Community Healing and Resiliency

All forms of violence, personal and community, have robbed America’s neighborhoods of a sense of connection, safety and well-being. In communities throughout the United States establishing positive relationships and long-term trust between police and community members is paramount to improving public safety, curbing crime, and facilitating collective healing and resiliency.

The Sandy Hook tragedy placed into sharp focus the impact that these crises have on families, police, other first responders, and the communities they serve.

The goal of the Committee is to create strategies to create and enhance positive police and community connections and to offer a range of wellness and resiliency interventions for community members and their families.

These strategies include: promoting a greater sense of trust between police and the communities they serve; and creating prevention programming in concert with police departments and their PAL programs. The Justice Education Center is exploring the expansion of public safety career training opportunities for youth 17-24 years of age who are interested in law enforcement careers, with emphasis on cities and towns where the juvenile crime rate is high.

Working Group on Police and Community Healing

A Strategic Action Investment Plan

Building on best, promising and emerging practices and the recommendations of the National Task Force on 21st Century Policy, the Connecticut Working Group on Police and Community Healing will provide support to Connecticut’s communities and progressive law enforcement organizations to strengthen trust and collaboration, reduce crime and create healthy and safe environments for all of its members.