Birmingham, Alabama, is one of six pilot sites employing strategies, examining policies, and developing evidence through research to reduce implicit bias, enhance procedural justice, and promote racial reconciliation.
Birmingham, Alabama, is one of six pilot sites employing strategies, examining policies, and developing evidence through research to reduce implicit bias, enhance procedural justice, and promote racial reconciliation. The city was selected as a pilot site for its demonstrated willingness and capacity to engage in the National Initiative’s research, intervention, and evaluation process, as well as its jurisdiction size and demographic composition.
To read the 2018 status report for Birmingham, please click here.
If you would like to read the 2017 report for Birmingham, you can find it here.
Patrick D. Smith, Chief of Police
A first site visit in June 2015 brought together interested residents and community groups of Birmingham to participate in a community convening to discuss the National Initiative project. At this convening, the National Initiative introduced the goals and strategies of the project and explained how community members can participate directly.
The National Initiative team also met with city leaders, representatives from the police department, and prosecutors to discuss the role of criminal justice practitioners in this historic initiative.
Below are some items that the National Initiative and Birmingham have produced so far.
As part of the National Initiative’s commitment to evaluating the effectiveness of its interventions, the Urban Institute surveyed residents from Birmingham’s highest-crime neighborhoods regarding their perceptions of and attitudes toward criminal activity and the police department. The surveys were conducted through face-to-face interviews in fall 2015.
Second Site Visit Agenda: December, 2015
The National Initiative visited Birmingham in December, 2015 to review elements of the implementation plan and continue strategic planning for moving forward with Stockton's process.
First Site Visit Agenda: June, 2015
The National Initiative's first site visit to Birmingham came in June 2015 when partners met to begin laying the foundation for the work that will take place over the next three years. The schedule included broader agenda setting with representatives from various groups and organizations as well as breakout meetings for smaller groups to discuss the strategy going forward.
