The Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination Project's (BRAVE's ...

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The Baton Rouge Area Violence Elimination Project’s (BRAVE’s) goal is to reduce or eliminate serious
violent crime in the city of Baton Rouge, specifically in the 70805 zip code. BRAVE is based upon
“Project Ceasefire,” a program that has proven effective in reducing serious violent crime in cities
such as Boston (MA), Newark (NJ), Oakland (CA), Los Angeles (CA), Cincinnati (OH), High Point (NC),
Providence (RI), and Milwaukee (WI) from 30 to 50 percent. In addition to the high success rates, data
relative to Project Ceasefire indicated that the reductions proved sustainable.
Through investigation, statistics revealed that the
70805 zip code within Baton Rouge is responsible for 30
percent of the homicides, 25 percent of robberies, and 40
percent of all aggravated assaults in the city. However,
this particular area contains only 13.5 percent of the
city’s population. Additional intelligence received is
that juvenile offenders are on the rise regarding serious
violent crime. Consequently, a grant was applied for
through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention (OJJDP) earlier this year.
Presently, we are elated to announce that BRAVE
has been awarded a $1.5 million grant, approximately
$500,000 per year for a period of three years, through
the OJJDP. This money will be dispersed several ways.
The bulk of it will go to Louisiana State University
(LSU) for a research team to conduct data collection,
sophisticated mapping, along with an analysis of
criminal behavior and crime trends. Another portion
will pay for social services such as substance abuse,
education/career/job assistance, community outreach,
and case management. Additional monies will go
toward providing salaries for a BRAVE administrative
assistant and a youth services specialist. Also, some
funds will be used to pay for an expert consultant, Jim
Fealy, to ensure the program is in compliance with the
Ceasefire strategy. The remaining funds will facilitate
travel expenses, supplies, and campaign materials.
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E X H I B I T A
70805
A R E A C O D E
30%
HOMECIDES
25%
ROBBERIES
40%
AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS
ONLY
13.5%
CITY’S POPULATION
The BRAVE project will be administered primarily
through the office of Mayor-President Melvin “Kip”
Holden and the district attorney’s office, supported
by a working group and led by a project director. The
working group is comprised of the chief of police, the
sheriff, the director of juvenile services, a social service
provider representative, a prominent member of the
clergy, the director of working interfaith network, and
a member of the LSU research team. The mayor’s office
will serve as the fiscal agent and administrator of the
project and the district attorney will be responsible for
day-to-day operations.
Presently, the BRAVE team is conducting incident
reviews in order to determine motives for the homicides
that have occurred in the city. These reviews are more
comprehensive than what would normally be contained
in a homicide file. It includes all of the raw intelligence
pertaining to the case, not only the information that can
be proven in a court of law. Once this information is
reviewed in its entirety, it will aid in providing direction
toward focused deterrence.
After this is complete, a “call-in” procedure will be
conducted. This is the portion of the strategy where
approximately twenty-five youths will be called in to a
specific location and offered assistance and services in
order to change their lifestyles from their serious violent
behavior. During that time, such persons as elected
officials, representatives from faith-based organizations,
victim’s families, concerned citizens, and law
enforcement officials will all be present in an attempt
for these persons to take advantage of the opportunities
and services they are being offered.
Short-term goals include the reduction of youth violence
in 70805, a reduction in gun offenses and arrests,
engagement and involvement of the community, a moral
message to be delivered consistently from faith-based
partners, and an increased effectiveness of existing law
enforcement.
Long-term measures will show a sustained reduction in
violence in 70805, a sustained reduction of gun violence,
a changed perception of police legitimacy, and sustained
community engagement and involvement with the “no
violence” message.
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