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Project Safe Neighborhoods
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies to combat firearm violence. It originated as a federal program funded through the United States Department of Justice. This unified effort is led by the United States Attorney in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across the United States. Agencies work together to maximize prevention and enforcement resources and to enhance prosecution efforts against criminals who use guns. The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission is responsible for evaluating the progress of Project Safe Neighborhood in Arizona. Recently, the ACJC Statistical Analysis Center published the Violence Impact Project: A Multi-Governmental Strategy Against Violence, which was one component of this program. This report was a cooperative effort between the Phoenix Police Department's Crime Analysis and Research Unit and Arizona State University West. It presents the organization and integration of Phoenix Police Department's first multi-agency directed enforcement effort that targets violence. The SAC is currently studying the impact of a second directed enforcement in another neighborhood plagued by violent crime.
JRSA Evaluation Project
The program is the result of a grant from the Juvenile Justice Evaluation Center to build capacity for conducting program evaluations in Arizona. Working with the Governor's Division for Children and a research advisory group, the Statistical Analysis Center is compiling recommendations to strengthen evaluative practices in Arizona. In addition, a goal of the project is to build the infrastructure for information sharing, communication among criminal justice researchers and to encourage improved evaluation practices in Arizona.
Arizona Youth Survey
Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) §41-2416 requires the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission to conduct a statewide survey to "measure both the attitudes and the actual prevalence and frequency of substance abuse by children." The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission has been conducting a youth survey for 14 years on a biennial basis. Notable improvements in the survey model, sampling methods and increased collaboration distinguish the 2002 and 2004 Arizona Youth Surveys from prior surveys. The next administration of the Arizona Youth Survey is scheduled for January-February 2006. Between survey periods, reports are compiled on the results of the previous survey, including state and county reports, as well as reports on special topics using data from the survey results. Staff also works to help policy makers and school administrators implement programs based on survey results.
To participate in the upcoming administration of this survey, contact Phil Stevenson, SAC Director, at (602) 364-1157 or pstevenson@azcjc.gov.
Criminal History Records
The Statistical Analysis Center received an SJS grant for this year to conduct an analysis of the criminal history records database (ACCH) maintained by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. As part of this project, the Statistical Analysis Center will evaluate specific performance measures for the timeliness and completion of records stored within the database. In addition, specific reports will be developed for these measures and will be included in an annual report to be made available to the Arizona Criminal Justice Criminal History Records program manager. The overall goal of the project is to provide ongoing feedback on the status of the Criminal History Records Program in Arizona.
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