Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 1, the city of Boston will use the FY 2009 Recovery Act Byrne Competitive Grant funds to support the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) with the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) initiative. The funds will be used for BPHC to provide comprehensive community-based, data-driven approaches to preventing and reducing violent crime. BPHC has established the following goals for the grant: (1) enhance VIP by hiring four full-time personnel to coordinate collaboration and increase outreach to high-risk youth; (2) convene four neighborhood coalitions that include active participation by city service agencies, the Boston Police Department, residents, and community-based organizations; (3) provide outreach to 1,000 youth and enroll 500 youth from "hotspot" neighborhoods in afterschool, summer, and employment opportunities; (4) provide support and referrals to an additional 90 gunshot and stabbing victims per year through hospital-based intervention; (5) develop and implement a comprehensive data collection and reporting system; and (6) develop and implement a VIP sustainability plan. VIP uses a community engagement strategy to target each 'hotspot' neighborhood with evidence-based best practices tailored to local needs. Coalitions in each neighborhood - made up of residents, community-based organization, and representatives from law enforcement and city agencies ' meet at least monthly.

CA/NCF