summit - national public safety partnership · summit september 28 – 30, 2015 • detroit,...

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Violence Reduction Network S U M M I T

September 28 – 30, 2015 • Detroit, Michigan

AGENDA

Strategic Solutions • Focused Action • Reduced Violence

VRN Summit

at your fingertips!

Scan a QR Code to download

your app!

Speaker bios can be found on the VRN mobile app and the VRN Summit Web site.Hotel maps for each level can be found on pages 11–13.

A complete description of each site session is located in the Appendix on pages 15–27.


Violence Reduction Network SummitU.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


1

September 28, 2015

VRN Summit Participants:

Welcome to the 2015 Violence Reduction Network (VRN) Summit. It is an exciting time for VRN, as we to continue to partner with the five inaugural sites and expand the network to partner with five new sites.

The summit is designed to provide VRN stakeholders with unparalleled access to DOJ leaders and nationally recognized subject-matter experts, to support focused dialogue regarding effective violence reduction tools and strategies, and to foster collaboration and peer connections that will transcend the event. To that end and based on your feedback, we have designed plenary sessions and developed customized breakout sessions that address topics of particular interest to your site.

We are honored by your commitment to VRN and look forward to collaborating with each VRN site to leverage the broad spectrum of DOJ resources to enhance violence reduction efforts in the VRN cities.

The VRN Team



2

Monday, September 28, 2015

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Summit Check-In and Informal Networking

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Welcome and Introductions (Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3)

Call to OrderMs. Kristie Brackens, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA),

VRN Co-DirectorMr. Chris Robinson, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and

Explosives (ATF) Detailee to BJA, VRN Co-Director

Presentation of Colors, Detroit Police Department Color Guard

Opening RemarksChief James Craig, Detroit, Michigan, Police DepartmentThe Honorable Barbara McQuade, United States Attorney,

Eastern District of MichiganThe Honorable Karol Mason, Assistant Attorney General (AAG),

Office of Justice Programs (OJP)The Honorable Sally Quillian Yates, Deputy Attorney General,

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Break (on your own) and Press Availability

Morning Plenary Sessions (8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)




3


10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. VRN in Action (Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3)

Panel Discussion With Current VRN Site LeadershipFacilitated by Ms. Kristen Mahoney, Deputy Directory for Policy, BJAAssistant Sheriff Casey Nice, Alameda County, California,

Sheriff’s Office Chief J. Scott Thomson, Camden County, New Jersey,

Police DepartmentChief Robert Tracy, Chicago, Illinois, Police DepartmentChief James Craig, Detroit, Michigan, Police DepartmentAssistant Chief Paul Figueroa, Oakland, California, Police DepartmentChief Chris Magnus, Richmond, California, Police Department Chief Bobby Cummings, Wilmington, Delaware, Police Department

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Federal Leadership Panel (Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3)

Facilitated by the Honorable Ronald L. Davis, Director, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

Deputy Assistant Director Jeffrey L. Fulton, Programs, ATFActing Chief of Operations James Soiles, U.S. Drug Enforcement

Administration (DEA)Assistant Director Joseph S. Campbell, Criminal Investigative Division,

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Acting Director David Harlow, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Lunch (on your own)

Morning Plenary Sessions (continued)

Please visit our VRN exhibitors located on Level 5 to learn more about the valuable resources available through the Network!



4


1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 2015 VRN Sites: Leadership PerspectivesChief James Tolbert, Flint, Michigan, Police DepartmentChief Kenton Buckner, Little Rock, Arkansas, Police DepartmentAssistant Sheriff Richard J. Barrantes, Los Angeles County, California,

Sheriff’s DepartmentDirector Eugene Venable, Newark, New Jersey, Police DepartmentChief Donald Oakes, West Memphis, Arkansas, Police Department

2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. DOJ Law Enforcement Resources Panel for 2015 SitesFacilitated by the Honorable Paul Fishman, District of New JerseyFirearms Operations Division Chief James M. Ferguson, ATFAssistant Special Agent in Charge James Pankas, DEAUnit Chief Robert E. Bornstein, FBISection Chief Robert Hughes, FBIAssistant Director Derrick Driscoll, USMS

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Break (on your own)

3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. DOJ Program Office Resources Panel for 2015 SitesFacilitated by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General

Beth McGarry, OJPDeputy Director for Policy Kristen Mahoney, BJAPrincipal Advisor for Program Operations Sandra Webb, Ph.D., COPSDeputy Administrator Chyrl Jones, Office of Juvenile Justice

and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)Associate Director of Development Susan Williams, Office for Victims

of Crime (OVC)Deputy Director Nadine Neufville, Grant Development and

Management, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW)

Afternoon Sessions (1:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.)

