Belmont Neighborhood Violence Reduction Project Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 1999 – 2004

1999 Belmont Dimensions 1,064 Homes on 389 Acres 1,064 Homes on 389 Acres 190 Habitat Homes (18%) 190 Habitat Homes (18%) Average House Value:$38,827 Average House Value:$38,827 Primarily Single Family Structures Primarily Single Family Structures Most Housing in Neglected or Poor Condition Most Housing in Neglected or Poor Condition Over 60% Rental Property Over 60% Rental Property Four (4) Neighborhood ABC Establishments Four (4) Neighborhood ABC Establishments

1999 Belmont Dimensions Population: 3,529 Population: 3,529 School Dropout Rate: 183% of City Avg. School Dropout Rate: 183% of City Avg. Births to Adolescents: 410% of City Avg. Births to Adolescents: 410% of City Avg. Med. Household Income: $12,503 v. $41,385 Med. Household Income: $12,503 v. $41,385 Drug/Alcohol Dependencies: High Drug/Alcohol Dependencies: High

1999 Belmont Dimensions Violent Crime – 470 % of City Average Violent Crime – 470 % of City Average Juvenile Crime – 310 % of City Average Juvenile Crime – 310 % of City Average Property Crime – 140 % of City Average Property Crime – 140 % of City Average Open-Air Drug Market Saturation Open-Air Drug Market Saturation Reputation for Drug Market and Violence Reputation for Drug Market and Violence

City and Police Response City Infrastructure Investment of $10M City Infrastructure Investment of $10M Neighborhood Action Plan Neighborhood Action Plan City Interest in Revitalization Planning City Interest in Revitalization Planning Multiple Police Task Forces Multiple Police Task Forces Code Enforcement Partnerships Code Enforcement Partnerships ABC Enforcement Partnerships ABC Enforcement Partnerships

Neighborhood Challenges

Catalyst for Change August 1998 – July 1999 Data Offenses: Offenses: − All – 643 − Violent – 190 (30% of All) Arrests: Arrests: − All – 580 − Drug – 121 (21% of All)

Catalyst for Change Peak in Violence: April-July 1999 Peak in Violence: April-July 1999 All of Belmont – 87 All of Belmont – 87 Northeast Corner – 26 Northeast Corner – 26 Northeast Corner Homicides – 1 Northeast Corner Homicides – 1 Northeast Corner Firearm Assaults – 10 Northeast Corner Firearm Assaults – 10 Most Violence Victims were Outsiders Most Violence Victims were Outsiders Common Streets were Umstead and Parson Common Streets were Umstead and Parson

Catalyst for Change Control of Violence Paramount for Successful Neighborhood Revitalization Control of Violence Paramount for Successful Neighborhood Revitalization Traditional Police Enforcement Ineffective Traditional Police Enforcement Ineffective Conversations w/Neighborhood Residents Conversations w/Neighborhood Residents GIS-Based Review of Crime GIS-Based Review of Crime − Violence − Drug Arrests

Response Actions Community Coordination Community Coordination − Discussions with Leaders and Residents − Inconvenience Factor − Replacement for Meaningful Action − Periodic Review/Evaluation Other Service Provider Sign-Off Other Service Provider Sign-Off − Fire Department − Medic − Sanitation − Transportation City Council City Council

Assessments Timeframes Agreed: 6 & 9-Month and 1-Year Timeframes Agreed: 6 & 9-Month and 1-Year Test Hypothesis: Test Hypothesis: Closed Streets = Closed Drug Markets = Violence Reduction Closed Streets = Closed Drug Markets = Violence Reduction Assessment Focus: Assessment Focus: − Change in Violence − Change in Arrest Volume − Displacement of Violence − Cost Effectiveness

Displacement of Violence

1 Year Prior 1 Year Prior

After 1 Year

After 2 Years

After 3 Years

After 4 Years

After 5 Years

1 Year Prior 1 Year Prior

After 1 Year

After 2 Years

After 3 Years

After 4 Years

After 5 Years

Cost Effectiveness 2- Year Cost Per Offense Reduction Comparison Tactic Offense Category Offense Reduction Cost of Tactic Cost per Offense Reduction BarricadeAll Offenses-95$15,000$158 Task Force All Offenses-98$400,175$4083 BarricadeViolent Offenses-33$15,000$455 Task Force Violent Offenses-29$400,175$13,799

What We Learned Value of Simple Solutions Value of Simple Solutions − Arrests v. Environmental Changes − Swift Implementation Improving Initial Analysis Improving Initial Analysis − Victimization Data − Research Design

What We Learned Neighborhood Relationship Dynamics Neighborhood Relationship Dynamics − Leaders v. Residents and Project Support − The Use of Additional Barricades Stability Beyond Crime Reduction Stability Beyond Crime Reduction − Violence Reduction a Critical Ingredient − Need for Significant Infrastructure Investment

Positive Changes Investments Investments − Hope VI Housing Grant ($20M) − Revitalization Plan Adopted − Greenway Development − Improved Lighting Throughout Dimensions Dimensions − Housing$38,827 to $67,655 − Income$12,503 to $25,304

Belmont Neighborhood Violence Reduction Project Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department