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Crime Update:
Memphis City Crime Update: January 1 to October 2009
From January 1 to the end of October 2009, overall crime was down 16.8% including a drop in violent crime by 14% and a drop in property crime by 17.4% across the City of Memphis, when compared to the same time period in 2006.
Shelby County Sheriff's Office Crime Update: January 1 to October 2009
From January 1 to the end of October 2009, overall crime was down 1.3% including a drop in violent crime by 3.6% and a drop in auto theft by 19.6% across Shelby County when compared to the same time period in 2006.
Implementation of the strategic initiative to reduce crime, Operation: Safe Community began in 2006. Crime statistics and updates are systematically compared to 2006 as a benchmark for success towards full implementation of the 5-year plan.
To view the full Part I Crime Trends report for January 1 - October 31 from 2006-2009 administered by The University of Memphis and the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission please click here.
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Strategy 3 - Strengthen state sentencing laws for crimes committed with guns.
Team Leaders: State Representative John DeBerry and State Senator Mark Norris.
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Crime is a serious problem throughout the entire state of Tennessee. When the Operation: Safe Community plan was developed in 2006, the CQ Press crime rankings of 385 cities reported that Tennessee had four in the top 60; Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville and Chattanooga.
Despite some gains made during the last few legislative sessions, Tennessee still has some of the weakest laws against gun violence and illegal possession of guns in the country. Previous efforts to strengthen these laws have been hampered by the State’s fiscal note related to the proposed legislation.
Tennessee's 106th General Assembly is gearing up in January of 2010. Many believe it will require a coordinated statewide effort to communicate not only the immediate fiscal note or "price tag" of increased prison sentences for violent offenders but also the long-term economic impact on our communities and quality of life for our citizens. For example, research shows that the state of Tennessee could save approximately $894 million every year from reducing tangible victims' costs. These costs include medical and mental health treatment, loss of future earnings, public programs and property damage.
For this reason, citizens of Memphis and Shelby County have developed the Citizen Safety Coalition to educate legislators on the importance of tougher laws for crimes committed with guns. The Coalition is currently implementing community meetings to build statewide support for the proposed legislation. The group is also making plans to travel to Nashville during Tennessee's 106th General Assembly.
If you would like to participate on the Citizen Safety Coalition please email Linda K. Miller at lmiller@memphiscrime.org.
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Operation: Safe Community is featured monthly on WREG Channel 3's "Live at Nine" hosted by Mary Beth Conley and Alex Coleman.
Dr. Jerry Watson of Tennessee Voices for Children and Mr. Jeffrey Higgs of Lemoyne-Owen College will be discussing OSC Strategy 9; JustCare 180o on the show November 24th .
JustCare 180o is a comprehensive program to reduce juvenile
delinquency through existing community-based resources including
counselors for youth and families. The pilot program led by Tennessee
Voices for Children is currently being implemented in two Memphis area
communities in conjunction with the Lemoyne-Owen College and Southeast
Community Development Corporations. Funding for the pilot programs was
granted by the City of Memphis.
Judge Curtis Person of the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court is the team leader on Strategy 9 of Operation: Safe Community.
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