Transcript City of Camden

CITY OF CAMDEN
New Jersey
National Youth Violence Prevention Forum
Mayor Dana L. Redd
City of Camden Team Members:
Mayor Dana L. Redd
Novella Starks Hinson, Chief of Staff to Mayor Redd
Wanda Moore, NJ Attorney General’s Office
Felisha Reyes-Morton, Board of Education Member
Orlando Cuevas, Inspector of the Camden Police Department
Merilee Rutolo, Vice-President of Center for Family Services
Raymond Massi, US Attorney Office, Camden, NJ
Working in Partnership for Our Children
Camden’s Industrial Past
• Industrial
expansion,
urban growth,
and new
immigration
radically
transformed
the City
Camden’s Present and Future
• Camden is
prime to be
the regional
leader and
center for the
Ed’s and Med’s
with several
world class
institutions
Camden’s Strengths - Location
• Direct access to
bridges to
Philadelphia; all
major highways;
and regional
public
transportation
systems
Camden’s Strengths – Residents
• Congress of Resident and Community Based
Organizations was formed to ensure that city
residents are involved in improving the
quality of life through active engagement in
the development process and other policy
initiatives (i.e. public safety, education, and
neighborhood sustainability within their
neighborhoods)
• Many of our Congress and clergy members
took part in a chaplaincy certification
program to assist our police department in
providing various public safety services to our
residents/communities (particularly during
tragic and stressful events)
Camden’s Strengths – Neighborhood Stabilization
•
Camden has several
exciting new developments
for its neighborhoods;
which are propelling the
city to a more prosperous
future
•
Leveraging $26.1 million
dollars in federal NSP2
funding for housing
demolition, rehabilitation,
new construction and
greening of vacant lots in
ten census tracts with the
intended purpose of
stimulating economic
growth and creating jobs.
Camden Demographics – Poverty / Employment
• Population of 77,344 as of the 2010 United States Census
• Roughly 31% of Camden’s population is under 18 years of age
• The 2011 poverty rate for Camden City 42.5%; Rate of Children living in poverty in
Camden is 56.7%
• 47.5% of all families and 58.2% of single female-led families in Camden City lack the
resources to provide their children with basic needs
• Median household income for Camden City in 2011 was $21,191
• Camden City currently an unemployment rate of 18.4%
Camden Demographics – Education
Year
Camden School District
City Rate (%)
State Rate (%)
School
2010-2011 Attendance Rate (%)
2012
District-Wide
49.3
83
Woodrow Wilson
87.2
2011
District-Wide
56.9
86
Camden High
76.7
State
94.6
• Only 6.8% of Camden’s population has a Bachelor’s degree of higher compared with
34.6% for the state
• Gang presence in Camden City tripled in 2012; with 21 gangs identified from a survey
result, including four that were present in the schools
Camden Demographics – Youth Violence/Delinquency
Juvenile Arrests
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total Arrests
2011
2012
30
43
53
56
51
56
35
22
30
41
50
28
495
46
39
57
61
41
36
26
32
55
45
40
pending
478
Camden Demographics – Juvenile Crimes 2011 v. 2012
2011
Endang. Minor
Arson
ABC Viol
Impr beh/riot/false alarm
Burg
Escape
Terror. Threats
Loitering (CDS)
Theft
Possess. CDS
Robbery
Hinder./Eluding/Resist./O…
Simple Assault
Sex offense
Harassment
Crim Misch
Rec Stolen Prop
Trespass
Weapon
Warrant
Aggravated Assaults
CDS Dist
0
2012
5
3
11
27
28
3
11
12
16
22
28
57
2011
41
9
8
12
27
28
36
44
51
118
50
100
150
Kidnapping
1
ABC Viol
12
Improper Behavior
20
Burglary
7
Terror. Threats
15
Loitering (CDS)
35
Theft
12
Possess. CDS
45
Robbery
16
Hindering/Eluding/Resis…
36
Simple Assault
56
Sex offense
3
Harassment
10
Crim Misch
16
Rec Stolen Prop
33
Trespass
10
Weapon
31
Warrant
35
Aggravated Assaults
45
CDS Dist.
0
50
2012
141
100
150
City of Camden’s Proposal
GOAL:
• Develop a comprehensive youth violence prevention plan that is
research-based, informed by data, and taps community resources and
assets to inform strategy development in following areas:
 Juvenile Crime/Juvenile Violence
 Truancy/Absenteeism from School
 Youth Workforce Development
 Youth Homelessness
 Youth Mental Health/Continuum of Care
 Childhood Obesity
• The plan will include goals and program objectives to ensure
accountability and support resource development and sustainability
Youth Court Forum Program
• Collaboration between the Mayor’s Office, Municipal
Court and the Camden City Public School District
• Trained youth encourage their peers to take ownership
of their actions and do not make determinations of
guilt or innocence
• They work with their peers to determine most suitable
or appropriate consequence (i.e. writing essays, letters
of apology and/or conducting community service)
• Program will run once a week during the school year
from 5pm to 7pm
• Community Congress member will meet with truant
student and their parents on Tuesdays in court to
address additional needs
• Expectation is to reduce truancy rate by 5% to 10%
Levels to Brilliance - Youth Leadership Program
•
16 week program for Camden City
youth to further understand the value
of an education and the importance
of contributing positively to their
school and community
•
Inaugural group consisted of 18
Camden City students
•
Four essential components that were
addressed - preparation of Body,
Mind, Soul and Spirit
•
Program concluded with a White
Diamond Cotillion Ball
•
Program seeks to offer educational,
employment and job training
opportunities
Expand & Enhance Current Youth Violence Prevention Programs
• Assists at risk juveniles between the ages of 14 to 17
• Seeks to reduce the number of Camden City youth at risk of secure confinement
by serving 65 to 80 youth per year
• Anticipate 65% will be diverted from further justice system involvement
• Program offers - support for juveniles under stress; mentors; counselors; life and
social skills training (through enrichment activities such as Substance Abuse
Education, Conflict resolution and positive role models)
Moving the Plan Forward
Challenges
• Funding
• Staffing
• Opportunities for
youth
• Lack of resources
• Education
Take Away
• Networking
• Funding Sources
• Benchmarks from
participating cities
• Partnerships