2015 sites will follow schedule below (Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3)




5


1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Site Breakout Sessions for 2014 Sites


3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Site Breakout Sessions for 2014 Sites


2014 sites will follow schedule below (Level 5)

City Room Session

Camden Brule B Strategies to Increase Community Engagement

Chicago LaSalle B Police/Corrections Partnerships

Detroit Marquette B Solving More Gun Crime Through ATF

Oakland/Richmond LaSalle A Prosecution Strategies for Violence Reduction

Wilmington Cadillac A Denver Crime Gun Intelligence Center

City Room Session

Camden Brule B Social Network Analysis—Diving Deeper

Chicago LaSalle B Prosecution Strategies for Violence Reduction

Detroit Marquette B Denver Crime Gun Intelligence Center

Oakland/Richmond LaSalle A Homicide Investigations Management Strategies

Wilmington Cadillac A Reducing Retaliatory Disputes



6

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Investigation and Prosecution Strategies to Reduce Violent Crime and Build Community Trust (Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3)

Facilitated by the Honorable Leslie Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, DOJ

Mr. John Colello, Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County, California, District Attorney’s Office

Mr. John Delaney, Deputy District Attorney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, District Attorney’s Office

Detective John Skaggs, Homicide Investigator/Supervisor, Los Angeles, California, Police Department

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Break (on your own)

9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Local Federal Law Enforcement Resources for the VRN Sites (Level 5)

Breakout session led by local federal law enforcement (ATF, DEA, FBI, and USMS field offices) leaders to examine the partnership and resources available to assist VRN cities with their violence reduction strategies

Camden (Brule B)Chicago (LaSalle B)Compton (Cadillac B)Detroit (Marquette B)Flint (Marquette A)

Little Rock (Richard B)Newark (Brule A)Oakland/Richmond (LaSalle A)West Memphis (Richard A)Wilmington (Cadillac A)

Morning Sessions (8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.)





7


11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Site Breakout Sessions (Level 5)

1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Lunch (on your own)

Morning Sessions (continued)

City Room Session

Camden Brule B Homicide Investigations Management Strategies

Chicago LaSalle B Interdisciplinary Data Sharing

Compton Cadillac B Denver Crime Gun Intelligence Center

Detroit Marquette B Crime Analysis for Chief Executives

Flint Marquette A Strategies to Increase Community Engagement

Little Rock Richard B Domestic Violence

Newark Brule A Reducing Gang Violence

Oakland/Richmond LaSalle A Police/Prosecution Partnerships

West Memphis Richard A Social Network Analysis—An Introduction

Wilmington Cadillac A GunStat



8



2:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Site Breakout Sessions (Level 5)


City Room Session

Camden Brule B Reducing Retaliatory Disputes

Chicago LaSalle B Social Network Analysis—An Introduction

Compton Cadillac B Reducing Gang Violence

Detroit Marquette B Interdisciplinary Data Sharing

Flint Marquette A Body-Worn Cameras

Little Rock Richard B GunStat

Newark Brule A Reducing Retaliatory Disputes

Oakland/Richmond LaSalle A Solving More Gun Crime Through ATF

West Memphis Richard A Drug Market Interventions

Wilmington Cadillac A Crime Analysis for Chief Executives




9

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Networking Opportunity

GM Wintergarden – Level A (on your own)* This networking opportunity is not supported with federal funding.


