History

Crime Commission

The Crime Commission is a private, non-profit corporation governed by a diverse 50-member board of directors. It is the leading community-based entity focused on public safety. Since its creation in 1997, the Crime Commission’s mission has been to improve public safety by identifying and advocating best practices to prevent and reduce crime. Such practices have included:
  • Creation of a drug treatment court
  • Creation of a domestic violence court
  • Data-driven policing
  • An increase in Memphis police officers based on a needs assessment
  • Use of the state’s nuisance act to crack down on specific locations with criminal activity and to create geographic safety zones to protect against criminal gang activity
  • Aggressive prosecution of gun crime
  • Creation of the Family Safety Center to assist victims of domestic violence;
  • Creation and expansion of the Multi-Agency Gang Unit
  • Effective implementation of the state’s system of administrative sanctions for violations of probation and parole
Beginning in 2006, the Crime Commission began to carry out its mission by overseeing the development of a Safe Community Plan based on best practices. In addition, it has taken on the roles of galvanizing diverse leaders and stakeholders to implement and support the plan, monitoring progress toward implementation, and measuring the plan’s impact. It is the only entity responsible for developing and pursuing a true community-wide plan to reduce crime. The third five-year Safe Community Plan was launched in 2017 and is now being implemented. The ambitious but realistic plan to dramatically reduce crime in the Memphis community includes five key goals and sixteen objectives, District Attorney Amy Weirich chairs the overall implementation effort. Through a partnership with the Public Safety Institute at the University of Memphis, various parts of the Safe Community Plan are being independently assessed after implementation to determine their effectiveness.

SAFE COMMUNITY PLAN

The Safe Community Plan is a strategic initiative organized and spearheaded by the Crime Commission.

The initiative’s third five-year plan, 2017-2021, has a strong focus on reducing violent crime. Safe Community Plan~3 was developed with input from hundreds of citizens and approved by the board of directors of the Crime Commission, composed of fifty leaders from the public and private sectors.

Crime Commission Founded

The Crime Commission’s mission has been to improve public safety by identifying and advocating best practices to prevent and reduce crime.

Memphis Fast Forward

In 2005, former Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, former Memphis Mayor W. W. Herenton, former Shelby County District Attorney General Bill Gibbons, and former United States Attorney David Kustoff along with Memphis Tomorrow developed an ambitious plan, “Memphis Fast Forward”, to accelerate economic growth in Memphis and Shelby County.

Safe Community Plan Launched

The Crime Commission began to carry out its mission by overseeing the development of a Safe Community Plan based on best practices. In addition, it has taken on the roles of galvanizing diverse leaders and stakeholders to implement and support the plan, monitoring progress toward implementation and measuring the plan’s impact.

Safe Community Plan 2

The Crime Commission continued its mission by overseeing the development of the second Safe Community seeking to improve public safety in the Memphis and Shelby County community by identifying and promoting evidence-based best practices.

Safe Community Plan 3

The initiative’s third five-year plan, 2017-2021, has a strong focus on reducing violent crime. The OSC 3 plan was developed with input from hundreds of citizens and approved by the board of directors of the Crime Commission, composed of fifty leaders from the public and private sectors.
1997
2005
2006
2012
2017