The University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences in West Haven has received a $1 million grant to support data analytics efforts to prevent gun violence. The program seeks to provide information to law enforcement officers and decision-makers to make informed decisions and take preventive measures. The Lee School will partner with the UNH School of Health Sciences to analyze gun violence data. Trauma-informed training for officers will also be supported. Mayor Justin Elicker and Police Chief Karl Jacobson have discussed a multi-pronged approach to addressing gun violence in the city, including DNA testing machines, more cameras, and a citywide initiative to open youth recreation centers to use social services as a deterrent. Gun violence is a public health issue, and the data collected will help better allocate staffing and resources to address the issue. The initiative aims to take a “holistic approach” to policing by giving police the tools they need to better address the public safety needs in their community.
University of New Haven Receives $1 Million Grant for Gun Violence Data Program
The University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences in West Haven has been granted $1 million by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy for data analytics efforts to prevent gun violence. The announcement was made during a news conference, attended by Henry C. Lee, the founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, and other officials.
The data analytics program is a student-run organization that aims to curb gun violence by analyzing data and sharing it with the New Haven Police Department. Lisa Dadio, Assistant Dean of Lee School and a retired New Haven police lieutenant, stated that the data collected and analyzed would include determining areas where gun violence is more prevalent. She added that officers need to know the dangers they may face when responding to a call.
Blumenthal stressed the importance of having data and facts to prevent gun violence, stating that “we have plenty of rhetoric” about the issue. The funding will support additional work-study positions, allowing for further analysis of gun violence data.
The program seeks to provide information to law enforcement officers and decision-makers to make informed decisions and take preventive measures. The $1 million grant from Senators Blumenthal and Murphy is expected to aid the effort towards reducing gun violence in the New Haven area.
Multi-Pronged Approach to Address Gun Violence in New Haven
The city of New Haven has been operating its own police-led community data-sharing operation called CompStat for years. However, the city has recently experienced an uptick in gun violence, with six homicides so far this year. Mayor Justin Elicker and Police Chief Karl Jacobson have discussed a multi-pronged approach to addressing gun violence, including DNA testing machines, more cameras, and a citywide initiative to open youth recreation centers to use social services as a deterrent.
Data Analytics to Address Gun Violence
Assistant New Haven Police Chief Bertram Etienne stated that “not one answer” can solve gun violence, but data will be useful to the department in determining how to allocate its staffing and resources to address the issue. To this end, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy procured $1 million in congressionally directed spending to support data analytics efforts at the University of New Haven’s Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. The Lee School will partner with the UNH School of Health Sciences to analyze gun violence data to provide information to law enforcement officers and decision-makers to make informed decisions and take preventive measures.
Trauma-Informed Training for Officers
Blumenthal said that the data would be used for community intervention purposes, such as giving police officers information about opportunities to prevent violence before it happens. The program would also support trauma-informed training for officers. Lorenzo Boyd, an endowed professor at UNH in community policing, said the purpose of using data is to be proactive and to take a “holistic approach” to policing.
Partnering for a Public Health Issue
Betsy Francis-Connolly, dean of the School of Health Sciences, said gun violence is a public health issue. She stated that “this will be a great opportunity for us and we’ll have better opportunities to intervene.” Furthermore, the program seeks to strengthen community-police relationships so there’s more comfort and communication.
No Surveillance Implications
When asked about the potential surveillance implications of collecting and sharing crime data, Blumenthal stated that there are “no cameras in people’s homes” and it is not “a Big Brother surveillance type of program.” Boyd added that the program is “the opposite” of surveillance, by giving police the tools they need to better address the public safety needs in their community.
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