4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Site Breakout Sessions (Level 5)


City Room Session

Camden Brule B Interdisciplinary Data Sharing

Chicago LaSalle B GunStat

Compton Cadillac B Using Data to Evaluate Gang Problems

Detroit Marquette B Police/Prosecution Partnerships

Flint Marquette A Social Network Analysis—An Introduction

Little Rock Richard B Strategies to Increase Community Engagement

Newark Brule A Drug Market Interventions

Oakland/Richmond LaSalle A Body-Worn Cameras

West Memphis Richard A Reducing Gang Violence

Wilmington Cadillac A Solving More Gun Crime Through ATF



10

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy (Cabot Room, Level 4)

Lieutenant Bruce D. Lipman (Retired), Chicago, Illinois, Police Department


9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Site Plan Development (Level 5)

Site Representatives and Strategic Site Liaisons engage in development of site plans

Camden (Brule B)Chicago (Duluth B)Compton (Nicolet A)Detroit (Marquette B)Flint (Marquette A)Little Rock (Richard B)Newark (Brule A)Oakland/Richmond (Nicolet B)West Memphis (Richard A)Wilmington (Duluth A)

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 noon Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology Solutions (Cabot Room, Level 4)

Facilitated by Policy Advisor Carmen Facciolo, BJAMr. David Gruppo, Advisor to Google Ideas and the Igarapé InstituteSenior Policy Advisor Michael B. Roosa, BJA

Morning Sessions (8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon)




11

Level 3

Registration

General Session AreaMonday and Tuesday



12

Level 4

General Session Area Wednesday




13

Level 5

Flint Mon./Tues./Wed.

Exhibitors

Detroit Mon./Tues./Wed.

Newark Mon./Tues./Wed.

Camden Mon./Tues./Wed.

West MemphisMon./Tues./Wed. Little Rock

Mon./Tues./Wed.

ComptonMon./Tues.

WilmingtonMon./Tues.

ChicagoMon./Tues.

Oakland/ Richmond

Mon./Tues.

ComptonWed.

WilmingtonWed.

ChicagoWed.

Oakland/ Richmond

Wed.



14

Notes




15

AppendixDescription of Sessions

Body-Worn Cameras – Examining the Impact on Officer Safety, Promoting Police Legitimacy, Improving Community Engagement, and Reducing Crime

Evidence shows that body-worn cameras (BWC) reduce inappropriate use-of-force incidents and citizen complaints, though the direct effects of BWCs on police-citizen relationships and violent crime are not as well understood. This session will explore the opportunities for integrating BWCs into violence reduction initiatives, as well as provide “lessons learned” information from police agencies with solid experience with BWCs.

Speakers:

• Michael White, Ph.D., Arizona State University

• Lieutenant Dan Zehnder, Las Vegas, Nevada, Metropolitan Police Department

Crime Analysis for Chief Executives – Building Analytic Capacity and Exploring Real Time Crime Centers

A robust crime analysis capability is invaluable to law enforcement agencies’ violence reduction efforts, and law enforcement executives play a vital role in ensuring that critical components are in place to support actionable intelligence that drives analytic functions. This session will address the steps that law enforcement executives can take to build a model crime analytic capacity in their own departments, including how to build customized action plans to address specific crime analysis challenges within their departments. In addition, this session will also provide insights into practical steps for creating a Real Time Crime Center in your agency.

Speakers:

• Mr. Christopher Bruce, International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)

• Deputy Chief Michael Johnson, Bellevue, Washington, Police Department



16

Denver Crime Gun Intelligence Center – Investigating, Prosecuting, and Preventing Gun-Related Crime

The Denver, Colorado, Police Department and the ATF created the regional Crime Gun Intelligence Center in 2013 to improve the investigation, management, and analysis of gun-related crime data from technologies such as ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and eTrace. Because of its success, the center now serves as a national model for the timely processing of gun-related crime data that serves as a lead-generating tool to link previously unknown shootings and identify active shooters currently on the streets. This session will focus on successful strategies and the regional approach in maximizing the use of forensic ballistic technologies to reduce gun-related crimes.

