Violence Prevention in Memphis and Shelby County: Purpose

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Collaboration Purpose

The City of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee have developed three interwoven collaborative initiatives—Operation: Safe Community, the Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan, and the Defending Childhood Initiative—which focus on reducing crime, preventing youth violence, and minimizing violence experienced by children and youth, all with the goal of increasing the prosperity of their community and the quality of life of their residents.

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Preventing Youth Violence
Accomplishments
  • Memphis has moved itself off the top of the list of cities with the highest crime rate and improved its climate for economic growth.
  • Reductions in violent and property crimes in Memphis and Shelby County:
    • From January 1 to July 31, 2011, major violent crime (i.e., murder, forcible rape, aggravated assault, and robbery) in Memphis has decreased 26.9 percent when compared to the same time period in 2006.
    • Major property crime in Memphis also declined over the past five years, down 32.4 percent across the city when compared to the first seven months of 2006.
    • From January 1 to July 31, 2011, major violent crime was down 26.8 percent, including a drop in robbery by 45.3 percent and a drop in aggravated assault by 16.9 percent across all jurisdictions of Shelby County, when compared to the same time period in 2006.
    • Major property crime has decreased by 32.4 percent with a 28.4 percent drop in burglaries and a 53.8 percent decline in motor vehicle theft throughout the county, when compared to the same time period in 2006 (The University of Memphis & Memphis Shelby Crime Commission, 2011).

Note: Accomplishments reflect outcomes of Operation Safe Community. Both the Defending Childhood Initiative and Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Plan are in early stages of implementation.