Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative

In 2021 the violent crime rate in Syracuse, NY was 830 per 100,000 people. This is more than double the national average by volume and rate per 100,000 (366.7) and 2.1 times higher than national average of crime of comparable size, according to Uniform Crime Reporting. The small sized city is home to 17 recognized gangs with 1303 members. Our target population is youth ages 14-24 who are active violent gang members. ·

The proposed program, Syracuse Community Violence Intervention Program, will address three categories of problems associated with this target community and population: 1) those that pose an immediate physical threat to public safety such as gun violence, homicide and assault 2) those that contribute to gang violence but do not pose an immediate physical threat such as drug and property crime and underlying social conditions such as behavioral issues, lack of alternative to gangs and community engagement; 3) institutional barriers that prevent an effective and sustained community response. The Syracuse Community Violence Program will implement activities within five core strategies: Community Mobilization, Social Interventions, Opportunities Provision, Organizational Change and Suppression. Primary service delivery for the program will be performed by a Multi-Disciplinary Intervention Team (MIT). The MIT will serve gang involved youth with highest risk for committing or being victim of violent crime. The Intervention includes assessment & case management, supervision, and mental health services, including offering Functional Family therapy to address family relationship challenges.

The City County Coalition to Reduce Gun Violence will reinvigorate a Stakeholder group including the including Syracuse Mayors Office including the Director of the Office to Reduce Gun Violence, CBOs, Syracuse Police Department, Syracuse City School District, Vera House, Street Addiction Institute,

Mothers Against Gun Violence, OG ' s against Gun Violence to plan and a host of community agencies to plan and coordinate youth gang and gun violence intervention efforts. This group will ensure that the efforts will adhere to Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative components (CVI). Our goals:

To reduce the level of current youth gang-related violence and gun violence in the City of Syracuse
To discourage youth gang involvement and delinquent behaviors while mobilizing the community and using their insights about issues related to gangs and gun violence and making sure their voices are heard
To enhance the community ' s ability to reduce gang participation, violence and crime in the City while creating organizational change that sustains lasting results.