and coordinate across these initiatives was recognized by BCJI stakeholders. Consequently, DEDI conducted bi-weekly, collaborative, COMPSTAT-style accountability meetings that included key implementing agencies, many of which were already involved in multiple initiatives within the target area. The community-based team (law enforcement and community partners) used these meetings to systematically review information on crime drivers, assess resource allocation and resource needs, and review progress toward goals and objectives. Their efforts emphasized:
- Community engagement, by engaging residents in existing community meetings such as the Eastern District’s monthly police-community relations meetings.
- Youth engagement, by implementing the Gang Awareness and Prevention Program (GAPP) which provided secondary prevention and intervention services to a total of 300 high-risk youth who were referred by BCJI partners based on their previous involvement in violence, gangs, or other criminal behavior.
- Targeted law enforcement, through various strategies such as conducting surveillance on problematic locations and individuals suspected of narcotic trafficking and Spotcheck, which involved enhanced monitoring of active parolees and probationers using data and intelligence information
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