Los Angeles County Probation Contributes To Pilot Program that Reduces Crime and Violence

LOS ANGELES COUNTY PROBATION CONTRIBUTES TO PILOT PROGRAM THAT REDUCES CRIME AND VIOLENCE

By almost any measure, the results of the Violence Reduction Network (VRN) pilot program in Compton can be seen as an outstanding success. Since its implementation, the City of Compton has seen double-digit declines in gang-related shootings and homicides, an overall decrease in chronic violence, over 4,000 people arrested and/or indicted, 636 illegal firearms taken off the streets, 80 pounds of explosives seized, and 647 pounds of illegal narcotics and 18 pounds of Fentanyl confiscated.

The pilot program, which began in 2015 and ended this summer, was started when the U.S. Department of Justice selected Compton as one of ten cities that would work closely with the federal government to reduce chronic violence in their communities.

The program offered technical resources, training and the ability for the Department of Justice and local County agencies to work together to address twelve key areas of focus, including gang violence and prevention, human trafficking, mental illness and homelessness, at-risk youth, and trust-building in the community, issues that probation officers face daily.

Los Angeles County Probation Department Director Frank Adams expressed the importance of having collaborations such as this. “The Probation Department was grateful to be part of this multi-agency effort which focused resources on the City of Compton,” he said.  “During this three-year journey, the task force was able to make a significant difference in the community by sharing resources and working closely together.  We look forward to continued collaboration and efforts to reduce crime and improve the safety of our local communities.”

Since the inception of the VRN, the Probation Department has played a major role in engaging with communities and increasing the awareness of the services the Department provides.  According to Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Arthur Mayfield, Probation staff have been active participants on the Commission for a Better Compton, a local grass-roots collaboration of civic leaders, residents, business leaders, and law enforcement who pool their resources to increase healthy communication between law enforcement and the communities they serve.  

“Probation staff have participated in a variety of activities that includes food drives, community resource fairs, neighborhood BBQ's and school events,” SDPO Mayfield explains. “The VRN collaboration includes Compton Sheriff’s station, FBI, Los Angeles District Attorney, U.S. Marshall, and ATF officers who assist us in the apprehension of absconded probation clients.”

While many of the VRN activities took place within the City of Compton, some programs affiliated with it have a national reach.  Probation staff from the South Bay AB 109 office traveled to Birmingham, Alabama in September to attend the National Public Safety Partnership, a symposium attended by over 500 members of law enforcement and public safety personnel from across the county.  SDPO Bernard Nkmere, whose caseloads include clients from Compton, traveled to the historic southern city specifically to attend the “Efforts to Reduce Violent Crimes among People on Supervision” workshop.   

“It is important for Los Angeles to be there to not only share what our experiences have been, but to also hear what other large cities are doing to reduce their crime statistics,” Nkmere explains.

Although the program has officially ended, the working relationships established with the partner agencies will continue beyond the grant to support a safe and secure Compton.