MARCH 1, 2022 — While violent crime is rising in many American cities, it is decreasing in Dallas as a direct result of the Dallas Violent Crime Reduction Plan, a crime reduction plan developed collaboratively by criminology and criminal justice professors Michael Smith and Rob Tillyer in the UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy, the Dallas Police Department (DPD) and the City of Dallas.
The comprehensive plan includes evidence-based short, mid and long-term strategies to reduce crime in Dallas’ most violence-prone areas and to reduce aggregate levels of brutal offenses citywide.
Violent crime in Dallas had been on the rise in the three years leading up to the Crime plan, rising 14% from 2018 to 2019 and an additional 5% in 2020.
“The Dallas Police Department values its partnership with UTSA Criminology and Criminal Justice professors Michael Smith and Rob Tillyer. In addition to the hard work of the men and women of this department, Drs. Smith and Tillyer’s programmatic and analytic support has proven to be an invaluable resource that is reflected in last year’s overall crime success,” said Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia.
He added, “Therefore, I remain optimistic in our crime fighting efforts and look forward to both the mid- and long-term strategies of this plan and the positive effect it will bring to our city.”
Smith added, “We are engaged in an ongoing consultation and evaluation partnership with the Dallas Police Department to measure the implementation and effectiveness of the plan in the reduction of violent crime in the city since implementation began in May 2021,” said Smith.
Smith and Tillyer recently presented the results of their evaluation to the Dallas City Council’s Public Safety Committee. Their Hot Spot Intervention report details the impact of the plan on violent crime since the plan’s inception in May 2021through the end of the year.
Key takeaways from the report include:
The next phase of the plan is set to begin in the coming weeks and will focus on networks of violent places in Dallas and the structural conditions that give rise to them.
“We are cautiously optimistic at the progress that has been made so far in reducing street-level violence in Dallas. Under the leadership of Chief Garcia and his senior staff, the officers of the Dallas Police Department have done a tremendous job in executing the Crime Plan,” said Smith.
“Each layer of the plan builds upon the previous strategies, and we are hopeful that continued progress can be made. We also are grateful for the partnership with the DPD, City of Dallas and other community stakeholders in reducing the number of victims of violent crime,” he concluded.
UTSA is a Tier One research institution that is committed to tackling the critical societal issues of today and tomorrow. As a learning and research enterprise, UTSA promotes social and economic transformation by channeling innovation and creative discovery in issues including poverty, crime, inequality and upward mobility and global impacts.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
All UTSA students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are invited to march with the UTSA delegation in San Antonio's 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King, Jr., San Antonio, TXWarm up with a hot cup of coffee or a hot chocolate with Wellbeing Services to kick off the start of the Spring Semester! The Wellbeing team will be in the Window Lounge to welcome you to the first day of classes and highlight our events and programs for the semester.
Dreamers Resource Lounge, Main CampusJoin us for Coffee with Vets, a casual social event where veterans can come together, connect, and share camaraderie over a cup of coffee. This is a perfect opportunity to unwind, meet fellow veterans, and build community in a welcoming and relaxed environment.
Veteran Lounge (JPL 4.03.04,) John Peace Library, Main CampusStop by to ask questions or learn about how you can become involved in Wellbeing Services events and programs.
Window Lounge (SU1.02.00C,) Student Union, Main CampusArt of Wellbeing is a weekly workshop provided by Wellbeing Services! Join us as we use different art mediums each week as a way to improve our overall wellbeing!
Magnolia Room (SU2.01.30,) Student Union, Main CampusThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