Speakers:

• Mr. Mark Kraft, retired ATF Deputy Director of the National Gang Targeting, Enforcement and Coordination Center

• Supervisory Special Agent Jeff Russell, ATF

DOJ Law Enforcement Federal Leadership Panel

VRN is designed to complement DOJ’s Smart on Crime Initiative and is an unprecedented effort to leverage lessons learned and DOJ assets in an “all-hands” approach to violence reduction. DOJ law enforcement agencies have played a critical role in partnering with the VRN cities and providing valuable resources to enhance local violence reduction efforts during the first year. This session provides an opportunity for DOJ law enforcement leaders to reaffirm their commitment to VRN and to discuss the wide range of unique assets available to local law enforcement through partnership with DOJ law enforcement agencies.

Panelists:

• Deputy Assistant Director Jeffrey L. Fulton, Programs, ATF

• Acting Chief of Operations James Soiles, DEA

• Assistant Director Joseph S. Campbell, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI

• Acting Director David Harlow, USMS




17

DOJ Law Enforcement Resources Panel for 2015 Sites

The DOJ Law Enforcement Resources Panel is designed to be a facilitated discussion among representatives from each of the VRN sites and representatives from select DOJ federal law enforcement agencies. The discussion will center on how DOJ federal law enforcement agencies can support VRN sites as they continue to focus on violence reduction efforts. DOJ federal law enforcement agency representatives will identify and discuss DOJ-related opportunities and resources that can assist each VRN site, support the enhancement of each site’s capabilities, mitigate gaps, and successfully address challenges within the jurisdiction.

Panelists:

• Firearms Operations Division Chief James M. Ferguson, ATF

• Assistant Special Agent in Charge James Pankas, DEA

• Unit Chief Robert E. Bornstein, FBI

• Section Chief Robert Hughes, FBI

• Assistant Director Derrick Driscoll, USMS

DOJ Program Office Resources Panel for 2015 Sites

The DOJ Program Office Resources Panel is designed to be a facilitated discussion among representatives from each of the VRN sites and representatives from select DOJ program offices. The discussion will center on how DOJ program offices can support VRN sites as they continue to focus on violence reduction efforts. DOJ program office representatives will identify and discuss DOJ-related opportunities and initiatives that can assist each VRN site, support the enhancement of each site’s capabilities, mitigate gaps, and successfully address challenges within the jurisdiction.

Panelists:

• Facilitated by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Beth McGarry, OJP

• Deputy Director for Policy Kristen Mahoney, BJA

• Principal Advisor for Program Operations Sandra Webb, Ph.D., COPS

• Deputy Administrator Chyrl Jones, OJJDP

• Associate Director of Development Susan Williams, OVC

• Deputy Director Nadine Neufville, Grant Development and Management, OVW



18

Domestic Violence – National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative

The National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative (NDVFRI) provides technical assistance for the review of domestic violence-related deaths, with the underlying objectives of preventing them in the future, preserving the safety of battered women, and holding accountable both the perpetrators of domestic violence and the multiple agencies and organizations that come into contact with the parties. This session will provide an introduction to the technical assistance services available to VRN sites through the NDVFRI.

Speaker:

• Neil Websdale, Ph.D., Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Northern Arizona University and Director of the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative

Drug Market Interventions – Law Enforcement and Community Partnerships for Violence Reduction

Effective Drug Market Intervention (DMI) programs dismantle open-air drug markets that serve as drivers of violence and target the most violent offenders for arrest and prosecution while offering intervention to low-level offenders. This session will address the philosophy and efficacy of DMI programs; discuss implementation, operation, and sustainment requirements; and also explore the many benefits of DMI programs.

Speakers:

• Nicholas Corsaro, Ph.D., University of Cincinnati School of Criminal Justice

• Lieutenant Daniel Hartman, Roanoke, Virginia, Police Department




19

Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology Solutions

This session will provide a brief overview of a law enforcement tool created by Google Ideas in partnership with Igarapé, a think tank in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The tool, called Smart Policing (not to be confused with DOJ’s Smart Policing Initiative), is an Android smartphone application being tested in South America that is designed to automatically record and store everything an officer hears and sees while on patrol, upload encrypted video footage to a cloud server, and then provide live feeds to police headquarters. The session will also explore issues such as privacy, storage, and closed architecture that are facing U.S. law enforcement in the use of digital video and body-worn cameras. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions, think creatively, and engage in dialogue about using existing tools for alternative uses.

