A Week Later

One week after our first Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative “call in” or notification meeting and NONE of the twelve participants has re-offended!   Four have called the office and will be helped by Jim, moving on to more intensive counseling if they ask for it.

Also in the past week, four individuals whose prior offenses were so severe they were not given an opportunity to “hear the message” have been prosecuted.  Their sentences ranged from 14 months to 44 months.  This may not sound like much, but these sentences are two to four times LONGER than they would have been in the past.  Why?  Because our prosecutors and judges are very supportive of this effort and they are staying on top of it.

 

 

Domestic Violence Initiative Underway

High Point has a new violence reduction effort:  Offender Focused Domestic Violence Initiative.  Like our other efforts targeted at street level drug dealers and gang violence, this one is focused on offenders in domestic violence cases.

“How we address domestic violence as a community has changed,” said police Chief Jim Fealy.  “It’s not going to be tolerated.”

This initiative employs the same basic strategy, now known nationally as the High Point Model:

  • Study the data about our known domestic violence offenders;
  • Put on notice (through a call in) those who fit the criteria and tell them the violence must stop;
  • Offer encouragement to change and direction to resources as needed;
  • Stand with law enforcement to prosecute and remove from our city those who continue to offend.

Jim Summey, our Executive Director, told the initial group of 12, “We care about you, but it’s gotta stop.”  Bobby Davis, a founding member of HPCAV, reminded them, “There are no excuses.  You are responsible for your actions.”

Domestic violence is violence.  And it has to stop.

 

 

Domestic Violence Initiative About to Begin

After several years of careful research and planning, the effort to reduce domestic violence by focusing on perpetrators is about to begin.  Our first notification (also known as a call-in) will take place in February.  We are excited about the possibilities!

USA Today and News 2

The High Point Strategy was featured in a recent USA Today article about crime reduction efforts in Providence, Rhode Island.   News 2 picked up on it locally and did a nice story on our work, giving this more time than usually allotted on local news!

Thanks to Charles and Manila Dean and Deputy Chief Marty Sumner for their contributions to this story.

Put our shirt on.

We don’t want you to give us the shirt off your back – we want you to put one of our shirts ON your back!

Your purchase of one of our fundraising t-shirts – for just $10 – makes it possible for HPCAV to continue working to ensure High Point is a safe place for everyone.

We have adult sizes from small (Sm) to double extra large (2XL).  For details and purchase, call our office at 336-886-5723.

Thank you for your support!

An 8 Minute Introduction

Take a short 8 minute break to listen to Dr. David Kennedy talk about the creation of this strategy on The Takeaway.

David M. Kennedy is the man to whom we in High Point go as we explore better ways for law enforcement (all police, Probation, local and federal) and the community to work together to reduce violent crime.

Success in the Making

A recent Guilford Record article featured Eric Newman who was part of a group of individuals called in this past June.  He has been focused on turning his life around and is succeeding.

Eric has been very appreciative of the help HPCAV has given him.  Before he received a computer from school, he came in to use our computers.  Now he comes in to use our WiFi.  He brings his lunch and uses the microwave or refrigerator at our office.  He brings his own coffee and makes 1/2 pot everyday, always offering a cup to Jim and Patricia.

His next goal?  To move out of the shelter.    Eric shows every sign of being a success in the making – thanks to the help he has received from HP CAV and our supporters.

We Mean What We Say

One of the things HPCAV does is show up in court when individuals who have been notified are charged with new crimes.  If we have made the offer of help and done our part, and the individual chooses to continue committing criminal acts, then we follow through on our promise:  to stand with law enforcement and do everything we can to see that individual is no longer a part of our community.  It happened again today, September 16.

A notified offender, who has been charged in more crimes, was in court today for a bond hearing.  Several HPCAV members went to share what services had been offered as well as their concerns about this individual and his behavior.  The result?  His bond amount was increased, which should ensure he will remain in jail pending his trial.

This matters!  We do what we promise during notifications.  And his being in jail means one less person creating havoc and harming people in our city.

Let The Race Begin!

Join us for “The Amazing High Point Race.”

Be a sponsor of our first fundraiser!

Be a participant – test your knowledge of local history and your sense of community!  

Simply recruit a four-person team from your office, family, civic club, school, or place of worship -OR- compete as an individual. Your team must accumulate the most points from locations all over High Point and make it to the finish line!

Cash prizes will be awarded to 1st place winners in each of three divisions:

– Team of four (members must be at least 18)–$1,000

– Family of four (one adult/three children – OR – two adults/two children–Children must be 17 or younger.)–$500

– Individual (must be 18 or older)–$250

Entry fees for each division are:  Team of four–$100; Family of four–$50; Individual–$25

Fees are non-refundable and tax deductible.

While you and your team race through town on your scavenger hunt for points, everyone else can enjoy the Race Festival at Oak Hollow Mall.  We’ll have great food, arts and crafts, entertainment, inflatables, car shows — something for the entire family.

WHEN:  Saturday, Oct. 1, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., rain or shine

– On-site registration* begins:  9 a.m. in the Oak Hollow Mall parking lot

– Race instructions distributed & race begins:  11 a.m.

– Race ends:  1 p.m. at the Festival site

– Winners announced:  2 p.m. (You must be present to win.)

– Festival ends:  3 p.m.

*To pre-register:  Download the Amazing High Point Race entry form or pick up a form at the High Point CAV office, 792 N. Main St.

Complete a form for each participant. Mail or hand deliver the form with your non-refundable, tax deductible entry fee check made payable to High Point CAV, 792 N. Main St., High Point, NC 27262.

See you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does the Strategy Work?

You decide!

Here are some of the latest data, from June, 2011, provided by the High Point Police Department:

  • High Point’s violent crime index has decreased 47% since 1997.
  • Violent crime in 2010 decreased for the third year in a row, marking the first time violent crime has decreased three years in a row in over twenty years.
  • The total number of violent crimes in 2010 was 595 (we used to average over 1200); that is the fewest number of violent crimes in modern history.  It has not been that low in the last 20 years of record keeping.
  • A Michigan State University report published in February 2010 compared index offenses in High Point (16.4 per 10,000) with the average U.S. index offense rates (256.2 per 10,000), as well comparably sized areas (339.8 per 10,000) and found that the overall city experiences much lower rates of violent and property crime.
  • Total social cost of crime savings in High Point every year is estimated at more than $40,000,000 per year.
  • In addition, a report on notified offenders in the last three years (2008-2010) shows of the 156 offenders notified, only 15 committed a prohibited offense (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, any weapons offense and drug trafficking) after being called-in.  That is a 9.6% recidivism rate.  The national average for recidivism rate for an offender released from prison is 67% (this percentage reoffend in the first 3 years).