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

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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