Have thoughts and questions on how to address violent crime in Charlottesville and Albemarle County? Law enforcement officials in the area want to hear them.
The City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia announced a regional partnership on Jan. 22 under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national program launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001. The PSN program is designed to bring together local law enforcement, community leaders and service organizations to improve safety and address the root causes of violence.
According to a city news release, the regional partnership plans to reduce violent crime by increasing community engagement, prioritizing prevention and intervention efforts, implementing “focused and strategic enforcement,” and ensuring accountability and evaluation.
For example, one of the tools proposed by the group is “call-in meetings.” These would connect individuals “in proximity to violent crime” with the resources they need, such as housing, employment, healthcare and parenting support. The idea is to provide individuals at risk with community care over enforcement, according to the release.
“We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to reduce violent crime, protect our most vulnerable people, and build trust between law enforcement and the communities we serve. Our communities who continue to be disproportionately affected by violent crime deserve nothing less,” said City of Charlottesville Chief of Police Michael Kochis in the news release.
Anyone interested in learning more and participating in the conversion can attend a “community dialogue event” on Tuesday, Jan. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at Jackson P. Burley Middle School.
Expect to hear more about PSN strategies and how they are expected to improve safety and encourage community engagement.
Take Action
The City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia are inviting community members to a “community dialogue event” about Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative to address violent crime and improve safety.
This is your chance to learn about the project’s focus on community engagement, violence prevention and resource-based interventions, as well as share your thoughts with local leaders and law enforcement representatives.
The event will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 5:30 p.m. at Jackson P. Burley Middle School, 901 Rose Hill Dr., Charlottesville. You can find more information in a city news release here.
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