“Reducing Crime In

Maravilla Public Housing”

A partnership between the Housing

Authority County of Los Angeles

(HACoLA) & the Los Angeles County

Sheriff's Department (LASD)

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CDC/HACoLA mission……… • Build better lives and better neighborhoods.

• To provide effective management, quality housing, and safe

environments for low-income families.

LASD Contract mission……. To provide services that achieve a safe and secure quality of

life in public housing.

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• Approximately 7 miles east of downtown Los Angeles

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East Los Angeles

• 54 acres

• 504 units:150 Senior/Disabled, 454 Family

• 1500 residents

• On-site management office

• 1972 renovated to Nueva Maravilla

• Garden community style

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• Open community

• No barred doors or fencing

• Divided into 5 “Colonies” (“Colonias”)

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Nueva Maravilla Community

Sports

Field

Community

Center

Senior

Complex

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SCANNING

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Scanning

•Early 1990’s violent crime skyrocketed

•Open air drug dealing

•Long gang history and presence

•Gang members committed significant % of crimes

•Activity observed by HACoLA staff, residents, and LASD

•Resident Councils corroborated the activity

•Multiple socio-economic factors

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• 75% Single Female Head of Household (HOH)

•Over 80% of households make less than $30,000 per year

•Unreported crimes to LASD

•Retaliation

•Fear

Scanning

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Maravilla gang

photo

Scanning

Summary:

•Targets/Victims were residents

•Suspects were gang members

•Locations throughout the site

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ANALYSIS

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Analysis

Data sources included:

•HACoLA on-site staff observations

•Intelligence from fearful residents

•Monthly Resident Council observations and reports

•LASD crime statistics

•Parole and Probation records

•Annual Resident Victimization and Satisfaction Survey

•LASD Community Policing Program (CPP) Team Survey

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•Low-income single female HOH

•HOH lure of drug income

•HOH multi-generational gang ties

•Drained HACoLA and LASD resources

•Vacancy rate impacted HACoLA's income

•Unsuccessful eviction actions

•Negative reputation

•Residents stigmatized

Analysis

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• Gangs developed about 1940’s • Lucrative narcotic sales • 3 gangs claimed the Nueva Maravilla site: Rascals (R13), High

Times Stoners (HTS), Maravilla Projects (MVP)

Analysis

Nueva Maravilla site

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Map of East Los Angeles

gang photo

Additional

photos

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

239 221 199 225 157 57 65 70 64 52 56 68 61 71 55 89 79 65 72 43 41 35

Nueva

Maravilla

239

221

199

225

157

5765

7064

5256

6861

71

55

89

79

6572

43 4135

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reported Crime at the Nueva Maravilla Housing Development1989 -2010

Nueva Maravilla

Data Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Analysis

LASD crime stats

over 4 years

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• Arson • Burglary • Graffiti • Robberies • Assaults • Drug sales • Thefts • Attempt murder • Witness intimidation

Analysis

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gang photo

Analysis

Summary:

•Crime multi-faceted

•Multi-generational gang members

•Activity fostered by specific HOH’s

•Community in fear

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RESPONSE

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Response

Comprehensive approach: Victim, Suspect, & Location

•Enforcement, prevention, intervention

•HACoLA, LASD, criminal justice partner collaboration

•Lease and policy changes

•Develop Anti-Drug and Gang Task-Force

•HACoLA/LASD Interdepartmental Agreement

•LASD Narcotics and Gang Units

•CPP team developed ownership and responsibility

•Problem Oriented Policing (POP) projects

•Crime and Fraud Tipline

•Crime prevention education

•Youth intervention

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Response

Revised HACoLA’s Lease

3-day eviction for violent,

assault and drug crimes w/o

grievance procedure

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Response

Revised HACoLA’s Lease

•Housing Lease Violation Citation

•Civil Procedures

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Revised HACoLA’s Lease

Added Curfew Policy

Sections

Response

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Response

Policy Revision

•Banning Notice

•Returning violators

•Civil laws

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Response

Location

•Signage

•602 laws

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Response

Trespass Notice

•Repeat violators

•Civil and criminal laws

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Narcotics and Gang Enforcement 1991-1993

