Grant Details

Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program resources are focused on the who and the why in specific places within these communities; the CBCR model fosters a sustainable model to achieve crime reduction through a broad cross sector partnership approach, linked with local revitalization efforts. While law enforcement's mission is to protect and serve communities, they cannot do so alone, and the CBCR program acknowledges the necessity of critical partnerships and the expertise that is needed from other partners in the criminal justice system, the community, and service providers to be effective in long-term crime reduction.

The CBCR Program approach is focused on the following core objectives: 

• Place-based strategy: To better integrate crime control efforts with revitalization strategies. Efforts to reduce crime are rooted in broader revitalization activities in recognition of the inextricable link between housing, education, health, economic development, and public safety. CBCR sites target a specific geographic area within a community with high levels of crime or types of crime in order to most effectively direct resources and to positively influence multiple social disorganization factors, such as concentration of high-risk residents, limited infrastructure, collective efficacy, and neighborhood physical conditions.
• Community Oriented: To increase community and resident engagement in shaping and sustaining crime prevention and revitalization efforts. In CBCR, residents and neighbors are key to keeping communities safe. Increasing community engagement impacts the building of collective efficacy among neighbors and fosters mutual trust between residents and the criminal justice system to enhance community safety in the long term. To catalyze and sustain change, there must be active involvement and leadership of neighborhood residents throughout the revitalization process. Understanding residents' views of neighborhood change is critical. Community-oriented strategies should be driven by local data and needs, and should address critical issues comprehensively.
• Data driven: To improve the use of data and research to problem solve and guide program strategy. CBCR sites are strongly encouraged to work with a local researcher or research team to conduct a broad examination of crime drivers in hot spots and then consider appropriate evidence-based or innovative strategies to address these drivers. Local researcherpractitioner partnerships can help a community assess program implementation and intended program impacts, as well as assess gaps in services, strategies, and partners.
• Partnerships and Capacity Building: To promote sustainable collaboration with crosssector partners to tackle problems from multiple angles. Developing the capabilities of a cross-sector partnership, as well as the community, should be a key strategy of organizations pursuing comprehensive revitalization. 17 Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment and capacity to form partnerships and work collaboratively, and should ensure community members have the right knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully, even if they face ongoing challenges in their attempts to identify crime issues and develop a targeted strategy to address those issues.

Applicants will develop and complete a strategic, collaborative, and community-oriented plan to reduce crime in a target neighborhood and then begin implementation of the plan during the project period. Applicants will use Planning and Implementation funds to:

• Engage in a required 9- to 12-month planning phase to:
  • Pursue community partnerships and leadership that ensures the community is active in the process. To have a fully functioning community partnership, time is needed to engage all residents and community partners, build trust, and seek data and input in the planning phase. Applicants should focus on building strong community engagement strategies and innovative approaches to collecting resident input and context during the planning phase.
  • Identify, verify, and prioritize chronic crime hot spots within the identified neighborhood.
  • Work with cross-sector team and law enforcement partners to develop a multifaceted strategy, drawing on a continuum of approaches to address crime drivers.
  • Complete an early action project in consultation with BJA and the CBCR TTA provider.
  • Collaborate regularly with local law enforcement, a research partner/team, and the community to conduct an analysis of crime drivers and an assessment of needs and available resources.
  • Develop a comprehensive implementation plan to reduce crime that includes the analysis, methodology findings, and a plan that articulates the range of strategies that the CBCR cross-sector partners plan to pursue.
• Upon completion of the planning phase, engage in an implementation phase to:
  • Convene regular, ongoing meetings with cross-sector partners and the management team.
  • Share regular input/discussions with the research partner and assess program implementation.
  • Build the capacity of residents and the cross-sector management team to continue to coordinate research and maintain program assessment.
  • Implement, modify, and evaluate strategies, as appropriate. Redirect program activities when ongoing analysis indicates program goals are not being met.
  • Identify and develop a sustainability strategy for longer-term implementation of CBCR Program core principles, including the active role of neighborhood residents.

In FY 2020, the CBCR program will give priority consideration to rural jurisdictions facing increases or high sustained levels of Part 1 violent crimes overall or specific crime types such as gang-related criminal activity.