Speakers:

• Facilitated by Mr. Carmen Facciolo, Policy Advisor, BJA

• Mr. David Gruppo, Advisor to Google Ideas and the Igarapé Institute

• Senior Policy Advisor Michael B. Roosa, BJA

GunStat – Data-Driven Prosecution Strategies to Reduce Gun Violence

GunStat serves to better coordinate efforts among police and prosecutors to identify the most violent offenders in targeted areas based on arrests, gang affiliations, and probation status. GunStat prioritizes offenses and offenders through data collection and tracking. Targeted offenders, if arrested, are generally not granted bail and therefore remain off the street while awaiting trial. This session will focus on effective strategies for police, prosecutors, and probation authorities to work collaboratively using data to increase gun crime prosecutions and reduce gun violence.

Speakers:

• Mr. Gregg Bernstein, former Baltimore, Maryland, State’s Attorney

• Mr. Chad Kenney, Chief Performance Officer, Office of Performance and Data Analysis, City of Cincinnati, Ohio



20

Homicide Investigations – Practices for Managing Investigations and Increasing Homicide Clearances

Quality homicide investigations are vital to improving clearance rates and prosecuting violent offenders for the most egregious crimes. The session will explore effective approaches in managing homicide investigations in high-crime areas, strategies to increase clearance rates, and collaborative and reciprocal relationships between law enforcement and prosecutors. The session will provide an opportunity for participants to engage in a dialogue about practical strategies to address common challenges, such as witness credibility and intimidation, lack of cooperation, and “no snitch” policies. This session will address the various proven strategies for improving the quality of homicide investigations and prosecutions and discuss resources, including homicide technical assistance services, and peer-exchange opportunities available to the VRN sites.

Speakers:

• Mr. John Colello, Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County, California, District Attorney’s Office

• Detective John Skaggs, Homicide Investigator/Supervisor, Los Angeles, California, Police Department

Interdisciplinary Data Sharing and the Benefits of Automation – Tools and Practices to Promote Data Sharing Within the Criminal Justice System

Partnerships among criminal justice agencies (police, probation/parole, and prosecutors) are more common as agencies continue to learn the value of leveraging their resources to meet the common goal of public safety. Sharing data on arrestees, probationers and soon-to-be-released parolees, and those awaiting adjudication can help law enforcement partners improve officer safety, increase investigative clearance rates, and reduce crime; however, agencies often experience significant challenges when trying to share data across different systems and platforms. This session will focus on data sharing challenges that have been successfully overcome to achieve cross-disciplinary information sharing. Participants will hear from criminal justice agency representatives and vendors regarding strategies for effective information exchange.

Speakers:

• Mr. Stewart Bruce, Washington College

• Sergeant Chris Corea, Maryland State Police

• Deputy Chief Jonathan Lewin, Chicago, Illinois, Police Department




21

Investigation and Prosecution Strategies to Reduce Violent Crime and Build Community Trust

This session will provide an interactive discussion regarding overcoming challenges of witness cooperation due to fear of retaliation, witness credibility issues that impede prosecution, and how these ultimately impact community trust in the justice system. Joining Ms. Caldwell in the discussion will be veteran practitioners who have been highly effective in getting witnesses to cooperate, protecting witnesses, clearing homicides, and prosecuting violent crime.

Panelists:

• The Honorable Leslie Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, DOJ

• Mr. John Colello, Assistant Head Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County, California, District Attorney’s Office

• Mr. John Delaney, Deputy District Attorney, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, District Attorney’s Office

• Detective John Skaggs, Homicide Investigator/Supervisor, Los Angeles, California, Police Department

Local Federal Law Enforcement Resources for the VRN Sites

Local and regional DOJ law enforcement offices are in a unique position to understand and appreciate the local issues facing the VRN sites, and this session will provide an opportunity to explore the value of these offices to the sites. Many of the 2014 VRN sites have demonstrated significant success in strengthening the local/federal partnership during the first year of VRN. ATF, DEA, FBI, and USMS local and regional field office leaders will discuss what worked, additional ways the federal law enforcement agencies may be able to assist, and what can be done to ensure sustainability. For the 2015 VRN sites, the local and regional field office leaders will discuss the resources and tools in place to assist with their violence reduction strategies and to explore opportunities for collaboration.



