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City‑county team outlines phased violence‑reduction plan and schedules June summit
Summary
Durham city and county staff briefed commissioners on a three‑phase violence‑reduction planning process, citing partners (Vera Institute, UPenn) and evidence‑based strategies (group violence intervention, cognitive behavioral approaches, place‑based work) and announcing a June summit to set operational priorities.
City and county staff gave an update on a collaborative violence‑reduction planning effort that combines data analysis, community listening and national technical assistance.
Crystal Harris, director for Community Intervention and Support Services, and Director Humphrey described a three‑phase approach: Phase 1 (shared learning/listening) that has included more than two dozen community listening sessions; Phase 2 (planning and implementation) centered on a June Violence Reduction Summit; and Phase 3 (designing a sustainable operational management structure to hold partners accountable).
Staff said Durham is “resource rich” but fragmented in execution. They cited technical partners and peer cities: the Vera Institute completed a public‑safety ecosystem analysis, UPenn is conducting a gun‑violence problem analysis, and the University of Maryland Violence Reduction Center and Saint Paul officials advised on CVI/GVI and other evidence‑informed practices. “One of the conclusions … is that we don't necessarily need more programs, but we need a more coordinated targeted approach and a management structure that will ensure that the individuals that need the services are able to get those services,” Humphrey said.
Proposed strategies under consideration included group violence intervention and focused deterrence, cognitive behavioral therapy and subsidized jobs, place‑based interventions in identified hotspots, and street outreach using credible messengers. Staff emphasized building an operational management team—someone to convene daily/weekly shooting reviews, run biweekly case conferences and perform monthly performance reviews—to bridge silos and hold partners accountable.
The June summit will bring together data analysts, law‑enforcement and community partners to identify a North Star (measurable reduction goals) and recommend a set of short‑ and long‑term strategies. Staff said they will present a problem analysis at the summit and return with recommended operational structure and a roadmap for implementation.
