A Strategic Approach to Violence Reduction: An Overview for Project SAFE Cabarrus

Jim Frabutt, Ph.D.Center for Youth, Family,

and Community Partnerships

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

PSN Research Partner for the Middle District of North Carolina

The Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is the Project Safe Neighborhoods Research Partner for the United States Attorney’s Office, Middle District of North Carolina.

Research Team:Jim Frabutt, Ph.D.M.J. Gathings, M.A. CandidateDamie T. Jackson, B.S.Mike Carmichael, M.A.

These efforts are currently supported by Project Safe Neighborhoods funding (180-1-03-001-BB-094) awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice through the North Carolina Department of Crime Control & Public Safety, Governor’s Crime Commission. Research efforts from 2002 through 2005 were supported by Project Safe Neighborhoods funding (Award #2002-GP-CX-0220) through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.

For additional information about this presentation, please contact James M. Frabutt, Ph.D., 330 South Greene St., UNC-Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27401 (336-217-9736) or by email: jmfrabut@uncg.edu.

March 2006

Using Data/Research as a Guide

Emphasis on data & problem-solving makes PSN distinct from other projects

Requires an active role from task force partners Illustrate patterns, trends, and change over time Identify “leverage points” for action and

intervention Evaluate strategic programs and interventions

A Research Partnership to Understand the Crime Problem

1. The Facts (Who? What? When? Where?)

2. The Context (Surrounding circumstances)

3. The Explanation (Why?)

Setting Some Parameters

Review Timeframe: January 1, 2004 – June 30, 2005

Focus Offenses: Homicides, Aggravated Assaults,

Robberies, and Felony Gun Charges

Strategic Review of Data

10-year Trend Data on Focus Offenses Demographic Profile for Focus Offenses Survey of Police, Sheriff, Probation/Parole

Officers, and District Attorney’s Office Actual Review of Crime Incidents

Offenders, victims, locations, etc.

Cabarrus Homicides1995-2004

02468

101214

HomicidesRatePoly. (Rate)

Cabarrus Armed Robbery1995-2004

0

50

100

150

200ArmedRobberyRate

Poly. (Rate)

Cabarrus County Focus Offenses

Sheriff Concord Kannapolis

269 326 257

Snapshot: Violent Offenses – Sheriff’s Department

5 homicides, including non-negligent manslaughter offenses (2%)

221 assault offenses (82%)

32 robbery offenses (12%)

11 offenses were sexual in nature (4%)

2%

82%

12%4%

Homicide

Assault

Robbery

SexualOffenses

Snapshot: Offender Demographics – Concord PD

Race African American 205 (55.7%) Caucasian 135 (36.7%) American Indian 1 (0.3%) Unknown 27 (7.3%)

Sex Male 321 (87.2%) Female 33 (9.0%) Unknown 14 (3.8%)

Average age of known offender = 25.1 years

Snapshot: Victim Demographics – Concord PD

Race Caucasian 227 (55.0%) African American 129 (31.2%) Unknown 57 (13.8%)

Sex Male 221 (53.5%) Female 144 (34.9%) Unknown 48 (11.6%)

Average age of known offender = 29.6 years

Using Survey Data

Front line survey of Concord PD, Kannapolis PD, Cabarrus County District Attorney’s Office, and Department of Community Corrections.

Questions of interest: Who are the most dangerous/violent/chronic

offenders? Are there any specific houses/corners or “hot spots”

that need attention more than others? Are you aware of any gang/group criminal activity?

Survey: The “Most Mentioned”

167 unique offender names generated 18 individuals identified by more than one

agency 7 individuals identified by either Concord or

Kannapolis Police and probation 2 individuals identified by three separate

agencies

Example: Two individuals named by more than 40% of officers surveyed in one department

Survey: Crime Locations and Crime Groups

Several locations named by one-quarter to one-half of those surveyed Crime mapping Census information

Known groups of offenders were identified Loosely organized groups committing crimes

together Gang affiliated, with growing presence of

Latino gangs noted

Mapping Crime Trends/Patterns

Crime Incident Review Process: Putting It All Together

December and January 25 Attendees

Concord PD Kannapolis PD Sheriff’s Dept. U.S. Attorney’s Office District Attorney’s Office Department of Community Corrections UNC-Greensboro ATF Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Crime Incident Reviews

CIRs develop information about crime in the community that can be used to develop approaches to prevention.

Criminal justice system partners come together to share street level information about crime.

Identification of patterns can suggest ideas for interventions. That is the primary goal of doing CIRs.

CIR: Questions and Discussion

• What do you know about the victim?

• What do you know about any associates of the victim?

• Was the victim part of a group of active offenders?

• What do you know about the suspect(s)/offenders?

• What do you know about associates of the suspect(s)/offenders?

CIR: Questions and Discussion

• Was the suspect(s) part of a group of active offenders?

• What do you know about the relationship between victim and suspect(s)/offenders?

• What do you know about the location of the event?

• What do you know about the motive in this case?

• Was the incident drug-related? How?

• What do you think was behind the event? (final summary)

Name: XXXXX, YYYYY

Alias:  ZZZZZ

Pistol:   DOC  

DOB 10/31/1979 Age: 27

Home Address: 1234 ABC Street Kannapolis, NC

PPO:  

Last Charge & Date of

Charge: Federal Drug Conspiracy 10/03/2004

Snapshot History: Points Charges Dates Firearms Violent Felonies

           

Past Arrest History:

1/7/93 AWDWWITKISI; Robbery w/dangerous weapon (guilty 25 year sentence); 6/26/93, possession stolen firearm (NPC); 07/16/93, PWISD cocaine (guilty); 11/18/93, PWISD cocaine (guilty); 04/22/05, Poss drug paraphernalia, Poss/Manufacture Schedule II; Poss. Schedule VI,

Impact of Crime Incident Review

CommunicationSystem FunctioningIntelligenceReviews of “Offender Groups”Directions for Further Research

Converging Data

Trends Locations Groups Individuals

Violent Crime Dynamic

Strategic and Accountable Strategic about which

issues/areas/individuals to focus on Strategic about how we use our limited

resources Human Financial

Accountable for our progress through evaluation and monitoring Make changes and improvements as

necessary