What's being done about gun violence?

Gun violence initiatives are all the rage. So much so that both New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are supporting comprehensive initiatives to reduce gun violence statewide. Typically, these initiatives seek combine aggressive policing and prosecution of violent felons. Others look to divert the most risky offenders and potential offenders from the activities that may lead to future offending. One such example is Newark’s Crime Prevention and Recidivism Reduction Initiative (NCPRI), of which Newark Community Solutions is a partner. The program, an initiative of the Newark’s Department of Economic and Housing Development, is coordinated by Rutgers-Newark and focuses on the small number of people responsible for most violent crimes. NCPRI will enroll 150 participants between the ages of 18-30 who are at risk of incarceration or at high risk of committing a violent offense due to criminogenic risk factors. Over the course of the program, the participants will receive case management, transitional employment services and job placement. The goal of the program is to reduce the likelihood that these young people will re-offend or fall victim to violent crime. Stay tuned.