LITTLE ROCK – Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., today shared information on new programs being launched after the Little Rock Board of Directors last night approved offering contracts to 11 different agencies that had submitted proposals to help the City’s efforts to curb violent crime.

The contracts were funded out of an allocation of more than $1.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act aid set aside by the Board in August for the purpose of reducing community violence, which the Board subsequently declared an emergency on Feb. 1.

“We have to invest in the people of Little Rock. And most importantly, we have to invest in our youth and young adults. We want to ensure that we save a generation of young people,” said Scott. “We understand that this has to involve more than just law enforcement officers. It has to be a holistic approach. It has to be focusing on communities.”

These programs include a day laborer program to provide productive economic opportunities to individuals most at risk for perpetuating criminal activity. It also includes conflict resolution programs, a martial arts after school programs, art based approach efforts, mentorship programs, mental health intervention, and hospital based intervention at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

“Of these organizations, several have never gone through the City’s procurement process before, and what that means is we have new eyes and new ideas on how we’re addressing youth and juvenile violence,” said Scott, emphasizing that the majority of violence over the past two years has involved those ages 11-25 in identifiable pockets of the City.

Police Chief Keith Humphrey addressed those pockets of criminal activity, sharing heat maps indicating the areas where violent crime is most common and correlated those to maps showing where loitering is most commonly reported, noting steps to increase proactive, targeted enforcement and community-involved precision policing.

“When you hear about violent crime, there’s this perception that it’s taking over the whole city, but that is not the case. These incidents are not happening throughout the City,” said Humphrey.

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