Data-Informed Community Engagement for Safer Communities
The Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC) seeks to democratize access to data and place-based analysis, empower community organizations to become co-producers of public safety, and mobilize community resources and expertise to problem-solve Newark’s most pressing crime issues.
The Newark Public Safety Collaborative (NPSC) is a Rutgers University–Newark anchor initiative that advances community safety through data-informed community engagement, place-based analytics, and collaborative problem-solving. Since 2018, NPSC has convened community organizations, researchers, local government, businesses, and public safety stakeholders to co-produce solutions to prevent crime and violence across Newark.
Through this data-driven framework, NPSC democratizes access to data and analytics, supports community-led responses to public safety, and mobilizes stakeholders around coordinated, place-based strategies to improve wellbeing and help communities thrive.
NPSC supports efforts to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety by making data and research evidence accessible to local community groups and change agents.
Community groups lead the way in NPSC’s membership
The NPSC serves a diverse network of stakeholders from different constituencies and sectors of Newark, including community-based grassroots organizations and large corporations.
Effective public safety strategies require collaborative, data-informed problem-solving that integrates community expertise, place-based analysis, and coordinated action across multiple stakeholders.
Reimagining Justice with Data-Informed Community Engagement
NPSC by the Numbers
50+ partner organizations
38+ community stakeholder meetings
100+ data reports produced annually
Nationally recognized public safety innovation model
NPSC’s projects have led to:
50% reduction in nighttime violent crime in areas with enhanced LED streetlighting, with the strongest effects in the first 6 months and no evidence of displacement to surrounding areas.
52% reduction in idling-related auto thefts across priority areas following a public awareness campaign conducted at over a dozen priority areas.
19% reduction in theft from autos across the Bloomfield Ave corridor following a co-produced effort involving +10 community organizations.
Data-Informed Community Engagement
NPSC’s core principles include:
Convene community stakeholders
Democratize access to data
Value local expertise
Make transparent decisions
Mobilize community resources
Co-produce public safety
Through data-informed, community-led strategies, NPSC’s community stakeholders share the burden of crime prevention and public safety, with multiple stakeholders delivering a variety of resources to places that need them most.
As NPSC continues to expand its work, the collaborative remains committed to strengthening Newark’s public safety ecosystem through access to rigorous research, data, community partnerships, and evidence-informed action.
“By democratizing access to data and analytics, community groups can fully engage in problem-solving activities effectively. Collectively, local stakeholders can pool their resources and expertise toward the common objective of producing community safety and wellness.”
Dr. Alejandro Gimenez-Santana