>>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN AND THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, THE RESULTS OF A GUNSHOT DETECTION SYSTEM IN CHICAGO.

WE ARE ONE ON ONE WITH THE CEO.

>>> THERE IS A NEW OFFICE ON YOUR CHICAGO BALLOT.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

>>> THE NEXT ROUND OF DEBT RELIEF IS OPEN TO ALL CHICAGOANS.

>>> ALWAYS ATTEMPTED TO BE A PLACE THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

PERIOD.

>> AND NEW ART SPACES OPEN IN THE CHICAGO LAWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

ALL THAT COMING UP.

BUT OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT, THE CEO OF A CONTROVERSIAL GUNSHOT DETECTION COMPANY JOINS US RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY FIFTH THIRD BANK.

AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>>> AT THE THIRD, WE BELIEVE WHEN DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER, THE FUTURE HOLDS GREATER PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

TOGETHER, WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>>> SOME CHICAGO COMMUNITIES ARE MONITORED BY AN ACOUSTIC BASED GUNSHOT DETECTION SYSTEM THAT PINPOINTS THE LOCATION OF GUNFIRE.

THIS TECHNOLOGY IS KNOWN AS SHOT SPOTTER.

IT ALERTS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CLAIMS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

BUT CRITICS SAY IT DOES LITTLE TO CURB CRIME, COSTS TOO MUCH.

HERE TO TALK TO US IS THE CEO OF SHOT SPOTTER, RALPH CLARK.

FIRST, EXPLAIN HOW YOUR SYSTEM DETECTS GUNFIRE.

>> SO, SHOT SPOTTER IS A TECHNOLOGY AS YOU POINTED OUT THAT PINPOINTS THE EXACT LOCATION OF GUNFIRE AND WE DO THAT THROUGH COMBINING SOFTWARE WITH A NETWORK OF SENSORS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND A LOUD POP OR A BOOM NOISE.

AND THEN WE GO THROUGH THE STEPS AFTER WE IDENTIFIED THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THAT PARTICULAR EVENT, WE GO THROUGH SOME STEPS TO FILTER OUT THOSE INCIDENTS THAT AREN'T GUNSHOTS LEAVING THE ONES THAT ARE GUNSHOT TO BE PUBLISHED.

TYPICALLY WITHIN 30 TO 45 SECONDS OF THE TRIGGER PULL.

WHAT MAKES THE TECHNOLOGY SO COMPELLING IS WE KNOW FROM OUR WORK AND WHAT HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY STUDIED AND ANALYZED BY FOLKS IS 80 TO 90% OF OUTDOOR CRIMINAL GUNFIRE GOES UNREPORTED.

TRADITIONAL 911 IS BROKEN FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES WITH PERSISTENT GUN VIOLENCE.

>> IT IS ABLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GUNFIRE AND SAY FIREWORKS OR A CAR BACKFIRING?

>> OF COURSE.

MOST CERTAINLY.

>> BECAUSE YOU ALSO HAVE A HUMAN REVIEW ELEMENT.

WHY WAS THAT IMPORTANT?

THAT THERE IS A HUMAN WHO IS ABLE TO REVIEW WHAT THE TECHNOLOGY HAS DETECTED?

>> YES.

SO THE TECHNOLOGY DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION OF LOUD POPS, BOOMS, AND BANGS AND IT GOES THROUGH AN EXTRA STEP FILTERING OUT THOSE POPS, BOOMS, AND BANGS.

WE THEN LEAVE EVERYTHING ELSE TO GO INTO OUR INCIDENT REVIEW CENTER.

AND WE HAVE TRAINED ACOUSTIC EXPERTS THAT LISTEN TO AND LOOK AT THESE EVENTS IN REALTIME.

AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE TOOLS.

SPECIFICALLY TO BE ABLE TO REPLAY THE RECORDED INCIDENT.

AND BE ABLE TO LOOK AT SENSOR PARTICIPATION.

THE GRAPHIC OF THE WAVE FORM.

THEY ARE EFFECTIVELY A VIRTUAL WITNESS TO INCIDENT OF GUNFIRE AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE MAYBE SITTING INSIDE OF A LIVING ROOM HEARING IT.

THEY ARE LISTENING TO IT ON THE OUTSIDE DUE TO OUR OUTSIDE SENSORS AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO LISTEN TO MULTIPLE SENSORS' WORTH.

AND THAT REVIEW PROCESS TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 45 SECONDS.

WHAT THAT LEAVES IS VETTED ALERTS THAT THEN GET PUBLISHED TO A SUBSCRIBING AGENCY.

