ABSTRACT
This chapter will discuss a program that brought evidence-based practices to a community public safety initiative in Newark, NJ. The Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC) bridges the gap between academic research and local community stakeholders through a collaborative process of data analysis that maximizes existing resources to prevent crime and enhance public safety in evidence-based ways. After a one-year period, a total of 28 community partner organizations joined the NPSC, representing groups of varying sizes and capacities, as well as corporations, healthcare providers, real estate developers, law enforcement, city hall officials, among others. The strong working relationship between NPSC data analysts and community organizations creates opportunities to deeply understand local needs, and to inform current efforts with reliable data insights. As part of this process, community groups participate in a monthly forum where everyone is presented with updated data and analytics to engage in a conversation that identifies new priorities and immediate solutions to the most pressing crime problems.
