Collaborative Policing

Project Reset is a diversion program that reassesses our response to first-time, low-level criminal offenses. Originally launched in select precincts in Manhattan and Brooklyn in February 2015, Project Reset sought to reintegrate minors (ages 16 and 17) into society by enabling them to undergo community-based, rehabilitative intervention in lieu of criminal prosecution. With support from the Center for Court innovation and the Osborne Association, the program was developed to hold young people accountable for their actions, while simultaneously identifying social deficiencies, addressing them, and avoiding incarceration and the societal implications that often follow a criminal record.

At the point of arrest, a police officer would inform the young person when he or she is eligible to take part in Project Reset. Participation in the program is voluntary, and the rehabilitative intervention is provided through group workshops, community service, and individual and group counseling sessions. Participants must have been 16 or 17 years of age, must have been a first-time offender, arrested for a nonviolent misdemeanor, and have no outstanding cases against them. Within the first six months of operation, 98 percent of participants successfully completed their restorative intervention and avoided formal case processing.

Project Reset was expanded to include all of Manhattan in October 2016, and select precincts in the Bronx in March 2018. Most recently, it is now offered as an option to adult first-time offenders in all available precincts as of July 2018.

In March 2016, DCCP created the Co-Response Unit, a joint effort with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to improve the City's ability to respond to individuals with mental illnesses. Potential clients may be identified as having an increasing risk to themselves or the community through the use of real-time information and data analysis. If eligible, they are connected to supportive services they may need to avoid arrests and unnecessary hospital visits.

Co-Response teams consist of two police officers and one DOHMH clinician who are specially trained to recognize and respond to behaviors and symptoms indicative of mental illnesses. Face-to-face interactions with clients provide the teams with the opportunity to introduce themselves and state the purpose of their visit. They aim to address immediate health concerns, and will conduct any necessary crisis intervention, de-escalation, or mediation.

Follow-up conferences are provided to all clients referred to the Co-Response teams as well. These meetings address any outstanding concerns identified during the initial engagement.

As part of our mission to develop more non-enforcement options for police officers, DCCP, in conjunction with the Staten Island District Attorney's Office, the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (DOHMH), and several healthcare providers on Staten Island, launched Project HOPE (Heroin Overdose Prevention & Education) in January 2017. Under Project HOPE, eligible individuals arrested for a top Penal Law charge of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, 7th Degree (PL 220.03) will be offered drug treatment and rehabilitative services in place of criminal prosecution. Individuals who successfully complete this program will not be required to appear in court, will have their cases dismissed, and will have their arrest record sealed.

Project HOPE has since expanded to Brooklyn as of February 2018 under the name Project CLEAR (Collaborative Legal Engagement Assistance Response). As of March 2019, Project HOPE also serves all Manhattan precincts and select areas in the Bronx.

Since the introduction of Neighborhood Policing in 2015, DCCP has worked closely with precincts to ensure that Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) have access to the tools they need to build stronger relationships with the communities they serve. For example, DCCP sends monthly E-mails to NCOs and their supervisors which contain important information about government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and existing NYPD initiatives they can use to address concerns raised by community members and NCOs alike. DCCP has also authored Neighborhood Policing Resource Guides that contain information about citywide and neighborhood-specific resources that NCOs can use in the field. These guides are reviewed and updated quarterly, and made available for distribution through print form and our internal Intranet webpage.

At the ground level, DCCP coordinates training seminars for all new NCOs. These seminars include workshops largely focused on problem-solving and how to use the Neighborhood Policing Resource Guides in the most effective ways. Another main component is centered around how NCOs can successfully facilitate the Build the Block safety meetings they will use to introduce themselves, and identify the best methods for meeting the needs of their communities. Furthermore, DCCP has partnered with the New York Peace Institute, a leader among the nation's largest community mediation agencies, to provide NCOs with training designed to enhance both conflict resolution and communication skills. Interactions with the public demand that NCOs continually hone these skills to better respond to chronic quality-of-life complaints and similar day-to-day situations.

NYC Ceasefire aims to decrease group-involved violence without increasing arrests or incarceration rates. It proactively delivers a strong, face-to-face message to high-risk populations—including gangs, street crews, drug sets, etc.—because of their disproportionate likelihood of becoming victims or perpetrators of violence. The NYPD, in partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, clergy and community leaders, and social service providers, launched Ceasefire in Brooklyn in December 2014. The program has since expanded into parts of the Bronx and Staten Island. The Ceasefire messages touches upon the following points:

• The NYPD wants to keep high-risk people alive, safe from violence, and out of prison.
• Violence is unacceptable and must stop.
• Continued violence will be met with swift and certain consequences.
• Services and support are available for anyone who needs help.