AND WE HAVE AN SLA STANDARD.

A WARRANTY THAT HAS 90% TECHNICAL EFFICACY THAT SAYS LOOK, WE WILL PRODUCE 90% TECHNICAL EFFICACY ON GUNSHOTS.

WE WILL INCENTIVIZE YOU TO HOLD US TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT LEVEL OF QUALITY.

IF WE FALL BELOW THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO PAY SOME MONEY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT LIVING UP TO OUR BARGAIN AND WE KNOW COLLECTIVELY FROM COLLECTING THATINFORMATION FROM ALL OF OUR CUSTOMERS WE ARE AT 97%.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN AUDITED, TOO, BY AN INDEPENDENT FIRM.

>> OKAY, SO RALPH, IN 2021, CHICAGO'S OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOUND THAT FEWER THAN ONE IN TEN SHOT SPOTTER ALERTS BETWEEN 2020 AND 2021 RESULTED IN EVIDENCE OF A GUN RELATED CRIMINAL OFFENSE BEING FOUND.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> SO WE DON'T GO WITH THE MAP THAT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL USED IN COMING UP WITH THAT CALCULATION.

IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THEY ARE WEAPONNIZE THAT TO BE ABOUT SHOT SPOTTER NOT WORKING.

THE AUTHOR OF THAT REPORT SAID THE REPORT ISN'T ADDRESSING A QUESTION ABOUT THE TECHNICAL EFFICACY.

IT IS A QUESTION AROUND OPERATIONAL VALUE.

AND TO THAT, ALTHOUGH THAT 10% SOUNDS SMALL, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NOMINAL NUMBER OF WHAT'S IN THAT 10%.

AND WE KNOW THE SAME DATA THAT THE REPORT PRODUCED THAT SHOT SPOTTER LED TO 1100 GUNSHOT WOUND VICTIMS CODED BY THE DATA.

800 DID NOT HAVE A CORRESPONDING 911 CALL.

IT MEANS SHOT SPOTTER WAS THE MEANS BY WHICH FIRST RESPONDERS GOT TO THOSE FOLKS THAT WERE POTENTIALLY BLEEDING OUT.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IS OPERATIONAL VALUE.

SAVING, YOU KNOW, A PERCENT OF SIGNIFICANT PERCENT MOST LIKELY OF 1100 FOLKS THAT SHOT SPOTTER GOT TO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRESPONDING 911 CALLS.

>> TO THAT POINT, WOULD YOU SAY SHOT SPOTTER HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING CRIME AND INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF VIOLENT CRIME KNOWS THERE IS NO SINGULAR SOLUTION TO PREVENTING AND REDUCING CRIME.

WE BELIEVE VERY CONFIDENTLY, IT IS AN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE TOOL.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BROADER COMMUNITY TO USE SHOT SPOTTER DATA.

TO COMBINE THAT DATA WITH OTHER RESOURCES.

OTHER PROCESSES.

TO AFFECT GUN VIOLENCE.

SO WE DON'T EVER CLAIM TO BE THE SINGULAR SOLUTION TO GUN VIOLENCE.

WE KNOW WE HAVE A VERY GOOD LINE OF SIGHT, ABOUT AIDING THE SPEED AND RESPONSE TO FIRST RESPONDERS, AND POLICE TO GET TO INCIDENTS OF GUN CRIME AND THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT EQUIPPING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RESPOND TO SOMEONE CRIMINALLY FIRING A GUN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> SO WE UNDERSTAND HOW IS IT DETERMINED WHERE THE SENSORS ARE PLACED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY?

IS THAT UP TO THE PD?

>> SO, THE SPECIFIC PLACEMENT OF THE CENTERS IS UNDER OUR CONTROL.

THE COVERAGE AREA IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE SUBSCRIBING AGENCY.

AND TYPICALLY, WHAT THEY USE TO DECIDE WHERE THEY WANT THE COVERAGE AREA, THEY TAKE VERY OBJECTIVE DATA WHERE THEY HAVE GUN VIOLENCE, HOMICIDE VICTIMS.

THEY TRY TO PUT COVERAGE OVER THOSE AREAS THAT HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF ONGOING PERSISTENT GUN CRIME.

WE WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND TYPICALLY THAT A CITY COVERED ITS ENTIRE POPULATION OR ITS ENTIRE GEOGRAPHY WITH SHOT SPOTTER.

WE WANT TO BE WHERE THERE IS ONGOING PERSISTENT GUN CRIME.

>> AND WE KNOW FOR CHICAGO'S FIRST THREE YEAR CONTRACT WHICH HAS BEEN EXTENDED, THE FIRST CONTRACT WAS A $33 MILLION CONTRACT.

