MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The City of Memphis and Shelby County are launching a joint crime office to tackle violence reduction and improve the communities most disproportionately affected by crime, a city spokesperson announced Wednesday.
The Joint Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement will key on non-traditional criminal justice system responses and be constructed to allow both administrations use an integrated approach to reduce violence, utilizing a data-driven strategy to benefit communities disproportionately facing violence and trauma. The goal is to lead a collaborative approach by consolidating current city and county safety-related programming.
The initiative will also involve preexisting community-based programs, organizations, individuals, and community and faith leaders in the county.
“Our teams have already begun the work of reducing the silos that typically exist between different municipal entities and community groups,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said. “Our community is ready for a change, and that change will require an innovative and focused approach. We want to ensure this team has the resources and framework needed to make ‘reduce crime and restore peace’ the first thing on their daily to-do list.”
The joint office will develop strategies and program operations as well as identify gaps, needs, and opportunities. City and county leaders plan to recruit new partners in their efforts.
“City and County and representatives from a host of non-profit organizations have met for months in a working group setting to explore ways to expand the level of intervention we can bring to bear in instances of gun violence,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said. “This new joint office is the product of that painstaking effort. We know that there is already great work happening right now, all over our community, but this new agency will be the centralizing hub for that activity. It’ll be able to coordinate the work of gun violence intervention groups, teach best practices, and give informed advice about where and how to deploy our public dollars for maximum impact.”
Harris appointed Valerie Matthews as the crime office's director, and Young chose Tamika Williams to serve as deputy director.
The office will be in the County’s Division of Community Services at 160 N. Main Street. A press conference is planned for Thursday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. at the Renasant Convention Center.
