I had the honor to speak at the GIFFORDS Conference earlier this week. I am forever inspired by my fellow colleagues who work in community violence intervention.
Partnering with businesses to provide financial wellness and leadership development for Moms in the workplace | The Education Doctor® | Mindful College Preparation | Scholarship Assistance | Author | Speaker
City Manager at City of Pasco | Past-president of WCMA
Thanks to City of Pasco Lieutenants Petijohn and Decker for sharing with the Pasco Chamber of Commerce on the topic of community policing and business watch programs! @pascoPoliceDepartment leading the way!
Police Independent Advisory Groups (IAG) were established as one of the Lawrence Macpherson Reports (pre-review). They are yet hidden in plain sight. They have influence in representing communities across the country, yet they are invisible on police websites and there is no way to access them for information or to get involved. If peradventure you stumble across one, getting in is akin to getting into Fort Knox - not sure of the UK equivalent!
IAG, are rarely representative of communities disproportionately impacted by policing. They have little understanding or approaches to develop positive engagement outside of the 'narrative' prescribed by the Met.
We, the Brent Police IAG, meet bi-monthly at Wembley Police Station, where we address our solutions based agenda on current matters that affect communities, including review of relevant data to enable our evaluation of practice.
Brent Police IAG (some of our group not in attendance) photographed is paving the way for a different type of engagement where we evaluate our performance and publish our activities - good and bad! We don't just turn up and chat!.
We - members and fantastic police reps. (Inspector Yu Zhang) are creating opportunities to give voice to communities about their lived experiences, and together, meet local needs in practice, and in partnership.
We have a plan to address anti- racism, violence against girls and women (yes, I put girls first), victim care and local inclusive, cultural understanding to develop and improve local policing.
As the Chair of the IAG, working closely with police, in our own way, we are different, we are making a difference.
Brent Police IAG
- Cliche free zone 🚫
- Tick boxes prohibited 🚫
- Needs of victims are paramount Tracey Hanson MA, FRSA
- Crime prevention and increased safety
- Authentic engagement only!
- Stop and search if required - conducted with dignity (because for some reason this is determined by communities and not accountable professional practice)
- Equitable open practice supported by communities
- Peelian Principles, Police Code of Ethics procedural justice are not just Met 'buzz' words
Watch this space, or get involved. We are recruiting individuals who give a dam about policing in their communities, who have contact with local communities, have skills they wish to contribute, who can commit 24 hours formally over 12 months (more informally), and really wants to make a difference.
For information, Contact Brentiagroup@gmail.com
[Process - observe, apply, interview, voted in, trained, teamed up with an experienced member, coached and empowered in a powerful and fertile learning space].
Tagged if serious about change!
Tracey Hanson MA, FRSAHema MistryShaun PascalMichael Leo GallagherStephen AkinsanyaFather Figure$Larry Davis CMgr, FCMI, FIoL, NPQHAngelina CoxAlton P BellChristopher MurrayAbimbola JohnsonLucy D'Orsi CVO QPMHema MistryJane CorriganNational Police Chiefs' Council
Business Development Manager @ Medequip | Stakeholder Relations, Company Operations
Brent Police Independent Advisory Group meeting. Lots of very good feedback and information shared. The team are working on a number of initiatives to improve and create more partnerships with the community. Dr Angela Herbert MBE LLBTracey Hanson MA, FRSA
Making a difference starts with action! Here's how we can pave pathways through deflection and intervene effectively in the lives of those impacted by substance use disorders:
👉 Early Intervention: Identify at-risk individuals and offer education, counseling, and support early on.
👮♂️ Law Enforcement Diversion: Collaborate with law enforcement for deflection programs, steering individuals towards treatment instead of incarceration.
💊 Access to Treatment: Ensure accessible and affordable treatment options, including counseling and medication-assisted treatment.
🤝 Peer Support: Provide peer support and recovery coaching to empower individuals on their journey to recovery.
