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Project SAFE Rowan

Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) program in Rowan County is an effort to combat crime in the community.

According to the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, “Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun and gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful.”

The program focuses on creating success in Rowan County by accessing and providing resources to ex-offenders who are identified through data-driven methods as likely to re-offend or be victims of gun violence. The program is intended to bring community resources in to play to lever the ex-offender toward a more successful life path by opening lines of communication between service providers, and developing strong relationships with community partners.

The office, housed at the Salisbury Police Department, will be a central location for building a program for offenders to be able to find services like childcare, job assistance, training programs and maybe post-secondary education opportunities, if she can find the right grants.

PSN first began in 2001 nationwide. The $2 billion that has gone in to its programming has been used to “hire new federal and state prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, distribute gun lock safety kits, deter juvenile gun crime, and develop and promote community outreach efforts as well as to support other gun and gang violence reduction strategies.”

Violent Crime Incident Review

magnifying glass over crime data

PSN recently hosted a Violent Crime Incident Review. Members of the community, law enforcement, probation/parole officials and the US Attorney’s office of the Middle District attended.

The Review was Monday, Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Park Ave. Community Center.

A team at the University of North Carolina Greensboro researched violent crime within Rowan County. PSN shared statistics and data analysis from this research at the Review.

Key takeaways from this data:

  • Both victims and offenders were often known to law enforcement
    • Recommend: speak to chronic offenders about the high likelihood of victimization
  • Drug involvement is high in violent incidents
    • Recommend: target messages to known drug dealers
  • Most violent incidents occurred between people who knew each other
  • In many violent incidents that follow another violent incident, there are often vigilante-style responses that can be seen as revenge
  • Many offenders and victims were on active probation or supervision
    • Recommend: provide information on how to decrease risk to individuals under supervision
  • Many offenders and victims were involved in a gang, but there were no incidents due to gang beef or involving rival gang members

For more details, view the presentation: Violent Crime Review (PDF)

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