DCCP builds the capacity of community members who want to be involved in the NYC Ceasefire partnership as speakers or volunteers. They may include clergy, people who have lost loved ones to violence or incarceration, and people who were once involved with group violence or were incarcerated.

DCCP also engages local supportive service providers to ensure that these same high-risk people receive affirmative outreach. This outreach is multifaceted, and includes services such as assistance with preparing for the TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion), enrollment in certification programs, job training and placement, housing needs, and counseling.

DCCP, in partnership with the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program (HIDTA) and the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (DOHMH), developed the RxStat Operations Group in the summer of 2016 to enhance our collective response to the heroin and opioid epidemic in New York City. This partnership of thirty-five city, state, and federal agencies meets quarterly to review recent fatal overdose cases, focusing on prior contacts, resources, and current protocols. Agencies use this information to reevaluate and enhance existing policies and procedures, improve communication channels and information-sharing practices between each other, and develop new strategies and resources to combat the epidemic.

For each meeting, DOHMH and NYPD will select specific cases to be reviewed. Each agency presents all relevant data related to each case, focusing on prior contacts, current and past investigations, and other available intelligence. The agencies will use this information to close gaps, enhance existing strategies, and develop new comprehensive prevention and response plans.

Between quarterly meetings, DCCP, the Chief of Crime Control Strategies and HIDTA meet with identified stakeholders to address outstanding issues. The purpose is to remove obstacles which impede a more effective response to opioid overdoses and identify what resources and new policies need to be developed.

In the aftermath of a crime, a victim can feel lost, vulnerable, and uncertain about the security of his or her future. All too often in the criminal justice process, much time and effort is focused on processing offenders, while victims rarely (if at all) play any sort of active role. The Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) was born out of the NYPD's commitment to serving the public and restoring victims' sense of self and independence.

Launched in October 2016, CVAP was a massive undertaking in both size and infrastructure. DCCP partnered with Safe Horizon, the nation's largest and most comprehensive victim services provider, to staff all 77 precincts and 9 PSAs with two victim advocates. One victim advocate would specialize in handling instances of domestic violence, while the other would serve victims of all other crimes. However, both also proactively engage individuals who don't necessarily identify as victims of crime, but who may have experienced violence or have been victimized in other ways. Victim advocates perform daily outreach to victims in several ways, including outreach letters, telephone calls, and home visits. In addition, they advocate on behalf of victims in a variety of settings, including to employers, landlords, businesses, and even within the NYPD.

Victim advocates are also tasked with conducting community-based presentations designed to encourage victims to seek assistance. The underlying concept of CVAP is that even though victims of crime experience trauma in different ways, the NYPD is equipped to quickly mitigate that trauma through positive interactions and providing as much support and access to resources as possible. Its purpose is to reinforce the idea that the NYPD is determined to help victims of crime rebuild their lives at every step of the recovery process.

The idea of improving access to police services applies not only to adults, but also to minors who may not understand the implications of being exposed to certain types of crime. In July 2015, DCCP, with support from Safe Horizon, established a Child Trauma Response Team (CTRT) in the confines of the 23rd Precinct in East Harlem. Its goal was to address the immediate safety needs of children impacted by domestic violence, and to reduce the likelihood of children developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As of 2018, CTRTs now service select precincts in the Bronx, Queens, and additional precincts in Manhattan.

Inspired by the Yale University Child Study Center, CTRTs complete trauma screenings with children and caregivers to get a sense of how the children are coping. This response entails having a child trauma responder contact a family within 24 hours of a child witnessing a domestic violence incident. When meeting with a family, the responder will assess current safety risks, and provide information on appropriate resources and services. Upon screening any children, if the responder has determined that they are at risk for developing PTSD, then he or she will discuss the possibility of exploring short-term mental health treatment options with the caregivers.

When effecting the arrest of a parent, police officers will now ensure that it is done beyond the sight and earshot of any children present. In the event that no immediate caregiver can be located, they will also transport the children to a local Child Advocacy Center (CAC) until such time that the arrested parent can resume care. Domestic Violence Prevention Officers make routine visits to verify the children's well-being, and will notify the arrested parent of their location. Arrestees are encouraged to inform the NYPD of any specific child care needs at this time.

Police officers respond to a myriad of situations during their day-to-day interactions with the public. Over the years, the NYPD has developed numerous tools and methods to better adapt to New York City's dynamic landscape and new and unusual type of complaints. In April 2017, DCCP, with support from several local Community Dispute Resolution Centers (CDRCs) formed and implemented the Mediation Referral Program (MRP) in select precincts in Manhattan and Brooklyn. The service was expanded to include all NYPD precincts and PSAs in January 2018.

