Project Safe Neighborhoods International Exchange (1 Year Later)

October 10, 2019 - Heather Perez

Approximately one year ago, a delegation of 24 Chilean justice system representatives and community members visited Atlanta, Georgia to learn about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia’s Project Safe Neighborhoods supported Drug Market Intervention (DMI) initiative in the English Avenue neighborhood. The initial phase of the international exchange began in fall 2017 when the Director of Public Security for the City of Los Condes, Chile, Javiera Benitez, contacted Michigan State University’s, School of Criminal Justice, Heather Perez, Project Safe Neighborhoods Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator to inquire about training and technical assistance for the High Point Drug Market Intervention model, an evidence-based strategy. See the full story for more details on the original exchange.

In August 2019, a training team consisting of the following individuals traveled to Los Condes, Chile for the second phase of the DMI training:

• Laurel Boatright, Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta’s PSN DMI Point of Contact
• Shila Hawk, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta’s PSN DMI Research Partner, Applied Research Services, Inc.
• Marty Sumner, retired Chief of Police of High Point, North Carolina and architect of the nine steps
• Heather Perez, PSN Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Michigan State University’s, School of Criminal Justice

 

The training team provided four days of briefings, meetings, and presentations as well as conducted a target area tour.

This type of international exchange on the DMI was the first known of its kind.