Executive Summary

This guide provides information on how to engage the community in the work of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) task forces, and on the benefits of doing so. The guide is PSN-specific. It addresses questions that PSN task forces often ask about community engagement and includes concrete examples from U.S. Attorneys' districts that already involve community groups in a variety of ways. Key topics covered in the guide are highlighted below.

Why is community engagement important? What are the benefits for PSN?

The community has information and resources that can make PSN more effective. Experienced PSN task forces cite at least a dozen benefits they have realized from their efforts to engage the community. For example, citizens have become more willing to report crimes and cooperate with investigations; task forces have gained new information that has helped them develop investigative and prosecution strategies; new relationships have prevented misunderstandings about the focus on specific neighborhoods or groups by PSN; and gun crime prevention efforts have been strengthened by involving family members, clergy, and others who can be positive influences on youth and ex-offenders.

What is “the community,” and what roles can the community play in PSN?

Community includes all groups with specific roles to play in creating safer neighborhoods by reducing gun crime. It includes criminal justice agencies and organizations that provide services like housing and job training, but also community and faith-based groups, businesses, youth and families, and the offender population itself (including ex-offenders, parolees, and probationers). Although the community is large, community engagement is customized in each district. The guide includes examples of a full range of roles that community groups have been playing in PSN—analyzing gun crime data, promoting PSN messages, serving on planning groups, working with ex-offenders, and others.

Aren't we already engaging the community through our ad campaigns?

Community engagement often begins with outreach through the media, but much more can be done to engage the community in active roles. And more can be done through the media to support higher levels of community involvement in PSN. The guide offers specific ideas for linking community engagement and media outreach.

How do we expand our community's engagement in PSN?

Community engagement can be broken down into a step-by-step process, drawing on successful strategies seen in PSN and other violence reduction initiatives. It does not have to be overly complicated. The guide includes a self-assessment questionnaire to help with planning and explains nine steps that PSN task forces can take to involve the community effectively. One of the most important recommendations is to start with current partners. For example, most of the PSN task forces that collaborate with the community are closely allied with Weed & Seed.

What are some examples of community engagement in PSN?

The guide provides specific examples from various experienced PSN task forces to bring the “why” and “how” of community engagement to life. Included are examples of

• Holding effective community forums, such as town hall-style meetings and problem-solving sessions with community members.
  
  
• Implementing other outreach approaches, such as knocking on doors, sponsoring events to promote PSN and celebrate its successes, meeting with neighborhood crime watch groups, outreach to businesses, tip lines, and others.
  
  
• Involving criminal justice partners by tapping into local community policing, community prosecution, or probation/parole efforts.
  
  
• Engaging youth and families through home visits, community workshops, educational presentations, mentoring and peer support programs for youth, and activities like plays with gun crime prevention themes and PSN rap contests.
  
  
• Collaborating with community and faith-based groups to address gang violence, conduct pledge against gun violence campaigns in schools, hold rallies and vigils, establish a PSN outreach committee, and bring community members together after a tragedy.
  
  
• Involving businesses and foundations to establish a non profit organization to support PSN; and partnering with sports teams, media outreach partners, shooting sports organizations, and firearms industry representatives.
  
  
• Engaging offender populations by offering assistance from community groups at PSN meetings held with ex-offenders, implementing case management teams, and involving offenders and ex-offenders in analyzing gun crime data.