Project Safe Neighborhoods offers guidance for those on the brink

Jan. 21--A national recidivism deterrence program that seeks to lift repeat offenders out of the cycle of crime has made its way to New Bern.

The New Bern Police Department recently received a $66,425 Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant to be spent within three years. The program is the newest initiative implemented by the USA Eastern District of N.C in partnership with the N.C. Gang Association and is designed to inform community members of the restricted rights of felons and their new responsibilities pertaining to firearms and ammunition, and reduce violence and drug crime.

According to New Bern Police Department Captain David Daniels, the goal of the program is to reduce violence and drug related offenses, specifically gun violence, while targeting repeat offenders, gang members and weapons violations.

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Daniels said the three main initiatives of the program are enforcement, prevention and intervention. He said the prevention objectives are to get local youth involved in community activities and initiatives to prevent them from becoming associated with criminal activity and known gang offenders.

"A couple of the programs we're looking at are the Police Explorers Program, which we already have, implementing a DARE Program back into the city schools, and some other youth outreach programs with our faith-based community," said Daniels.

The enforcement aspect will come through cooperation with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Craven County District Attorney's Office, said Daniels. The plan is to investigate and prosecute repeat offenders for weapons violations and drug offenses and seek the maximum sentence allowed, he explained..

The New Bern PD will also maintain key community partnerships with various groups, including the local faith-based community and organizations such as the Craven/Pamlico Reentry Council, said Daniels.

"The goal is to provide resources and other options for those offenders that are coming back into society to keep them from reoffending," he noted.

Greg Singleton, executive director of the Craven/Pamlico Reentry Council, said an initiative like Project Safe Neighborhoods would have served him well before he became entangled in the prison system in the 1980s.

"The mission statement then is different from the mission statement now, as we look at law enforcement," said Singleton. "What law enforcement is advocating now, with the backing of the federal government, is 'We know who you are, we know what you're doing, but we want to offer you something different to keep you from going to prison.' Yet law enforcement is also saying, to those who do not take heed, to echo Wyatt Earp in "Tombstone," 'I'm coming for ya and hell is coming with me.'"

Singleton described Project Safe Neighborhoods as a "huge opportunity" for the City of New Bern and its police department.

"Though the approach is very unorthodox it is very appropriate for a time such as this, with our high recidivism rate," said Singleton.

Daniels also offered an example of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program at work. He said in November New Bern PD had a call-in session where they identified 15 individuals who might be in danger of reoffending. Daniels said the individuals were asked to come in for a sit down meeting with a member of the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Craven County District Attorney as well as various community partners.

"We said 'Look, we're here to keep you from reoffending.' We had job placement, housing, and different organizations there to provide them an opportunity," said Daniels. "The thought is they can either take those opportunities and resources or go at it alone, which is difficult. So we're hopeful that our community partnerships will prevent crime and reduce the violence in our city."

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