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How Philadelphia Flipped: Second Chances for Youth

Zari Tarazona

January 08, 2020 |

YR Media |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia has made a concerted effort toward reducing the number of youth being arrested in schools. Leadership, including the school police commissioner and district attorney, changed procedures so that youth, instead of getting arrested, are enrolled in diversion programs. While there’s been pushback from some law enforcement, early studies have pointed to a decline in arrests without a decline in safety.

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Baltimore crime crisis: How about trying something that worked before?

Dan Rodricks

January 01, 2020 |

The Baltimore Sun |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

When Baltimore put the necessary resources behind a “call-in” program that intervenes with people likely to commit gun violence, from 2006 to 2012, homicides dropped by 30% and shootings by 40%. The program, which no longer is used in the city consistently enough or with sufficient resources, summons people on probation or parole for gun crimes. A panel of law enforcement, social workers, and community members pairs the threat of federal prosecution and imprisonment with social services to help people build a new life. This approach has been shown in many cities to be effective at reducing violence.

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When Mental Health Crises Arise, Columbus Police Brings Social Workers Along

Adora Namigadde

December 23, 2019 |

WOSU |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Columbus, Ohio

In Columbus, Ohio, a team of police officers and mental health professionals responds together to police calls in an effort to promote community-oriented policing. The approach has reduced arrests and helped to connect residents with social services and medical help.

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Dallas Has Been Dispatching Social Workers to Some 911 Calls. It's Working.

Lucas Manfield

December 10, 2019 |

Dallas Observer |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Dallas, Texas

Determined to break a damaging cycle of arrests for people experiencing mental health crises, Dallas has started sending teams of social workers and emergency responders instead of just police officers to these 911 calls. Initial assessments show that individuals are receiving better care and the city is seeing significant fiscal savings.

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Philly wants to bring back a version of an old strategy to fight gun violence. Specifics are pending.

Chris Palmer

December 06, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Starting in 2013, Philadelphia's focused deterrence program was credited with 35% fewer shootings in its targeted neighborhoods. The program featured "call-ins" where law-enforcement agencies would threaten potentially violent people with prosecution. On the flip side, they could receive services that help them establish a different lifestyle. As the program shifted away from the services "carrots," and was left only with the "stick," the program foundered. In 2019, the city sought to revive it as a "group violence intervention" program with a greater emphasis on services over law enforcement.

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Prosecution Declined

Eleanor Klibanoff

December 05, 2019 |

Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

The way in which Kentucky’s Louisville Metro Police Department handles rape cases has come into question. The department’s low level of cases being brought to trial is because of the extra step police officers take: checking with prosecutors to see if they’ll take the case to court. If prosecutors won’t, the police don’t make arrests. The policy is justified as victim-centered. But experts say this, combined with other problematic practices by the LMPD, can leave survivors feeling as though they aren’t believed and alone with their trauma.

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Inspiring Tale of a Chicago Neighborhood That Would Not Die

Martha Irvine

November 25, 2019 |

Associated Press |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Community members and local organizations on the South side of Chicago collaborate to reclaim their neighborhoods from crime, violence, and poverty by engaging in community conflict resolution, policing and networks of support. Groups like the Southwest Organizing Project and the Inner-City Muslim Action Network banded together to interrupt gang violence in the city, relying on the experience of former gang members and offenders to guide the organizations' missions for non-violence in their communities.

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Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops

Jenifer McShane

November 15, 2019 |

HBO |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, San Antonio, Texas

Two officers with the San Antonio Police Department's Mental Health Unit show how they respond to mental health crises with empathetic listening and de-escalation tactics rather than the traditional police tactics of command and control. The small unit can only handle a tiny percentage of the city's crisis calls. But the officers also run the training of all incoming police cadets, who now get 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Team training. This policing tactic works only because it exists within a well-developed system of mental health care in the city.

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'The woods, they hide so much': Animal Cruelty out of sight out of mind?

Rebecca Lindstrom Lindsey Basye

November 12, 2019 |

WXIA-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

To address animal cruelty in Pennsylvania, a team of law enforcement officers are receiving special training to better identify and prosecute the guilty. This effort gives limited enforcement powers to those trained and allows them to be hired by animal welfare groups to serve search warrants, charge and arrest those involved, and appear in court.

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Seattle's already doing what California's about to do to limit police use of force. How's it working out?

Laurel Rosenhall Brian Howey

November 07, 2019 |

CalMatters |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

In the past decade, Seattle has reduced their use of force by 60 percent. Spurred by a court order, the reduction comes from greater de-escalation training, stricter, more nuanced policies, and more collaboration between law enforcement and activists. While moving the needle, many cite the long way the city has to go, especially when it comes to how force is still used disproportionately on communities of color. But because they’ve made progress without endangering officers, other states like California look to Seattle as a model of reform.

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