MSU will provide TTA for the current and/or active PSN, prior sites and requests from the field. Given the varying extent of the requests, MSU will coordinate with BJA, NTTAC, other Smart Suite TA providers, and subject matter experts to fully address TA needs. Current resources such websites, Research Partner Orientation Course (RPOC) curriculum and Smart Suite Researcher Practitioner Fellows Academy curriculum, the Violence Reduction Assessment Tool (VRAT), Strategic Action Plan template (SAP), and existing PSN and DMI materials will be shared to fulfill requests. Creation and circulation of a PSN newsletter will also serve as a new resource.
Please check the box next to the following questions if the answer is 'yes'.
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MSU and BJA held weekly conference calls to assess progress, responsibilities, and planning for all activities under PSN.
MSU assisted BJA and EOUSA with revising the PSN Performance Measures. MSU circulated the revised measures to the sites for comments and shared the webinar training link.
Heather Perez (MSU), Marty Sumner, and Bob Hood (APA) provided assistance to St. Louis through a VRN request. Three individuals spoke with John Skinner (VRN SSL) and participated in a VRN team call to verse the site on the DMI and to offer additional assistance. The need for training or assistance will be reassessed following the 2016 election.
MSU worked with the FY15 sites to complete the VRAT. All sites completed the Assessment. MSU provided results and recommendations to each site.
MSU held the third Smart Suite Researcher Practitioner Fellows Academy on July 19-22 in East Lansing. A large group of more than 70 researchers and practitioners from five of the Smart Suite Programs as well as three graduate students from three Universities attended. A full report was provided to BJA.
MSU assisted the Seattle Research Partner with resources on street outreach workers, the Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Denver, VRO in Atlanta, and Incident reviews. Through this connection, Seattle then assisted Atlanta with questions on Shotspotter.
MSU participated in a conference call with the National Gang Center to share resources, upcoming training schedules, and site specific information.
Heather Perez (MSU) and Bob Hood (APA) began discussion with the West Memphis VRN SSL and assigned crime analyst to offer assistance to the site. MSU will continue to work with the site and BJA/NTTAC to provide assistance and resources as needed.
Ed McGarrell and Heather Perez continued to work with Little Rock and BJA to arrange training as requested through VRN. Due to the scope of the request, a NTTAC request was approved. Full information on this TTA can be found through NTTAC under its own tracking number.
Heather Perez and Marty Sumner continued to work with Wilmington and BJA to arrange DMI training as requested through VRN. Due to the scope of the request, a NTTAC request was approved. Full information on this TTA can be found through NTTAC under its own tracking number.
MSU worked with the Richmond, VA PSN site to complete the VRAT. A few members of the task force completed the Assessment. Mark Fero asked that the request be put on hold until the site reassessed their PSN focus. MSU offered the site the opportunity to take the Assessment at a later date.
Three MSU team members attended the Smart Suite Summit on September 7-9, 2016. Team presented at the Summit. Following the presentation, Heather Perez fulfilled requests from Megan Alderden, Ph.D., Associate Director, Research and Analysis Unit, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and Lt. Hanneman, Compton VRN. Compton had numerous responses. MSU, BJA, and the site will hold a debriefing call regarding the results and suggested next steps. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority did not have enough responses to provide an analysis.
Three MSU team members attended the VRN Summit on September 26-28, 2016. Ed McGarrell and Heather Perez presented at the Summit.
Ed McGarrell presented on “Data-Driven Strategies for Violence Reduction” for the Middle District of Florida Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative on October, 21, 2016
MSU worked with SME Joan Brody to begin discussions of developing a webinar to assist sites with writing a successful PSN grant.
Ed McGarrell and Heather Perez attended the American Society of Criminology (ASC) Annual Meeting on November 16-19, and participated in the Smart Suites and the Fellows Academy Roundtable discussion lead by Denise O'Donnell. MSU sent an email to the PSN sites to make them aware of the session.
MSU and BJA held conference calls with the FY15 sites to gauge progress and identify any needs. A few sites required some assistance which was resolved with the assistance of BJA.
The Research Partner from Memphis asked MSU for assistance with strategic issues around target area selection and rigorous methods of determining which individuals in those areas should be put on high priority lists.
MSU reached out to 18 individuals to solicit feedback on the past, present, and future of PSN. Eleven individuals provided extremely insightful feedback. A summary report was shared with BJA and EOUSA who found it to be of important use.
MSU sent congratulation/introduction letters to all of the new FY16 sites and asked that the sites provide the following information: Contact information for the 1.) PSN Project Coordinator/Program Director; 2.) Research Partner; and 3.) Fiscal Agent; A short description of the PSN focus under the FY16 award; Any training or technical assistance needs or topics you would like covered at the RPOC.
MSU was contacted by the Greensboro (FY16) Grant Analyst who was interested in having the team complete the VRAT to assist with completing their SAP. VRAT feedback and suggestions for next steps were provided to the site.
MSU was contacted by by Vallejo, CA through a Crime Analysis on Demand request. The site completed the VRAT. Feedback and suggestions for next steps were provided to the site.
The Seattle Research Partner asked for assistance with policing strategies other than a call-in. MSU put the site in touch with Marty Sumner.
MSU shared the new "Trax" sheet with the sites.
On December 20, Ed McGarrell presented on data driven approaches to chronic violent offender lists for the Tampa Police Department and BATF.
Heather Perez (MSU) and Bob Hood (APA) responded to a request from Dallas on assistance on diversion and DMI training. The request remains open until the best approach can be determined. Marty Sumner has agreed to participate if needed.
MSU provided assistance to the Brookhaven (FY16) site on their travel to the RPOC and an Academy.
MSU opened up registration for the Winter 2017 Fellows Academy on February 7-10, in Denver. MSU worked with BJA POC and Smart Suite TTA providers to get the registration link circulated.
MSU worked with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to assist with their establishment of Research Partner State Consortium.
MSU received meeting approval to host the RPOC on April 12-13, 2017 in Denver. MSU will open registration after the first of the year.
MSU is working with APA through a subcontract to redevelop the PSN newsletter. The updated newsletter will be distributed after the first of the year.
MSU assisted the Omaha site with their request for Shotspotter data by connecting the site with the Research Partner in Seattle.
MSU provided grant proposal writing tips with BJA for EOUSA to share with the USAOs in hopes of strengthening and increasing proposals for the FY17 solicitation.
MSU shared numerous BJA/NTTAC/Other TTA provider announcements with the PSN sites. Some examples of items shared included: NTTACs Violent crime resources; National Initiative's implicit bias webinar; JRSA How to Write a Criminal Justice Research Report webinar, announcement of the Vicarious Trauma Toolkit, funding announcements, etc.
Please respond to the Performance Metrics below. The Performance Metrics questions are based on the TTA Type indicated in the General Information section of the TTA.
Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
By submitting this application to BJA NTTAC, I understand that upon approval of this application for TTA, the requestor agrees to keep BJA NTTAC informed of any circumstances that may impact the delivery of the TTA, including changes in the date of the event, event cancellation, or difficulties communicating with the assigned TTA provider.
Please call [site:phone] if you need further assistance completing this application.