22

Police/Corrections Partnerships for Violence Reduction

A growing body of theory, intervention design, and evaluation research points toward engaging with known offenders in ways that directly communicate sanction risks, alter enforcement practices to maximize the certainty and swiftness—rather than the severity—of sanctions, communicate prosocial community norms, support offenders with outreach and services, and maximize the procedural justice of the overall interaction. This session will address the portfolio of strategies to effectively address violence reduction and will highlight “swift, certain, and fair” probation supervision, one of the fastest-growing and most thoroughly evaluated operational examples, including the Washington Intensive Supervision Program.

Speakers:

• Angela Hawken, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Economics and Policy Analysis in the School of Public Safety, Pepperdine University

• Ton Johnson, Senior Administrator of Operations, Washington State Department of Corrections

• Jonathan Kulick, Ph.D., Senior Project Director, Pepperdine University

Police/Prosecution Partnerships – Targeting Priority Offenders Through Intelligence and Analysis

Police and prosecution partners are implementing innovative strategies that focus attention on groups and group members who commit violence. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, through the agency’s Crime Strategies Unit, and the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office rely on intelligence and analysis to guide violence reduction strategies that are making a difference in New York and Philadelphia.

Speakers:

• Ms. Kerry Chicon, Chief of the Crime Strategies Unit, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

• Ms. Caroline Keating McGlynn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, District Attorney’s Office




23

Procedural Justice and Police Legitimacy

Recent national events have emphasized the critical importance of developing strategic interventions to reduce violence by combining the most effective law enforcement practices and community-driven approaches to enhance police legitimacy and rebuild relationships between law enforcement and distressed communities. This plenary session will highlight how one police agency successfully collaborated with researchers and community stakeholders to create procedural justice training that was easily integrated into departmental training and adapted for presentation to the community. The training was so well-received that it now serves as the model for DOJ’s six pilot cities for the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. This session will also examine procedural justice going forward and discuss what is next in terms of training and making procedural justice part of the police culture.

Speaker:

• Lieutenant Bruce D. Lipman (Retired), Chicago, Illinois, Police Department

Prosecution Strategies for Violence Reduction

Collaborative partnerships among local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies have proved effective in increasing the number of prosecutions and sentencing of violent offenders. Identifying and adopting innovative prosecution strategies is a critical component of supporting local crime-fighting efforts and reducing violent crime.

Speakers:

• The Honorable Rod Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney, District of Maryland

• Mr. Maurice Landrieu, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Louisiana



24

Reducing Gang Violence Through Nontraditional Criminal Justice and Community Partnerships

Collaboration among law enforcement, local government, social service agencies, public health, schools, and faith-based and grassroots organizations has proved effective in addressing street and youth gang violence. This session will discuss the unique, interdisciplinary approaches used by two cities that strengthened collaboration between law enforcement and the community in a sustained and effective manner. Using examples from two cities—Denver, Colorado, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—the presenters will provide insight into the successes and challenges faced as they worked to implement and sustain their communities’ gang prevention and reduction strategies.

Speakers:

• Mr. Paul Callanan, Project Director of the Gang Reduction Initiative of Denver

• Commander Marcus Fountain, Denver, Colorado, Police Department

• Ms. Errika Fearbry Jones, Executive Director, Internal/External Affairs, Office of Superintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Reducing Retaliatory Disputes With Problem Solving

Retaliatory violence can create an ongoing cycle of violence and continues to be a challenge for many jurisdictions. This session will provide information regarding the Rochester, New York, approach to better understand retaliatory disputes, formalize a risk assessment method to identify and prioritize those at high risk for retaliation, and evaluate a violent dispute intervention strategy that can be used by other departments.

