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The Memphis Shelby Crime Commission would like to welcome the Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong and Pastor Keith Norman of First Baptist Church - Broad to the Board of Directors.
| An Operation: Safe Community Update |
Did you know that students who meet regularly with their mentors are 52% less likely than their peers to skip a day of school and 37% less likely to skip a class.
Mentoring serves as an astounding opportunity in Memphis and Shelby County to divert youth from skipping school, and ultimately, committing acts of violence. The Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan seeks to utilize mentoring as a vital prevention tool so that children at risk for youth violence access high quality resources that effectively protect them by promoting positive development.
Strategy #8 of Operation: Safe Community, the D.A.'s Mentoring-based Truancy Reduction Program continues to serve as an in-school present to immediately flag habitual truancy, maintain youth and mentor relationships and serve as advocates with children and their families. Under the leadership of Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich, the program is continuing to pair middle school-aged children with qualified mentors from the business and faith-based communities to foster life-changing relationships.
"As District Attorney, I recognize the importance of education in crime prevention and quality of life. We are committed to several initiatives in our office and the community that reflect that. One is our truancy mentoring program. Instead of just prosecuting truant children, we give them the option of working with a mentor to redirect their lives.
Through voluntary engagement in the Mentoring-based Truancy Reduction Program, we are in turn keeping students in school and learning, more often and we are providing students an adult role model on a continual basis. Research shows that about 40% of a youth's waking hours are spent without companionship
or supervision. As a result, mentors also provide youth with a valuable and safe place to spend
free time.
Additionally, a recent evaluation conducted by The University of Memphis concluded that intervention in the form of interaction with truant students positively impacts student outcomes and reduces unexcused absences considerably; the study cites an average of 10.5 unexcused absences for every 100 days prior to intervention, 6.8 unexcused absences with initial intervention and 5.6 unexcused absences upon being matched with a mentor.
Since 2006, the Mentoring-based Truancy Reduction Program has grown from three to eight Memphis City Schools with a goal of increasing to 16 in the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan. We have trained more than 200 qualified mentors and matched more than 178 middle school-aged children with mentors from Memphis and Shelby County, just like you.
Now, more than ever, we need the invigorated commitment of citizens to continue to make a difference in the lives of children in our community. We invite you to become a mentor which requires a minimum commitment of eight hours a month with a student, for more information, click here. Also, there is a New Mentor Training session, this Thursday, April 28th at the Office of Youth Services and Children's Affairs beginning at 6 p.m. For more info or to RSVP please call 545-5987.
We also invite you to make a financial contribution to the Mentoring-based Truancy Reduction Program, as part of Operation: Safe Community, so that we may continue to service the eight schools and grow to meet the needs of the community. To make a donation, click here.
Thank you in advance, for your commitment to our children and our community."
Amy Weirich
Shelby County District Attorney General
Monthly Crime Trend Report
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City of Memphis Crime Update: January - March 2011
From January 1-March 31, 2011, Major Violent Crime was down 25.6% including a drop in robbery by 46.9% and a drop in aggravated assault by 12.0% across the City of Memphis, when compared to the same time period in 2006.
Major Property Crime was down 33.9% including a drop in burglary by 29.8% and a drop in motor vehicle theft by 59.5% across the City of Memphis, when compared to the same time period in 2006.
Shelby County Crime Update: January - March 2011
From January 1-March 31, 2011, Major Violent Crime was down 25.2% including a drop in murder by 25.0% and a drop in aggravated assault by 12.1% across all jurisdictions of Shelby County, when compared to the same time period in 2006.
Major Property Crime was down 34.7% including a drop in burglary by 30.5% and a drop in motor vehicle theft by 59.0% across all jurisdictions of Shelby County, when compared to the same time period in 2006.
To view the full Operation: Safe Community Monthly Crime Trend Report administered by The University of Memphis and the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission please click HERE.
We would like to congratulate Dr. Katherine Lawson, executive director of Victims to Victory, who was recently recognized by the Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole for her outstanding and unwavering work as a victims services provider.
U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton III served as keynote speaker at the 17th Annual Crime Victims' Rights Awards held recently at Lindenwood Christian Church and sponsored by Mayor Mark Luttrell, Mayor A C Wharton, Sheriff Bill Oldham, U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton, District Attorney General Amy Weirich and the Family Safety Center of Memphis. During the annual ceremony which honors crime victims advocates, Mr. Stanton reaffirmed the U.S. Attorney's Office's commitment to seeking justice for the families of victims in our community. Mr. Stanton also reflected on the hundreds of lives lost to violence and encouraged attendees to honor the lives, lights, that were dimmed too soon as we move forward to reshape the future of Memphis and Shelby County.
We would like to congratulate the award recipients:
Jim Rout Victim Advocate of the Year: Reginald Johnson, Boys Incorporated
Veronica F. Coleman Criminal Justice Professional of the Year: Deputy Commissioner Larry Godwin, TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security
Anna Whalley Victim Service Professional of the Year: Judy Pinson, Mid-South Sexual Assault Resource Center
Editorial: Prevention is the key
The Commercial Appeal
April 25, 2011
Domestic Violence Troubling Kids
WREG News Channel 3
By The Numbers: Crime Down In Memphis
ABC 24
Memphis touted as national leader for strategies to cut youth violence
Commercial Appeal
New hotline makes it easier for Memphians to report child abuse, neglect.
Call4Kids hotline number is 901-274-7477
Action News 5
Visit the PRESS section of www.operationsafecommunity.org to see all recent news coverage relating to Operation: Safe Community and our partners.
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New Mentor Training
Truancy-based Mentoring Program
Thursday April 28, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Office of Youth Services and Children's Affairs
315 S. Hollywood
(next door to the Children's Museum of Memphis)
For more information or to confirm your attendance please call 545-5987.
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Open House
Family Safety Center of Memphis & Shelby County
Wednesday, April 27th
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
1750 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor
Madison Professional Building
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Don't miss the first Family Safety Center Open House, Wednesday, April 27th.
As an integral component of Operation: Safe Community, Strategy #14, the Family Safety Center will serve as a centrally located resource center for domestic violence victims services.
The open house will take place on the fifth floor of the Madison Professional Building - one floor below the space the future Family Safety Center which is currently under renovation.
During the historic open house, attendees are invited to witness the development of a time capsule which will include current issues of family violence affecting our community today, but hopefully not tomorrow. As part of this presentation, Police Director Toney Armstrong will make brief remarks and will serve as the first partner service provider to place an item into the capsule.
Five years from now, the capsule will be opened and the community will be invited to gather once more to see the impact the collaborative response to domestic violence has had on the lives of families throughout Memphis and Shelby County.
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