Newark Public Safety Collaborative—In Unity Lies Strength

Sala de Reuniones del NPSC.

Advanced societies strive to ensure that the basic needs of citizens are mostly covered, everything from health to housing. Perhaps security requires the most government engagement, including law enforcement, the courts, schools, government women's agencies, civil society or academia.

There are successful initiatives emerging from street-level cooperation between institutions and citizens with good results in bringing down crime right where they live.

A good example is the Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC), in New Jersey, United States of America, created in 2017. This innovative approach to collaboration and cooperation, bringing government institutions and civil society together to change the way security issues are addressed in this city.

GraficoSource: NPSC.

 

NPSC promotes security by means of effective collaboration between multiple governmental agencies, civil organizations and community members. The following are some of its key objectives:

  • Violence reduction: Joint efforts to reduce armed violence and other crimes in the city of Newark
  • Improve police-community relations: Promote a more robust and reliable relationship between the police and local residents, reinforcing trust and transparency
  • Crime prevention: Develop crime prevention strategies and programmes to address the underlying causes of crime
  • Police reform: Implement reforms in the Newark Police Department, ensuring practices are fairer and more equitable

NPSC is distinctive for its focus on engaging the active collaboration of different stakeholders, like local police, non-profit organizations and community leaders. They work together on comprehensive strategies to address not only law enforcement but also the underlying factors that contribute to crime.

The levels of stakeholder engagement and success NPSC enjoys since it was created have not gone unnoticed by the InfoSegura Regional Project, an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Latin America and the Caribbean in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

That is why the Second Security Week organized by Infosegura in Panama from Tuesday 14, November to Thursday, 16 November will feature NPSC director Alejandro Giménez Santana who will speak about "Data-driven Community Engagement."

Since its creation in 2017, the Newark Public Safety Collaborative has achieved notable progress. Crime rates have decreased in specific areas and community perception of security has largely improved.

NPSC has had success with its violence intervention programme that identifies individuals at high risk of either committing- or becoming the victims of violent acts, providing them with resources and support to change the course of their future. This has an effective strategy for reducing armed violence in specific Newark communities, those responsible at NPSC point out.

 

Vista aérea de Newark.

 

Some of the most successful NPSC initiatives in recent years are the following:

  • Youth prevention programmes: This initiative offers extracurricular activities, mentorship and support services to youth in poor communities, helping them to keep away from crime.
  • Crisis intervention: The NPSC collaborates with mental health organizations, establishing crisis intervention teams to provide support to people in a mental health crisis, helping to de-escalate tensions and reach out to them.
  • Rehabilitation and reinsertion programmes: In addition to prevention, NPSC programmes also focus on rehabilitation and reinsertion of people who have had past trouble with the law. These programmes help them rebuild their lives and become productive members of society.
  • Community strengthening: NPSC has supported the establishment and expansion of community-based organizations that focus on education, affordable housing and employment, to name a few.

Police reform and transparency
Newark Public Safety Collaborative also works on police reform. A more transparent and equitable environment is essential for building trust between the police and the community. Some of these reforms are the following:

  • Implicit bias training: Implicit bias exists when people unconsciously hold attitudes towards others or associate them with stereotypes due to their gender, race, origin, etc.
  • De-escalation techniques: Effective ways of managing violent situations and behaviour
  • A review of the Newark Police Department policy and procedures for better practices and to ensure they are fair and equitable
  • Community participation in police oversight has made for more transparency and accountability

The Newark Public Safety Collaborative has shown itself to be an efficient model for promoting citizen security and justice in the community. The results of this comprehensive approach, covering prevention, intervention and reform (police reform, for instance) have proven effective. The NPSC can measure its success both in terms of crime statistics and restored trust between the police and community. It is also evident in the changes in the lives of young people and stronger local communities.