Under MRP, police officers are able to offer members of the public the option of voluntarily participating in mediation at CDRCs to resolve ongoing and recurring problems with neighbors, non-intimate roommates, business associates, or local merchants. It was primarily designed as a strategy to address quality-of-life matters when enforcement action is not warranted. Some common examples of eligible cases for referral to mediation include: noise complaints; driveway sharing, non-criminal property damage, and; disagreements over pets.

MRP offers a wide array of benefits to all concerned parties, including members of the public and the NYPD alike. When people choose to engage in MRP, the CDRCs are able provide a neutral forum where participants can discuss concerns, work together to improve communication, and negotiate agreements to settle conflicts in the presence of specially-trained professionals. They also benefit by having the opportunity to resolve these low-level disputes without having to rely on lawyers, the police, or the court system. Participation is voluntary, and the services are completely free and confidential. In turn, the NYPD benefits when chronic complaints are resolved and no longer require its attention.

The NYPD is committed to providing the best service to New York City residents and visitors alike. Because of its dynamic landscape, police officers will oftentimes find themselves interacting with Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons or people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. To that end, DCCP advocated to expand the NYPD's capability of responding to inquiries from these populations.

For example, DCCP developed information cards in the ten most commonly spoken languages in New York City. These cards inform readers that the NYPD provides assistance regardless of one's ability to speak English, that interpreters are always available to assist LEP persons, and that interpretation services are provided free of charge. They are widely distributed through other city agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community and faith leaders.

Serving individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can sometimes present a unique set of challenges, but the NYPD is determined to ensure that everyone is afforded the same standards of courtesy, professionalism, and respect. DCCP, in collaboration with the Deaf Justice Coalition, Lexington School and Center for the Deaf, Harlem Independent Living Center, and the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, developed another set of communication cards for use when individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing are stopped in a vehicle, or are the victims of a vehicle collision. The cards inform police officers of the preferred methods of communication for the drivers, and display icons to which they can point in order to easily communicate the purpose of the stop. Similarly, the cards instruct the drivers on how to respond when pulled over, and the icons can be used to notify police officers of any immediate medical needs.

When necessary, interpreters are contacted by phone, and separate interpreters are on-hand for cases of domestic violence and all other types of crime. To improve upon this, DCCP partnered with LanguageLine Solutions to enable live video interpretation via smartphone application. Upon launching the application on their smartphones, police officers can connect LEP persons with interpreters who help to minimize response times. For deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, interpreters specializing in American Sign Language are readily available. Nevertheless, a large amount of NYPD personnel self-identify as multilingual. These personnel are encouraged to undergo certification by professional language service providers to deliver enhanced in-person interpretation whenever possible.

The Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) is an interview technique designed to effectively gather critical information from special victims who have experienced trauma. This process differs from standard interview techniques in that it focuses more on taking special victims's psychological well-being into consideration when attempting to elicit personal recollections. The idea is that by minimizing ongoing trauma, special victims are more likely to provide accurate accounts, leading to quicker investigations and prosecution.

Beginning in the fall of 2016, DCCP directed Special Victims Division detectives to undergo training administered by the Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program (SAVI) at Mount Sinai Hospital, the Crime Victims Treatment Center at Beth Israel Hospital, and North Central Bronx Jacobi Hospital.

1. Send your request on your organization's letterhead to the Office of Community Partnerships, and attach any supplemental documentation that references the information listed below:

   1. Provide a summary (i.e., project narrative, project abstract) of your proposal. Describe the nature of the project and how it will impact NYPD operations, if at all.

   2. Include a general timeline for the project.

   3. Note the names and contact information of the members of your organization (and any participating partner organizations) who have been designated as points of contact.

   4. Note the names of any NYPD staff who have been involved with the development of your proposal, or discussions about the project.

   5. Indicate a preferred return date and a preferred method of response (e.g., electronic copy or original signature).

2. Provide a brief history of your organization.

3. If requesting funding from a private donor, include a brief history of the donor, and attach a copy of the initial solicitation.

Upon receipt of the required materials, the Office of Office of Community Partnerships will forward them to the appropriate bureaus for review. This review will include a programmatic assessment, an operational evaluation, and a legal analysis.

The NYPD requires at least three business weeks to complete any initial assessments. In some instances, agency personnel may contact your organization with questions about certain aspects of the proposal. Quick responses to inquiries will help to expedite this process.

Any questions about what is required of requests, or questions about the review process may be directed to CommunityPartnerships@nypd.org.