Richmond
CB initiates CAPS
Richmond,
Virginia Community Builder, Toni Schiegelow's patience finally paid
off for the citizens of Richmond in October when the City Council
adopted the Community Assisted Public Safety Program (CAPS), a new
initiative focused on removing crime from HUD assisted multifamily
projects. Development of CAPS began in 1999 to bring the community
and law enforcement together to rid their community of nuisance/drug
house properties. Toni's inspiration for CAPS came from Norfolk's
multifamily housing Public Assisted Community Enforcement (PACE).
Toni
formed a citywide apartment coalition consisting of property managers
to meet with the police to focus on reducing crime in targeted communities.
In addition, citizens played an important role in developing the
program. First, they met, identified and prioritized problem properties.
Second, citizens participated in a Court Watch program which involved
attending trials and informing the judges of the impact of these
code violations in their community.
A
pilot is currently underway in one of the 4 precincts. A coordinated
effort by the inter-departmental team - police, fire and code inspection
responses - has led to an increased ability to close down drug houses.
It is too early to assess the reduction of crime; however, calls
to police reporting crime have reduced significantly at nuisance
properties which were shut down. At one property the number of calls
fell from an average of 10 calls per month to zero for two months.
For this property alone, it is estimated the police will save 288
hours annually. This frees up police resources for other efforts
and makes the community a safer environment in which to live.
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