Fenty Announces Initiative to Target Crime Through Focused Neighborhood Improvement Effort

(Washington, DC) Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty launched a targeted  pilot initiative aimed at reducing criminal activity and increasing quality of life in at-risk communities. The effort, involving several District agencies in cooperation with non-governmental community-based organizations, will target three Focused Improvement Areas (FIA) in the city’s 3rd, 5th and 7th Police Districts.

The program focuses on marrying existing community policing efforts such as Operation Full Stride, recently kicked off by MPD to increase foot patrol officers, and delivery of human services. Objectives include increasing employment opportunities, engaging youth in meaningful activities, increasing school attendance and improving neighborhood appearance.

“Law enforcement efforts are critical to ensuring the safety of our residents, but policing alone won’t address the root causes of the challenges facing our communities,” said Mayor Fenty. “If we are going to affect meaningful, lasting change, we must employ the full range of resources at our disposal at a neighborhood level.”

The FIAs were identified as neighborhoods experiencing the highest incidence of violent crime in the last year (neighborhood maps follow). Geographic targeting will allow FIA partners—District agencies and community organizations—to optimally focus resources, increase accountability and maximize performance.  

In addition to intensified efforts to improve neighborhood appearance, human services resources will be focused on at-risk individuals, their families and households.  Individuals and households selected for direct outreach and intervention will be identified through (1) public safety intelligence, (2) door-to-door outreach led by non-governmental volunteers including faith-based groups, and (3) government agency and school outreach. Root-cause analysis indicates that focusing resources in this way is most likely to improve