Hampton eyes areas to reduce gun violence
Plan will target five neighborhoods for intervention resources
Hampton city government has identified five areas in the city with the greatest concentration of firearm-related violence, and plans to establish satellite offices in those neighborhoods as part of a community-based public safety plan.
Hampton will use $4.6 million in federal funding to lease and staff offices in the neighborhoods to deliver localized services, including community-based and intervention services and access to mental health services.
One of the areas prone to gun violence is the Shell Road corridor, which, based on the last five years of police data, has seen eight fatal and 27 nonfatal shootings. Other areas of concern include Langley Square Apartments and Seldendale Farms, the King Street corridor, Nickerson Boulevard and Magruder Heights.
City officials said satellite neighborhood offices in these areas will:
■ Create programs to engage young people and to develop their emotional, physical, intellectual and social abilities. It will also teach them skills like conflict resolution and coping skills.
■ Provide therapy to address unresolved trauma and work on replacements for aggression.
■ Support youth, young adults and their families with case management tailored to their needs.
■ Allow police officers to create community partnerships and spend more time patrolling these areas.
■ Offer job training and employment.
Mayor Donnie Tuck said one of the goals of these services is to “help change the trajectory of the lives of those individuals who either may be more likely to be
involved as the shooter or perpetrator or even as a victim.”
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott delivered $4.6 million — obtained through the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act — to the city Monday during a ceremony at the Mary W. Jackson Neighborhood Center.
Latiesha Handie, director of Hampton’s Youth and Young Adult Opportunities Office, said during the ceremony that causes of community gun violence include concentrated poverty, access to guns, unaddressed trauma, desensitization, judicial processes, family dynamics and poor conflict resolution. She said grant money will help the city address these causes.
Saeveyon Hinson, an ambassador for the Hopeful Hampton youth violence prevention program, attested to the usefulness of the city’s efforts. He said the prevention program helped him learn to regulate his emotions, and taught him “why it is important to think before you act.”
“Violence isn’t the first thing you should resort to,” Hinson said.
Scott commended the city for the plan and for following “the evidence and research” to effectively reduce crime by “focusing on the hotspots.” He said the city could use these services to identify families in which someone is likely to shoot someone or be shot, and intervene. He said gun violence prevention not only saves these families but it also saves money in medical expenses and prosecution and incarceration expenses.
“And because of those savings, this is an investment that will pay dividends,” Scott said.
The city will spend the grant money over three years. About $1.9 million will be spent on staff, $700,000 on police patrols, $670,000 on offices and equipment, $360,000 for mental health services and $340,000 for program resources and equipment.