GREATER NEWARK SAFER CITIES INITIATIVE (NJ)

Program Description
The Greater Newark Safer Cities Initiative (GNSCI) is a unique collaborative effort among state, local, and federal criminal justice agencies, faith-based groups, business, and nonprofit organizations in Newark, New Jersey. The initiative first began in 1999 when representatives from local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies began holding regular working group meetings to discuss the issue of violence in the Newark area. In 2000 and 2001, the working group from the initiative officially expanded to include members of the faith community and the public defender's office in addition to other community social service organizations and agencies. The GNSCI has a four-fold intervention approach to addressing the needs of violent former offenders.

The first component of the program involves Notification Sessions, in which parolees are identified as being at a high risk for committing violent crimes and are informed by a member of the GNSCI that violence is not tolerated in the community. In addition to being informed of the consequences of committing a future violent crime, individuals are presented with information about resources in the community that are there to help parolees with their transition process. The second element, Assessment and Services, involves community social service agencies that conduct assessments with at-risk individuals who were formerly incarcerated and links them to appropriate referral services. The Case Processing stage is structured to strengthen accountability. During this time, a small group of GNSCI members meet twice a month – with participants – to review their progress. The final stage, Accountability Sessions, promotes responsibility and accountability among the participants. Former offenders attend accountability sessions run by the Chairman of the New Jersey Parole Board (for the parolees) and the Essex County Probation Chief (for the probationers).

Program Goals
The GNSCI seeks to improve public safety and prevent former prisoners from engaging in future violence.

Networking, Partnering & Collaboration
Line personnel and mid-level mangers from various criminal justice agencies come together on a weekly basis to identify problems and work on collaborative solutions. GNSCI has also formed relationships with faith-based groups, businesses, and social service organizations in the community.

Outcomes
As of late 2002, the GNSCI had held nine Notification Sessions and about 187 probationers and parolees had participated.

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