Gun Violence and Violent Crime Reduction Initiative

The City of Newport News proposes implementing the Gun Violence and Violent Crime Reduction Initiative. The purpose is to enhance law enforcement’s technological functioning and response to gun violence, enhance re-entry support to returning citizens and decrease rates of recidivism amongst adult returning citizens, increase relocation and personal safety services to cooperating victims and witnesses of crime, and increase community awareness of the Newport News Sheriff’s Office (NNSO) re-entry program and education on how to access re-entry services and programs through printed and video materials. The service area is the City of Newport News, with a targeted focus on the 23607 and 23608 zip codes. The intended primary beneficiaries are adult returning citizens and cooperating victims and witnesses of crime. Project activities include the expansion of Newport News Police Department’s data storage infrastructure; expansion and evaluation of the Newport News Sheriff’s Office re-entry program; development and implementation of recidivism outcome measures and data-tracking system for returning citizens; expansion of the safety and relocation program for cooperating victims and witnesses of crime; and expansion of the city’s community education and awareness of re-entry programming.

The expected outcomes include a reduction in the incidents of gun violence and other violent crime through the implementation of innovative and technology-based enforcement practices and equipment; a decrease in recidivism and the barriers (i.e., education, employment, and housing) to the successful reintegration of adults returning to the community from a correctional institution; an increase in community education, awareness, and engagement efforts around access to re-entry programs and services; and an increase in safety and support of cooperating victims and witnesses of crime.