THE CSP APPROACH

THE MISSION

The mission of the Community Safety Partnership Bureau is to use community relationship strategies to strengthen trust between law enforcement and the community. The development of long-term relationships, enhanced community capacity, and community partnering lead to decreased crime and improved community perception of safety.

THE VISION

It is the vision of the Community Safety Partnership Bureau for the communities in and around the CSP Neighborhood Engagement Areas (NEAs) to sustain long-term community development and to maintain safe, thriving, and healthy communities. It is our belief that all families should live in peace, feel safe in their surroundings, and experience a healthy quality of life.

change

starts

with

the

youth

a look back

CSP Historical Perspective

In 2011, Chief Charlie Beck, in collaboration with civic partners, established CSP based on the recognition among City leaders that traditional policing methods were not effectively addressing violent crime in some of the City’s most underserved and vulnerable communities. Initially, the CSP public safety initiative was launched in four housing development communities: Nickerson Gardens, Jordan Downs, and Imperial Courts in Southeast Area (Watts Community); and, Ramona Gardens in Hollenbeck Area (East Los Angeles).

Community
Safety
Partnership
CORE
COMPONENTS

Community Engagement

Community Safety Partnership officers collaborate with stakeholders to host meetings where participants act as equal partners in evaluating and creating responses to crime trends and quality of life issues. The officers also participate in less formal community events and celebrations. Other important aspects of community engagement include job readiness programs for adults, resident volunteer programs, and even traditional footbeats, which allow officers to have direct interaction and engage community members in conversation that leads to relationship building.

WRAP-AROUND PROGRAMMING

Community Safety Partnership officers collaborate with existing community-based organizations, individual schools, philanthropic groups, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), and gang interventionists via the Mayor's Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) to offer a variety of programs designed to reach every member of the community, from youth to seniors. These programs have helped to reduce gang membership and delinquency, as well as provide avenues for employment and personal development. Further, these programs provide officers with meaningful opportunities to demonstrate compassion and change the trajectory of community members' lives.

PUBLIC
SAFETY

Community Safety Partnership officers are cognizant of the concerns, needs and interests of community members in enforcing laws and addressing quality of life issues within CSP Neighborhood Engagement Areas. The officers regularly coordinate with other entities and personnel within an Area command — e.g., patrol resources, Senior Lead Officers, and the Gang Impact Team — to carry out enforcement actions. Purposeful enforcement, preceded by community education and the solicitation of expert community and agency partners, has proven to yield increased community cooperation and information exchange between CSP officers and the community. The impact of this approach is particularly effective when coupled with attentiveness to the restorative justice process.

SAFE
PASSAGES

Community Safety Partnership officers employ a visible presence along travel routes and establish "Safe Passages" to and from schools, parks and recreational facilities, as well as within or near local business and mass transit locations. Safe Passages allow community members to stay connected and thrive without the fear of crime.

ENHANCED COMMUNITY CAPACITY

Community Safety Partnership officers work tirelessly to connect community members with the array of public and private resources to them, enabling them to advocate for themselves and help the community flourish. Alliances are formed with public health professionals, prosecutors, community advocates, gang interventionists, and educators, to develop comprehensive strategies that deepen community members' involvement in community planning. The ultimate goal of CSP is to enhance the health of the communities to the point that its stakeholders are able to take the lead in meeting all planning and programming needs.