FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On March 12 Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced that three local apartment communities have met all the requirements to be inducted into the "Crime Free Multi-Housing" program, a police/apartment partnership started in Jacksonville in April of 2007.

The  certification events took place on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 4:00 pm at Eureka Gardens, 1214 Labelle St.; 5:00 pm at the Plantation Apartments, 7071 Old Kings Rd., S; and 6:00 pm at and Paradise Island, 8787 Southside Boulevard.

"It's not easy to get this certification if you're an apartment community, and we're pleased to recognize Eureka Gardens, on the Westside, Plantation Apartments, in San Jose, and Paradise Island on Southside Boulevard, for their individual management each committing to working closely with police to reduce calls for police services. They have met all the criteria set forth in the Crime Free program. We know that in concentrated living environments, in order to reduce criminal activity on the properties, the police can give management the tools they need to hold tenants/leasees accountable," said Assistant Chief Lonnie McDonald.

Background:
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Patrol and Enforcement department has had Apartment Task Forces working in some of the zones with a high concentration of apartments and related crimes for several years. In particular, the North Jacksonville, Arlington, and Southside areas, have seen an increase in both the construction (and occupancy) of multi family housing, and an increase in property and violent crimes since late 2006.

In an effort to reduce calls for police service, reduce crime and strengthen citizen partnerships in the apartment communities, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office reviewed practices throughout the country to find a program that was effective and practical. Often times these crimes are committed by persons who are not on a lease, but who are guests and visitors of lease holders, or by trespassers on the property seeking refuge and hoping to "blend in" with legitimate residents and guests.

The Crime Free Program, originated in Mesa, Arizona and adopted in more than 2000 US cities, 44 states, five Canadian provinces and other countries, was selected as the program that best addresses the issue. JSO commanders traveled to Mesa for training, and in early 2007 the program was launched in Jacksonville.

"The Crime Free program was tested on our Southside last year and then rolled out city wide. It is an excellent improvement to our programming. It will utilize the lessons learned and relationships developed by our former Apartment Task Force members and our tourist oriented police officers, while taking the program to much higher level, city wide," said Sheriff John H. Rutherford.
 
"What makes this program successful, as it has been in cities such as Las Vegas, is twofold: first, the accountability; every community that wants to be certified commits to having a CPTED study* and implementing the recommendations. Then there is the enforcement piece, which is the lease addendum that every lease holder is required to sign at the time they renew. This holds them accountable for any crimes committed by their occupants, visitors and guests and if violated could result in eviction or non renewal of the lease," he said.

Certification*:
To achieve certification, there is a three step program, plus a commitment to track and respond to all police reporting on the property, after receiving certification.
• First, an apartment owner/manager goes through a training program. Also, a Lease Addendum is adopted and each renewing tenant is required to sign (attached).
• Secondly, JSO conducts a Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) study, with a list of minimum requirements for the community (also attached). The apartment management must bring the property into compliance with the minimum requirements. These changes are verified by JSO task force members.
• Finally, a tenant meeting is held, outlining the program and how management plans to respond to police reports of criminal activity on the property, which will include evictions by management.

"Certified Crime Free Communities around Jacksonville will become the more desirable places to live because of management's partnership with police and the lower number of calls for service to those neighborhoods," said Captain Mark Bowen who leads the program. "The goal is to make sure that through enforcement of the lease addendum, criminals are left with fewer housing options in Jacksonville – no apartments or hotels, hopefully, will house them." he said.

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