​SAFE Charlotte web banner

Community Violence Reduction Dashboard

Jumpstart Safety Micro-Grants

8 Can't Wait Compliance

Community Input Group

Community Policing Crisis Response Team (CPCRT)

Vision Zero

Violence Interruption Program

I-85/Sugar Creek Design Challenge

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​Safety and Accountability For Everyone

The City of Charlotte has solidified and implemented public safety policy improvements developed through conversations with residents and community leaders. We understand that a safer Charlotte goes beyond changes to policing and public safety. It means tackling systemic issues to ensure a community of equity and opportunity. Taking a holistic approach, we have rolled up our sleeves to address such intertwined factors as unemployment, housing, transportation and workforce development.

Among the improvements now in progress, we are: empowering more non-uniformed civilians and providing additional community resources for success.

Change does not happen overnight. But in the course of a year, we have seen meaningful and sustainable improvements in action, with more to come in the year ahead.


Web Accessibility for aligning programs to support safety with text description below

Aligning programs to support safety: The City of Charlotte collaborated with Johns Hopkins and GovEx from September 2019 through March 2020; implemented Corridors of Opportunity from January 2020 through September 2020; created a framework to address violence from March 2020 through September 2020; and developed strategies to reimagine policing from Jun 2020 through September 2020. SAFE Charlotte builds on all of this work from its launch in September 2020.

Support

safe, healthy and inclusive neighborhoods; including policing, fire protection, & the environment

Build

affordable housing and provide opportunities that align with creating great neighborhoods

Implement

a comprehensive mobility network and advance strategies to create a livable connected City that embodies our environmental sustainability & resiliency goals

Create

a thriving economic climate where businesses are connected to highly skilled talent and technologies

​All-in Approach to Community Safety

On Oct. 26, 2020, The City Council unanimously voted to approve the six recommendations identified in the SAFE Charlotte report. Over the past few years, the city has adopted several strategies to improve police/community relations, reduce violent crime and create opportunities for social mobility.

Law enforcement reforms and violence interruption programs are only part of the solution to creating a safer Charlotte. The City of Charlotte’s all-in approach also focuses on helping residents thrive because of improved opportunities for affordable housing, jobs, and safe, reliable transportation.

The SAFE Charlotte Report covers details related to each recommendation and data on other community safety initiatives.

​SAFE Charlotte Recommendations

  1. Provide $1 million from the city’s current budget to help Charlotte based non-profits address violence in the community.

  2. Work with an external partner to develop a comprehensive recommendation to convert low-risk sworn duties to non-uniform units.

  3. Work with an external partner to provide an independent analysis to include areas such as police-civilian contact and police calls and responses.

  4. Expand Community Policing Crisis Response Team (CPCRT) and develop a non-sworn officer responder model for mental health and homeless calls.

  5. Engage a university or independent organization to evaluate selected youth programs on an annual basis.

  6. Enhance recruitment efforts and develop a program to provide additional residency incentives to officers living in priority areas, including a down payment incentive.

​8 Can't Wait Compliance

In June 2020, in response to the killing of George Floyd, Campaign Zero launched 8 Can't Wait, database tracking eight use-of-force polices in major cities across the county. According to research conducted by Campaign Zero, enacting more restrictive use-of-force policies can reduce killings by police and save lives.

In September, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officially adopted and implemented the eight polices. CMPD is one of 10 police departments in the United States to enact all eight polices.

Community Input Group

The Charlotte City Council Safe Communities Committee reviews & recommends policies to make neighborhoods safe.

  • The committee's purview covers community policing, fire protection and reducing environmental hazards.

  • One of the committee’s core functions is to ensure that policy recommendations meet the needs of the community. To support this effort, the committee has enlisted the help of the Citizens Input Group. The group consists of community activists and local stakeholders who have experience in race relations work and law enforcement.

  • Since July 2020, the group has joined each virtual committee meeting to share insight and community feedback on policing.

  • The city livestreams each committee meeting on Facebook and YouTube. Learn more about the work of the Safe Communities Committee, Community Input Group members and review materials from past meetings.

​Crime Stoppers

Charlotte’s local Crime Stoppers unit offers residents a safe alternative to report crime in the area. Residents can anonymously report information online, though email, by phone or text. The program pays tipsters for information leading to an arrest.

By offering cash rewards for information leading to indictment or arrests, the program encourages otherwise reluctant callers to provide information.

During the first quarter of 2020, the Crime Stoppers program received 684 tips resulting in 54 cleared cases. The program awarded tipsters almost $7,000 for their reports. Read the full 2020 First Quarter Crime Stoppers report.

​Community Violence Data Dashboard

The dashboard is intended to introduce several indicators of community violence including homicides and violent crimes. In the future, this dashboard will include other key indicators of crime including: youth violence, intimate partner violence, emergency department visitations and other measures.

​Corridors of Opportunity

Corridors are vital to the health of Charlotte’s communities, serving as links that connect people to the resources and businesses they need to live and thrive. With a $38.5 million investment, the City of Charlotte is renewing its commitment to six key corridors.

​JumpStart Community Safety Micro-Grant Project

The JumpStart Micro-Grant provides small programming grants to community-based organizations to help jumpstart efforts around safety. As part of this program, the city and non-profit partners offer support and capacity building training.

​Violence Interruption (Cure Violence Model)

Violence interruption is an evidence-based program that utilizes a public-health approach to address violent crime. In partnership with Cure Violence Global, and a local host organization, the city and Mecklenburg County will launch Alternatives to Violence in the Beatties Ford area.

​Hospital Based Violence Intervention

The city will partner with Atrium Health to launch an evidence-based hospital-based violence intervention program that will work with victims of violence who require medical assistance from Atrium.

​$1 million in SAFE Charlotte Grant

As a part of the SAFE Charlotte report recommendations, the city will partner with United Way to deploy $1m to Charlotte-based grassroots organizations to address violence.