JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Months after its announcement, Jacksonville’s new crime-fighting initiative, Journey Forward, is starting to take shape.
“The Jacksonville Journey,” was launched in 2008 under former Mayor John Peyton, and now under Mayor Donna Deegan, its reboot is getting closer to becoming a reality.
Its formation followed the 2006 murder of 8-year-old DreShawna Davis, who was killed in a drive-by shooting while attempting to shield her cousins from gunfire.
Charles Griggs, the city’s director of community initiatives, served on the Jacksonville Journey’s oversight committee for eight years. In July, he told News4JAX that during its first four years, the city saw a nearly 40% reduction in violent crime in Duval County.
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On Tuesday, News4JAX spoke with one of the initiative’s appointed board members, Dr. Tammy Hodo, about her goals for the program.
Dr. Hodo brings expertise in criminal justice and urban studies to the table. She has taught criminology, worked as a youth probation officer, and led the creation of the “Safer Together” report, which closely examined a variety of topics, including community policing.
“I’m really excited that they’re bringing this program back,” Hodo said. “I’m hopeful that I will be able to provide insight.”
She said she plans to emphasize community engagement and prioritize solutions for at-risk youth in her time as a board member.
“A lot of times these children, from the hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., are on their own, which is when we see higher crime rates with youth,” Hodo explained. “We have to look at a holistic perspective and engage parents in the process as well.”
According to the resolutions filed for each appointment, board members will bring expertise in numerous fields, including public health, education, workforce development, contracts and compliance, afterschool/camp operations, juvenile diversion programs, violence prevention or intervention, offender re-entry programs, law enforcement, and community engagement.
Eight of those 11 board members will be the topic of the city council’s conversation on Tuesday night, four of which are appointed by Deegan and confirmed by the city council. Three additional members will be appointed by Council President Randy White, and the remaining appointments will come from the sheriff’s office and the Duval County school district.
The first reading for appointments is Tuesday night. The mayor’s office said the second reading will be in December before the final council vote and approval, which will happen in January.
The earlier initiative was credited with reducing crime rates in the city, and Dr. Hodo believes the same outcomes can be achieved through increased collaboration between law enforcement and the community.
“If we increase the engagement, positive engagement, with law enforcement and provide opportunities for employment, mentorship, and those types of activities, I believe that we could actually make a difference,” she said.
