Community Coordination

A central component to the Safe Streets Initiative, community coordination is directed by the community coordinators at Marquette University Law School under the Restorative Justice Initiative. Community coordination involves the development of effective and positive relationships with residents, resource providers, and local police in order to reduce violence in our neighborhoods. Community coordination works to empower residents dealing with violence and facilitates more effective communication and effort between agencies working within these neighborhoods.

Using the philosophy of Restorative Justice, community coordinators develop forums and events where diverse groups of people meet to discuss how they can work together to repair the harm caused by violence. Participants can include people who have been formerly incarcerated, faith-based leaders, social service agencies, community organizations, residents, and law enforcement. Community coordination involves strategic partnership development with a wide variety of resources providers who serve families and individuals living in the targeted neighborhoods. These partnerships allow resource providers to more effectively share information, resulting in better service to communities in need.

Working to empower and give voice to neighborhoods dealing with violence, community coordinators conduct various programs in these neighborhoods. They can include Circles, Notification Sessions, Call-ins, and a variety of events that promote community engagement all for the purpose of reducing violence in our city. Check out the navigation bar above for more information about specific programs.

Law Enforcement

Working under the Safe Streets Initiative, law enforcement agencies involved include the Milwaukee Police Department, Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Office. They have joined together, enhancing their capacities to monitor, track and collect data in order to more efficiently combat crime in targeted neighborhoods.

Through these intense investigations law enforcement agencies are able to effectively remove violent offenders from the community and also refer other nonviolent offenders to critical resources, helping them overcome obstacles so that they may become productive residents in our community. Collaborating with social agencies, community organizations, and faith-based groups, law enforcement is a significant partner in the Safe Streets Initiative.

Reentry

The reentry component of the Safe Streets Initiative addresses services and supervision for high-risk offenders returning to our neighborhoods. Working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies as well as community and faith-based groups, the Wisconsin State Department of Corrections offers resources before and after an offender’s release from incarceration. Targeting high-risk offenders, the reentry component helps formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into the community, partnering with resources providers who specialize in educational programs, job readiness, parenting, and drug and alcohol treatment.

Sharing information more effectively, the reentry component allows resource providers, faith-based groups, community organizations, and law enforcement agencies to more effectively administer their programs in order to reduce recidivism and violent crime.