NCJ Number
193027
Date Published
1999
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This report focuses on Philadelphia’s Youth Violence Reduction Project (YVRP) and the need for public and private partnerships in violence reduction and violence prevention, both in Philadelphia and nationally.
Abstract
Violent crimes significantly declined nationwide in the 1990’s, especially in major metropolitan areas. However, the number of personal crimes where youth appear as either offenders or victims remains persistently high in Philadelphia. The homicide rate among young Philadelphians is five times higher than that for the United States population. Therefore, the city needs timely and effective policy solutions to reduce homicides. Public, private, and nonprofit organizations in Philadelphia have worked together over 1998 to develop a unique and promising partnership aimed at significantly reducing youth violence. The Philadelphia YVRP began with policy development sessions that brought together leaders willing and able to implement the project, plus leaders from Boston, who discussed their city’s significant reduction in juvenile violence. The main components of the YVDP include designating youth to become the focus of anti-violence efforts by police and youth development agencies, intensive supervision of designated youth by police and probation officers, and linkages to various community supports. Additional central components include the presence of community members (street workers) who act as advocates for the youth and human bridges between designated youth and other YVRP partners, and an expedited judicial process and committed prosecution of designated youth who violate the terms of their probation or who are arrested for a violent offense. The YVRP partners decided to implement a development phase with a pilot program to test interagency communication and smooth operational difficulties before expanding to other areas of the city. The pilot program began in the 24th Police District in June 1999. Public/Private Ventures will evaluate the pilot program, develop and maintain a database of violent crimes and community supports in the 24th Police District, and perform other services. Figures and reference notes