Detroit Police Department (DPD)’s Tenth Precinct, occupying 10.4 of the City of Detroit’s 143 square miles, currently contributes to the city’s trends with 59 non-fatal shootings year-to-date (a 34% annual increase for the precinct itself) and 18 homicides to-date (a 38% increase for the precinct). In addition to the persistent and increasing gun violence in the 10th Precinct, vacant properties in the community pose a threat to public safety and provide ongoing opportunities for new and more significant crime focus areas to develop. According to the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA), the 10th Precinct BCJI target area contains 2,909 DLBA-owned vacant homes, nine vacant commercial structures, and a significant number of city or privately-owned commercial structures, most of which are in disrepair. Despite these conditions, the DLBA is having a positive impact in reducing the number of blighted properties. As of July 5, 2021, it has been reported that 1,606 formerly DLBA-owned homes in the target area are now under rehabilitation compliance, and 552 parcels have completed rehabilitation compliance. These create new opportunities for economic revitalization and reduce the number of properties that can become havens of violent crime.  

Traditionally, the 10th Precinct has not received much programmatic attention compared to other precincts that have been the target areas for initiatives such as Project Safe Neighborhoods. For example, it was the second-to-last onboarded to the City of Detroit’s cornerstone violence reduction program, Ceasefire Detroit, officially “going live” in late January 2020—seven years after the program first began in the 5th and 9th Precincts.  

Considered a “west-side” Precinct, the 10th Precinct is DPD’s only Precinct that does not share an outer boundary with a Detroit-metropolitan suburb. It is also unique as it shares its northeastern border with the enclave city of Highland Park, one of two small cities surrounded by the City of Detroit. Violent crime continues to steadily increase in the 10th Precinct. Factors that may influence this trend include a lack of programmatic attention from many of DPD’s violence reductions programs (and consequently, an infrequent recipient of additional resources) and potential displacement of the prevalent gang activity occurring in the neighboring 2nd and 12th Precincts, especially following targeted Ceasefire enforcement operations in those precincts. 

The proposed BCJI project is a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) strategy built on Ceasefire Detroit and other evidence-based focused deterrence crime reduction strategies. It will use innovative and integrated efforts to rebuild the social and physical environment of the selected micro-focus areas. The proposed CVI Cross-Sector Partnership will build on existing projects in Detroit that combine focused deterrence with community engagement strategies (e.g., PSN). It will engage partners in and around the target community to replicate and adapt evidence-based strategies to meet the specific needs identified within the communities located in the BCJI target area. The strategy includes:  

• Creating a BCJI Implementation Plan and convening Cross-Sector Partnerships by working on analyzing baseline violent, drug, and property crime data and identifying community assets and needs.  

• Place-Based Physical and Economic Revitalization by creating a community-based Neighborhood Advisory Group to identify opportunities to redevelop underused commercial properties and housing development opportunities; reduce crime in the target area by leveraging existing economic development plans and strengthening existing community partnerships; connect residents in the target area with existing city physical improvement programs and resources; reduce reported violent crime; reduce reported property crime; reduce drug crime.  

• Building community capacity, connectivity, and support by engaging residents and business owners within the target area throughout the planning and implementation phases; survey and conduct focus groups with community members and key stakeholders to identify the community’s vision; strategically connect residents with integral city departments and agencies; connect, engage, and support block clubs; create and sustain resident-led neighborhood radio patrols. 

• Connecting residents to workforce development opportunities by leveraging Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC); working from its Detroit at Work site at the Durfee Innovation Society to provide job training and placement for neighborhood residents; prepare residents of the target area to take advantage of the other educational, job and entrepreneurial training opportunities available at the Durfee Innovation Society.  

Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Attorney’s Office-Eastern District of Michigan, Michigan Department of Corrections, Ceasefire Detroit, One-man Grand Jury Project