Speakers:

• John Klofas, Ph.D., Rochester Institute of Technology

• Commander Joseph Morabito, Rochester, New York, Police Department

• Mr. Paul Smith, Public Safety Coordinator, City of Chattanooga, Tennessee




25

Social Network Analysis – An Introduction to SNA for Violence Prevention

Social network analysis can be a valuable tool to aid law enforcement investigations of organized criminal groups by examining connections and interactions between known offenders and their associates. This session will provide an overview of social network analysis and explore its application in violence reduction efforts.

Speakers:

• Andrew Fox, Ph.D., University of Missouri–Kansas City

• Major Joseph McHale, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department

Social Network Analysis – Diving Deeper Into SNA for Violence Prevention

Advanced social network analysis can effectively aid law enforcement investigations by identifying the links and the underlying structure among groups of offenders. Understanding these links can help violence prevention stakeholders develop more effective intervention or prevention strategies by targeting individuals who are most at risk or individuals most important to a criminal network. This session will explore the application of advanced social network analysis in violent crime reduction.

Speakers:

• Andrew Fox, Ph.D., University of Missouri–Kansas City

• Ed McGarrell, Ph.D., Michigan State University

• Major Joseph McHale, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department



26

Solving More Gun Crime Through Partnership With ATF

This session will address practical and promising practices in managing and reducing gun-related crimes and firearm investigations, as well as identify strategies to tackle misuse of firearm-related crimes through 13 unique tasks.

Speakers:

• Mr. Pete Gagliardi, Principal Officer, Triple Barrel Strategies, LLC

• Supervisory Special Agent Jeff Russell, ATF

Strategies to Increase Community Engagement and Reduce Violence

Safety is a critical component of a vibrant community, and it is also critical to attracting new homeowners and businesses to neighborhoods where such investments can be catalysts for revitalization. A joint effort with the Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation (BCJI) program enables communities to create comprehensive strategies to address priority crime problems.

Speakers:

• John Klofas, Ph.D., Rochester Institute of Technology

• Commander Joseph Morabito, Rochester, New York, Police Department




27

Using Data to Evaluate Gang Problems and Develop Strategies for Response

Is criminal gang activity a significant contributor to your city’s violent crime problem? Research has consistently shown that gang problems differ among and within communities. An effective and efficient response requires a clear understanding of the nature and scope of the gang problem based on multiple sources of data and information from those with responsibility for addressing the problem. This session will outline major techniques used to identify the most serious and prevalent gang-related problems; determine potential factors contributing to gang problems; identify target groups for prevention, intervention, and suppression efforts; identify various organizational or system issues that must be addressed in order to have a long-term effect on the problem; and identify current efforts communitywide to address gangs and gang-involved youth.

Speaker:

• Charles Katz, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety at Arizona State University

VRN in Action – Panel Discussion With Current VRN Site Leadership

The 2014 VRN site leaders are the true experts in how VRN works and what to expect from the initiative. The purpose of the VRN in Action panel is to provide the 2014 VRN sites with an opportunity to present their VRN work to one another so that the community as a whole can gain insight as to efforts under way in each site. The panel will allow 2015 VRN sites to hear about the activities and outcomes the 2014 VRN sites have experienced in their first year. The site discussions will also provide feedback to the Washington, DC, partners that will be used to strengthen VRN.

Panelists:

• Assistant Sheriff Casey Nice, Alameda County, California, Sheriff’s Office

• Chief J. Scott Thomson, Camden County, New Jersey, Police Department

• Chief Robert Tracy, Chicago, Illinois, Police Department

• Chief James Craig, Detroit, Michigan, Police Department

• Assistant Chief Paul Figueroa, Oakland, California, Police Department

• Chief Chris Magnus, Richmond, California, Police Department

• Chief Bobby Cummings, Wilmington, Delaware, Police Department



28

Thank you for participating in the 2015 VRN Summit. We hope you enjoyed this year’s offerings, and we look forward to collaborating with you throughout the coming year.

—The VRN Team

2015 VRn Summit SiteS

Camden, New JerseyChicago, Illinois

Compton, CaliforniaDetroit, MichiganFlint, Michigan

Little Rock, ArkansasNewark, New Jersey

Oakland/Richmond, CaliforniaWest Memphis, ArkansasWilmington, Delaware

summit - national public safety partnership · summit september 28 – 30, 2015 • detroit,...

Documents