🏡 Holistic Approach: Address physical, mental, and social aspects of addiction with comprehensive services like housing assistance and vocational training.
🔍 Continued Support: Monitor progress and offer ongoing support to prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery.
📣 Policy Advocacy: Advocate for policies that support diversion programs and increase funding for treatment and recovery services.
Let's unite to create real change and build healthier communities! 💪
https://lnkd.in/ewzHmGYr#SubstanceUse#RecoveryJourney#CommunitySupport#Deflection#MakingADifference#Diversion#Recovery
Today is Anti-Slavery Day, which takes place every year on the 18th October.
Did you know that, even in the 21st century, there are thousands of individuals enduring slave-like conditions across the United Kingdom? Modern slavery takes on various forms, from forced labour and human trafficking to domestic servitude, all of which strip people, including countless children, of their basic human rights and freedoms.
Modern slavery is a global issue that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable among us, and sadly, many of those affected are children.
We strongly believe that every individual deserves to thrive in a world free from exploitation and fear.
To learn more about this important topic and access further resources, visit: https://buff.ly/46uM9YL#AntiSlaveryDay
What is Anti-Slavery Day?
Anti-Slavery Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of the fact over 49.6 million people in the world today, and an estimated 136,000 people in the UK, are trapped in conditions of modern slavery.
Hope for Justice and Slave-Free Alliance
My latest column for Police1: a new fellowship program wants more applications from rural law enforcement and corrections officers.
You know how your area is damaged by opiate abuse, and you probably have at least one idea for fixing that. The Reaching Rural Initiative exists to help you make that concept a reality.
Thank you Kathleen Dias and Police1 for covering the Reaching Rural Initiative. Reaching Rural Fellow Denise Waff of Prince George County, Virginia did an excellent job sharing the story of how the program has helped her community.
https://lnkd.in/e25xZSAA
Second Chances and Clemency: The Biggest Step in the Right Direction, by Governor Murphy
On Juneteenth, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 362, which represents a significant advancement in executive clemency and criminal justice reform. This is a pioneering advancement towards a more equitable criminal justice system.
Creating a separate Clemency Advisory Board would specifically guarantee a more equitable evaluation procedure for individuals seeking a second opportunity.
This initiative extends beyond the mere act of releasing individuals from incarceration. It concerns providing them with a genuine chance to reconstruct their lives. People with criminal records, often due to circumstances beyond their control, face immense hurdles in finding housing, employment, and reintegrating into society. Clemency has the power to eliminate the stigma associated with a previous error and enable individuals to be evaluated solely on their abilities and contributions to their communities.
Executive Order 362 has the potential to unlock the potential of countless individuals. Envision the favorable influence on families and communities when individuals are able to utilize their abilities and aptitudes without the weight of a criminal record.
We need to move beyond a system that judges people solely based on their past mistakes.
It's time to consider the root causes of crime—mental health, addiction, and poverty—and offer a path to redemption. Countless people with criminal records are already making positive contributions, and clemency can empower them to do even more.
Let's use this as a springboard for more comprehensive criminal justice reform. Let's create a system that welcomes offenders back into society and focuses on giving them second chances.
#clemency#secondchances#criminaljusticereform
“The New Jersey Office of the Public Defender supports Governor Murphy’s transformative clemency initiative which embodies the very essence of justice, compassion, and rehabilitation,” said Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti.
“Through the introduction of a clemency advisory board and the expansion of commutation application categories, he has created more opportunities for providing those in our community with a second chance and a path toward healing. As public defenders, we understand all too well the way in which excessive sentences have devastated families and disparately impacted our most vulnerable communities. This initiative stands as a beacon of hope for those affected, empowering them to rebuild their lives and achieve brighter futures.”
#NJOPD#NewJersey#PublicDefenders#Clemency
Screenwriter/Documentary Filmmaker
1wKeep up the worthy work!