City Committee to Hear Gang Violence Report Wednesday

A meeting of the Pasadena City Council’s Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 17, will include a comprehensive report on Gang Violence Outreach and Interruption Services for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023.

Conducted by the city’s Public Health Department, the Gang Violence Outreach program was initially contracted by the Office of the City Manager in January 2021. The City Council later approved the contract award after a Request for Proposals (RFP) process concluded in August 2022.

The management of the contract transitioned to the Public Health Department in October that year, with an amendment in August 2023 to include two additional outreach team members.

According to a preliminary report, the Gang Violence Outreach program employs a multifaceted approach that encompasses street mediation, rumor control, crisis intervention, high-level violence interruption, incident response, one-on-one engagement with key influencers, and collaboration with respected third-parties to discourage further violence and mediate conflicts.

The team also collaborates with local nonprofits and organizations; resource directory training is provided to support referrals to local resources and services.

The report highlights a total of 1,826.25 service hours during the third quarter of 2023, with a focus on in-person outreach (947.50 hours) and a decrease in mediation hours (77.5 hours). Notably, the report shows a strategic shift towards in-person activities (56%) compared to phone-based efforts (44%).

Outreach efforts in the third quarter resulted in 383 referrals to community partners, covering various services such as job training, substance use treatment, housing, mental health, education, and other essential services, according to the report.

The report also reveals fluctuations in mediation hours, indicating the dynamic nature of the team’s efforts in responding to gang violence. A more detailed report will be presented during the committee meeting.

Members of the public may attend the City Committee meeting either in person or virtually. Those attending in person are advised to first complete an online speaker card at www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment/.

For virtual participants, you may attend by connecting to www.cityofpasadena.net/cczoom or by calling (669) 900-6833 and using the meeting ID 161 482 446.

The meeting begins at 4 p.m.