Initial response:

•55 Pre-Search Warrants

•37 Search Warrants

•96 arrests

•77 criminal cases filed

•Drug Zero Tolerance

•391 grams of cocaine

•138 grams of heroin

•1281 grams of marijuana

•19 firearms (2 assault rifles)

•Cash

•Paraphernalia

Response

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• Target “Hot Spots”

• Due diligence

• Persistent and consistent

Response SEARCH & SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS

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gang photo

gang photo

PHYSICAL SECURITY

• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

• Target hardening, doors, locks, lighting

• Landscaping and maintenance

• Track and monitor graffiti

Response

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CAR, BIKE AND FOOT PATROL

•Proactive/Reactive

•Mobile

•Approachable

•Visible

Response

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SOCIAL NETWORK INVESTIGATIONS

Response

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Website gang photos

USE OF TECHNOLOGY

•Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)

•Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

•Computer searches

Response

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•Community contact

•Document concerns

•Assess, analyze, and plan

COMMUNITY POLICING SURVEYS

Response

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Response

CRIME PREVENTION

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Response

•Strengthen communication

•Positive contact with law enforcement

•Alternative opportunities

YOUTH INTERVENTION

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ASSESSMENT

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Methodology

•LASD crime statistics comparison

•Annual Resident Victimization and Satisfaction

Survey comparison

Assessment

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1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

East L.A 666 567 537 482 443 492 480 465 418 446 408 404 404 456 475

277 277 277 277 277 277 277 277 277

303 303 303 303 303 303 303 303 303

288 288 288 288 288 288 288 288 288

264 264 264 264 264 264 264 264 264

285 285 285 285 285 285 285 285 285

281 281 281 281 281 281 281 281 281

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Reported Crime Rates Per 10,000 in the East Los Angeles Jurisdiction 1995 - 2009

East L.A

Data Sources: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department .

Assessment

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Assessment 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Maravilla 0.150 0.11 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.05 0.04 0.05 0.03 0.03 0.02

0.000

0.020

0.040

0.060

0.080

0.100

0.120

0.140

0.160

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reported Crime Rates Per 10,000 at the Nueva Maravilla Housing Developments 1992 - 2010

Maravilla

Data Sources: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

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1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Maravilla Crimes 225 157 57 65 70 64 52 56 68 61 71 55 89 79 65 72 43 41 35

Feel Safe (%) 47 65 43 64 61 68 68 75 81 78 83 84.5 86 80 86 83 80 87 94

Victim of Crime (%) 43 23 41 44 21 34 34 47 11 12 10 9.5 9 13 10 8 6 8.5 11

Reported Crime (%) 74 58 56 53 67 22 36 50 66 82

0

50

100

150

200

250

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Number of Reported Crimes, Percent of Residents Who Were Victims of Crime, Reported Crime, Felt

Safe, and Reported Crimes at the Nueva Maravilla Housing Developments 1992 - 2010

Maravilla Crimes Victim of Crime (%) Feel Safe (%) Reported Crime (%)

Data Sources: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and

Diversity Research and Consulting Group, Inc.

Assessment

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1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

239 221 199 225 157 57 65 70 64 52 56 68 61 71 55 89 79 65 72 43 41 35

Nueva

Maravilla

239

221

199

225

157

5765

7064

5256

6861

71

55

89

79

6572

43 4135

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reported Crime at the Nueva Maravilla Housing Development1989 -2010

Nueva Maravilla

Data Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Assessment

LASD crime

statistics over

20 years

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Summary:

•Part 1 & 2 crimes and fear greatly reduced

•Gang presence, crime and graffiti greatly reduced

•Quality of life and feeling of safety increased

•CPP Team, HACoLA Management, and resident

ownership and responsibility

•No probationers or parolees at site (June 2011)

Assessment

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Gang expert’s insight….. •Experience •Recommendations

09/23/2008

Summary

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Thank You! HACoLA Program Compliance Unit

Betsy Lindsay, Manager betsy.lindsay@lacdc.org

(323) 890-7119

L.A. County Sheriff’s – COPS Housing Authority Team Sergeant Carlos Avila

clavila@lasd.org (323) 890-7381

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