NCST's High Risk Intervention is a life-saving direct violence intervention and prevention program. This project expands it from targeted neighborhoods in Newark to the entire City of Newark, NJ.

“A lot of people think this is just community activism, as if we go outside and say,“stop the violence.” Our work goes much deeper. It’s trainings, it’s standard operating procedures, it’s formulas that allow us to engage individuals and de-escalate situations.” – Executive Director Daamin Durdin  
 

The Newark Community Street Team (NCST)’s "Strengthening Community Based Public Safety: Newark’s Targeted Interventions" is an expansion of its collaborative neighborhood-centered, evidence-based, data-driven effort to reduce and prevent crime (with a focus on violence prevention). It combines crime suppression activities led by NCST, community-based organizations, law enforcement, and other criminal and juvenile justice agencies, with human and social service prevention activities addressing risk factors for crime, targeted to people and places at high risk of crime or victimization. This project will enable NCST to expand its reputable and influential High Risk Interventionist (HRI) program to prevent and reduce violence in additional communities in Newark. The HRI program provides violence interruption and intervention efforts by engaging directly with both victims and perpetrators, preventing retaliatory actions and connecting residents with resources. The expanded program will consist of the following primary elements: 

Expansion of their HRI Team by hiring eight (8) additional staff, including hiring and training residents who may have been previously incarcerated and/or former gang affiliated 

Continued collaborative work with CVIPI Team members and other stakeholders

Hosting Public Safety Roundtables (PSRT), and other Community Meetings

Case Management for High Risk Individuals based on individualized mentorship plans

Conducting a sample research study of HRI participants, tracking from enrollment, participation, follow-up and exit 

Ongoing documentation of CVIPI strategy

Conducting a Needs Assessment informed by community input

Developing a Newark-wide Violence Reduction Strategic Plan led by CVIPI Team and informed by community input

Participation in Program Evaluation determined by BJA 

The expected outcomes over the course of the grant period include: 120 interventions; Needs Assessment; Research Study Publication; Development and Dissemination of a Violence Reduction Strategic Plan; and a Program Evaluation. The target population and intended beneficiaries are individuals known to be at greatest risk of being violence-involved: known offenders, including current or former gang members, those who have historically been disruptive. 

NCST is seeking priority consideration for areas 1a (documentation found in narrative, page 11) and 3 (documentation of our multidisciplinary partnerships is found throughout narrative and in CVIPI Team document) and is eager to participate in evaluation activities.