Akron will hire past criminals in an effort to intervene with repeat offenders

AKRON, Ohio – The city of Akron is now taking a more community-based approach to preventing violence in the city.

The new incentive is called the “Akron Street Team Pilot Program,” where rehabilitated citizens with criminal histories will connect directly with Akron residents, especially Akron’s youth.

This new program is a partnership with the Minority Behavioral Health Group.

This program is not a door-to-door situation where the city of Akron targets certain neighborhoods.

Akron Mayor Shammas Malik said individuals who repeatedly commit offenses or are in and out of police custody will be targeted as part of the program to hopefully intervene before these troublesome individuals continue down a bad path in life.

The pilot program is being developed from a public health approach, combining elements of outreach, violence interruption, case management, community navigation, mental health and data analytics.

Malik said there is a piece missing in addressing the violence in Akron.

“Where I think a lot of people have seen a gap is trying to reach people from a community perspective and really reaching out especially to at-risk youth and saying, these are your options, you can continue with the risky behavior that turns into deadly behavior or here are all the resources and opportunities in the community,” said Malik. “But because they recognize, and this has become a practice across the country, they need to hear this from someone who has some credibility.”

The city will hire past criminals or people with problematic pasts who have “served their time and changed their lives” to help the most at-risk families and individuals in the city of Akron, Malik said.

These people will be called ‘credible messengers’.

Malik said he doesn’t believe there is one solution to combat violence in the community, but that “intervention” work could be a start.

The pilot program will last 18 months.

The program is still under development; People need to be hired, and it hasn’t gotten off the ground yet. It may take years to see the effects and gather research.