Several Detroit neighborhoods see decline in violent crimes under community program, mayor says

(CBS DETROIT)On Monday, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan declared a significant win in the city’s fight against violent crime.

Duggan claims that violent crime has significantly decreased in a number of Detroit communities. He attributes this to participant groups and the ShotStoppers community violence intervention (CVI) program.

The majority of the city’s community violence intervention zones saw an 83% decrease in violent crime between August and October of this year, according to new data.

“We made an attempt that no one else had. “You have a defined territory, and you will be held accountable for the increase or decrease in shootings within that territory,” we explained. And they’ve all been successful,” Duggan said.

Six neighborhood groups, including Detroit Friends and Family, are at the forefront.

William Nicholson, executive director of Detroit Friends and Family, stated, “I think that when you, when you, when you allow people that are from the community to help bring about the change in the community, then those that are from that community will be more receptive to that change.”

The stark contrast between violent crime in 2018–2022 and today is depicted in these heat maps.

There are some zones with no red spots at all.

“They now know where the hot spots are, where the trouble the houses are, where the gathering places are, and they’ve helped a lot of young people get into positive tracks, whether it’s school or jobs or the like, instead of violence,” Duggan stated.

The initiative’s backers are urging Lansing lawmakers to approve the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund. After financing from the American Rescue Plan Act expires in April, the trust would assist in funding the ShotStoppers program.

Karisha Vanzant, Force Detroit’s Program Coordinator, stated, “We hope to see to actually have the same reduction throughout the city, Detroit, and in the state of Michigan, and we hope that we continue to receive the financial support from the city as well as the state, as well as the federal government.”

The State House has approved the Public Safety and Violence Prevention Trust Fund. Now, senators are waiting to vote on it on the Senate floor.

According to leaders of CVI groups, it would be a dream come true if that were to occur.

“I hope there won’t be any gun violence in ten years. That’s my hope for the foreseeable future, in my opinion,” Nicholson stated.

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