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Save Our Streets leaders report early declines in shootings and homicides, urge expanded school engagement
Summary
Save Our Streets Montgomery reported early program results to the council: hospital-reported gunshot wounds down 16% since June and a 22% decrease in homicides in the two most recent months cited; SOS asked for more school access to expand preventive work.
Dr. Jim Christensen, assistant executive director of the Family Guidance Center, and John Riley, program manager for Save Our Streets (SOS) Montgomery, told council members the street-intervention program has been active less than a year and is already showing positive early indicators. "According to hospital reports, since June of last year, gunshot wounds are down by 16%," Dr. Christensen said. John Riley added that homicide counts for January and February were down "about 22%."
SOS described case management for nearly 100 high-risk individuals who receive counseling, anger-management classes and support to obtain employment; staff said 30 high-risk individuals received employment through the program. The presenters credited partnerships with the city’s police department, the Office of Violence Prevention and community leaders for creating early momentum.
Council members thanked SOS for rapid responses after recent shooting incidents and urged expansion of school outreach. SOS said it has done limited school work to date and is seeking broader access to schools to reach at-risk youth before community violence spills into school settings.
