Accountability, Mentoring & Enforcement Problem-Solving in Public Housing Providence Police Department 2012 Herman Goldstein Award Finalist

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 Presenters Lieutenant Dean Isabella Providence Police Department Jim Baum Special Assistant Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General Sorrel Devine Director of Resident Services Providence Housing Authority

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 Targeted Housing Developments Manton Heights Hartford Park  2,260 people live in 81 buildings  98% residents extremely low income  93% households headed by women – many single mothers  48% residents under age 18

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 Background  Conflict between “Hartford Soldiers” and “Manton” gangs goes back 30 years  65% of all Part 1 & 2 crimes on PHA property citywide occur at Manton and Hartford  Heavy recruitment of juveniles to join gangs and perpetrate violence  Single moms feel powerless, afraid for their kids Providence man, 26, dies after being shot in head PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A man shot at the Manton Heights housing projects late Wednesday night has died from his injuries... Man shot outside his home in Providence's Manton Heights PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The police are investigating a shooting at the Manton Heights housing projects around midnight Friday… Providence shooting victim now accused of shooting at couple PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A young man shot four years ago was arraigned Monday on charges of shooting at a couple in South Providence…

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 SCANNING: Opportunity in 2006  Ongoing gang activity including violence in  Urgency to try new strategies driven by loss of resources for positive youth activities  Other areas of the neighborhood improving – will Hartford & Manton hold broader community development back?  Group problem-solving championed by new District 5 Lieutenant

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 SCANNING Team gathers and examines…  Crime data from District 5, Gang Unit, other  Intelligence held by D.5 patrol officers, Public Housing Unit officers, PHA Housing Management and Resident Services staff  Interviews with residents

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ANALYSIS: Who was involved? “Hartford vs. Manton…”  Majority of violent incidents are inter-gang Gangs prey on juveniles…  Violence largely perpetrated by youth, intentionally recruited by older gang members due to juvenile status Worst offenders are not residents…  Family members or associates of residents perpetrate crimes while visiting or living in the properties illegally Most residents want a safer environment…  Young, single mothers dislike crime conditions but feel out of control – very concerned about gang recruitment

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ANALYSIS: What were the harms? High risk of injury or victimization stemming from cross- development conflicts Fear and stress reported by residents Improvement of broader community threatened by negative perceptions Youth embattled – cross-development rivalry and gang recruitment puts every kid at risk *See Rand Center on Quality Policing, Occasional Paper 279. Hidden in Plain Sight: What Cost of Crime Research Can Tell Us About Investing in Police. High public costs - $11.7 million associated with Part 1 crime in Hartford & Manton in *

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ANALYSIS: Why were previous responses ineffective? Investigations hindered by lack of community- police cooperation…  Residents reluctant to report due to fear, and sense of separation between community and police Minimal PPD-PHA collaboration…  Little structure in place for PPD officers and PHA Housing Managers to examine problems (not incidents) together

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 RESPONSE: Goals 1.Keep non-resident gang members out. 2. Help residents communicate and uphold their own high standards for behavior and safety, including strengthening cooperation with PPD. 3. Provide alternative activities and leadership development for youth and support for their parents to break the pipeline of gang recruitment. 4. Break down the rivalry between the developments to address a long-term source of crime in the properties and the surrounding community.

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 RESPONSE: Resident Lease Education and Enforcement  Residents informed of rules about trespassing and visitors at joint PHA-PPD meetings (2007)  “No Trespass” orders issued against gang members known to visit or reside illegally in the properties

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 RESPONSE: Enforcement and Maintenance  “No Trespass” orders enforced by PPD with resident and PHA help  AGO flags Manton/Hartford cases for prosecutors and courts  PHA issues swift warnings to residents allowing gang members on the properties

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 RESPONSE: Youth Engagement Prevention & Intervention Programs  Boys & Girls Club of Providence  Youth Safe Haven (YSH) Youth Safe Haven mentoring program in Providence targets at-risk children PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Residents of the Manton, Silver Lake, Hartford and Olneyville neighborhoods are being invited to a “town hall meeting” in the Hartford Park housing project, part of an anticrime initiative…

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 RESPONSE: Youth Engagement Improved Youth/Police Relations  Youth & Police Initiative (YPI)  Youth Leadership Academy (YLA)

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 RESPONSE: Support for Parents  Crisis Intervention, Individual and Family Counseling  Parenting Workshops  Individual and Group Mentoring

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ASSESSMENT No homicides in either property

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ASSESSMENT Major drop in crime perpetrated by juveniles

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ASSESSMENT Major drop in overall crime Assaults down 62% Simple assaults down 27% Weapons offenses down 44%

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ASSESSMENT No PHA evictions during post- intervention period due to crime- related lease terms  Efforts to educate and engage residents in “self-policing” are effective  Trespassing violations now uncommon Cost of crime in Manton/Hartford significantly reduced  Estimated savings of $547,000 in 2011 compared to 2005

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ASSESSMENT Residents cooperate more readily with police  Community policing combined with youth-police programs forge bonds Hundreds of residents benefit from positive programming  Youth and adults learn leadership and problem-solving skills  Programs engage youth at hours when most conflicts used to occur  Residents of both developments interact peacefully at events

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 ASSESSMENT Partnerships in place to take on future challenges  PPD-PHA joint problem-solving is now the norm  Other partners engaged in achieving shared goals

Providence Police Department – Herman Goldstein Award Finalist 2012 Questions Accountability, Mentoring & Enforcement Problem-solving in Public Housing Providence Police Department 2012 Herman Goldstein Award Finalist