REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME Certified Public Manager® Training Program 2014 CPM Solutions Alabama August 2014 REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME PROJECT TEAM MEMBERS Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole Ken Fetzer [email protected] Alabama Department of Human Resources Fannie Ashley [email protected] Alabama Department of Labor Wynona Croskey [email protected] Tamaya Knox [email protected] Tina Moore [email protected] Angelenna Williams [email protected] Alabama Department of Revenue Johnetta Robinson [email protected] Alabama Film Office Tommy Fell [email protected] Reducing Violent Crime Page 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ..........................................................................................................................5 Project Task .....................................................................................................................................7 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................8 Other Major Metropolitan Cities Located in Alabama ...................................................................9 Birmingham ..................................................................................................................................9 Huntsville .....................................................................................................................................9 Mobile ..........................................................................................................................................9 Definition of Violent Crime ...........................................................................................................10 Violent Crime Statistics ................................................................................................................10 Table 1: Alabama’s 2013 Reported Violent Crimes ................................................................10 2011-2013 Comparison of Montgomery Versus Other Metropolitan Cities in Alabama ............11 Table 2: Assaults in the Four Major Metropolitan Cities .........................................................12 Table 3: Homicides in the Four Major Metropolitan Cities .....................................................12 Table 4: Rapes in the Four Major Metropolitan Cities ............................................................13 Table 5: Robberies in the Four Major Metropolitan Cities ......................................................13 Past and Present Crime Prevention Programs Utilized in Montgomery .......................................13 Enough is Enough .....................................................................................................................14 Helping Montgomery Families Initiative (HMFI) .....................................................................15 Table 6: 2012-2013 Suspensions by Grade Level for MPS ...................................................16 Table 7: TIP Program: DA Attendance Alert Letters .............................................................17 Milwaukee Homicide Review Commission ...............................................................................17 Prevention Programs Utilized in Other Alabama Cities and Across United States ......................19 Choice Bus Inside Out ...............................................................................................................19 Operation Cease Fire ..................................................................................................................20 Redirection .................................................................................................................................21 Table 8: Redirection: Lower Rates of Recidivism and Placement Outcomes ........................23 YouthBuild .............................................................................................................................23 Proposed Solutions .......................................................................................................................25 Reducing Violent Crime Team Recommendations ......................................................................26 Expanding Montgomery Public Schools Violence Prevention Efforts ......................................26 Table 9: MPS Suspensions for Serious Disciplinary Actions ................................................29 GREAT (Gang Resistance and Education Training) Middle School Classroom Component ...30 SAVE (Sentencing Alternative Vocational Enhancement) ........................................................33 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................35 References ......................................................................................................................................36 Reducing Violent Crime Page 3 Acknowledgements The project team would like to thank the following individuals for their support, guidance, and assistance throughout this project: Chief John E. Brown Interim Chief of Police Montgomery Police Department Sergeant Denise Barnes Public Relations Officer Montgomery Police Department Major John Bowman Patrol Division Commander Montgomery Police Department Lieutenant C. J. Coughlin Major Crimes Bureau Commander Montgomery Police Department Lieutenant Mike Myrick Gang Intelligence Unit Montgomery Police Department Lieutenant R. J. Rider Domestic Violence Bureau Commander Montgomery Police Department Corporal Crystal Stout Gang Intelligence Unit Montgomery Police Department Daryl D. Bailey District Attorney Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Roderick Chambers District Manager Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole SoJuan Crenshaw, PhD Career Technical Education Coordinator Alabama Department of Youth Services Reducing Violent Crime Page 4 Cynthia S. Dillard Executive Director Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles Sandra Edwards, MPA Director of Helping Montgomery Families Initiative (HMFI) Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Duane Johnson Pretrial Diversion Director Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Leatha Maxton, PhD Director of Student Social Services Montgomery Public Schools Edward J. Nettles Senior Pastor Freewill Missionary Baptist Church Jason Phelps Executive Director Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute Sherri Stewart Executive Director Mattie C. Stewart Foundation Azzie Taylor Chief Deputy District Attorney Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office Harold Wells, PhD Assistant Regional Administrator Southeast GREAT Training Center Nashville, TN Charles L. Woodley, PhD Chief Psychologist MHM Services Inc. Reducing Violent Crime Page 5 PROJECT TASK In February of 2014, the director for the Auburn University at Montgomery’s Outreach Training Solutions, Leslie Meadows, assigned the Reducing Violent Crime Team the task of finding and recommending solutions to help reduce violent crime in Montgomery and throughout the state of Alabama. In an effort to achieve the goal, we listened to numerous subject matter experts to acquire some insight. We compared Montgomery crime statistics to other cities in and outside Alabama. We evaluated initiatives that are being utilized by other cities. We developed strategies and interventions that we are recommending for use in Montgomery and throughout the state of Alabama. Reducing Violent Crime Page 6 Introduction Purpose Montgomery is the capital of the State of Alabama, and is home to more than 200,000 citizens. Employers such as the State of Alabama, Maxwell and Gunter Air Force Base, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, three major hospitals, and a number of universities and schools bring commuters into the city each day. The median household income for Montgomery is $44,674. The city’s vibrant economy, arts and entertainment venues and nationally recognized magnet schools continue to attract people who want to live and conduct business in Montgomery. In 2013, much of this was overshadowed by an unusually high homicide rate. Fifty homicides occurred in Montgomery. This was an increase from 32 homicides in 2012 and 31 homicides in 2011. The rise in violent crime is a concern to city officials, business leaders, and residents alike. Montgomery’s homicide rate is nearly double that of other cities of similar population. For example, during this same year Shreveport, Louisiana had 29 homicides, and Columbus, Georgia reported 22 homicides. The Reducing Violent Crime Team has been tasked to determine how Montgomery compares to other comparable cities in terms of violent crimes and homicide rates, and evaluate the initiatives utilized by other cities to reduce and prevent such acts. Based upon the research conducted, we will develop strategies and interventions that can guide the leaders of Montgomery, and potentially other cities across Alabama, toward the best possible solutions to ensure that the City of Montgomery is a safe and secure place to live and work. Approach The team met with John E. Brown, Chief of Staff for the Montgomery Police Department. Chief Brown and other command staff members of the Montgomery Police Department enlightened our team on a problem facing the Montgomery Police Department and the citizens of Montgomery; the problem being the unusual increase in the number of violent crimes committed during 2013. Chief