OVER THREE YEARS WITH SHOT SPOTTER.

SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS CRITICIZE THE USE OF SHOT SPOTTER CLAIMING IT IS INEFFECTIVE.

BUT, THEIR BIGGER CONCERN IS THEY BELIEVE IT CONTRIBUTES TO OVERPOLICING IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT.

I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT, BUT I HAVE SEEN SCANT EVIDENCE OF THAT TAKING PLACE.

WHAT I HAVE SEEN MORE EVIDENCE OF IS SHOT SPOTTER GETTING POLICE TO GUNSHOT WOUND VICTIMS.

>> RALPH CLARK, CEO OF SHOT SPOTTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>>> THE CITY'S LATEST PHASE IN DEBT RELIEF SETS ITS SIGHTS ON ADMINISTRATIVE DEBT.

THE SORT OF DEBT INCURRED BY TICKETS FOR NOISE VIOLATIONS AND LITTERING WHICH IMPACTS LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.

WITH THE STANDARD RELIEF PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, CAN PAY OFF THE FINE AMOUNT AND THE CITY CAN WAIVE ANY PENALTIES ACCRUED.

>> AND THIS IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING.

WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT BASICALLY IS HANDLED IN TWO DIFFERENT PHASES.

WE HAVE A STANDARD LEASE PERIOD OF THIS PROGRAM GOING ON NOW THROUGH MARCH 31st.

OF 2023.

THERE IS NO APPLICATION REQUIRED FOR THIS PROGRAM.

AND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING AS A BENEFIT IS FOR ANYTHING YOU HAVE RELATED TO ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS.

LET'S SAY YOU GOT A TICKET FROM THE CITY OR THE SANITATION FOR THAT.

YOU WOULD HAVE THOSE FEES WAIVED, PAYING 100% OF THE FINE AMOUNTS.

SO SOME OF THESE TICKETS, LET'S SAY THE TICKET IS $100.

IT ACTUALLY INCREASED UP TO ABOVE 200.

WITH FINES AND PENALTIES.

IF THERE ARE ANY COURT COST THAT'S ARE NOMINAL, THAT WOULD GET CHARGED AS WELL.

YOU HAVE A TIME PERIOD TO PAY THAT.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO GET ONTO A PAYMENT PLAN, YOU COULD GET ONTO A PAYMENT PLAN.

AND OUR PAYMENT PLANS ARE $25 DOWN PAYMENT.

THE MINIMUM AMOUNT IS $10 A MONTH.

IT MAKES IT REALLY REASONABLE.

THIS IS OPEN TO ALL INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IS PEOPLE WANT TO PAY IT BUT IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE IF THEY HAVE TO PAY $100 OFF OF THAT.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PAYMENT PLAN WHERE YOU HAVE 24 MONTHS OR 16 MONTHS TO PAY, IT MAKES IT MORE AFFORDABLE.

AND WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN 26,000 THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED IN TERMS OF A REDUCTION OR A PARTIAL WAIVER.

THE FINES AND THE FEES WHICH IS AMAZING.

THAT IS OVER 3.6 MILLION.

THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN REDUCED.

SO, IT IS REALLY AN IMPACTFUL PROGRAM.

WE LOVE TO SEE MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR OUR CITIZENS.

>> AND YOU'LL FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE DEBT RELIEF PROGRAM ON OUR WEBSITE.

A SECOND PHASE IN THE SPRING WILL ALLOW INCOME ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE DISCOUNT ON THEIR ORIGINAL DEBT.

>>> A NEW OFFICE APPEARING ON YOUR CHICAGO BALLOT.

WE WILL EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> THERE IS A LOT AT SAKE.

IF IS A COMPLETELY NEW OFFICE.

IT IS THE CITY'S FIRST CIVILIAN POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD.

VOTERS WILL ELECT THE THREE MEMBER COUNCILS FOR EACH OF THE CITY'S 22 POLICE DISTRICTS.

THOSE COUNCILS WILL BE CHARGED WITH HOLDING REGULAR MEETINGS AND BRINGING CONCERNS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY AND POLICE LEADERSHIP.

THOSE DISTRICTS WILL THEN NOMINATE A SEVEN-PERSON COMMISSION TO OVERSEE THE ENTIRE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

PROPONENTS SAY THERE ARE MANY GOALS, ESPECIALLY TO BUILD TRUST BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE POLICE.

JOINING US NOW ARE DAMON SMITH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY COMMISSION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND, LAUREN JONES, ATTORNEY FOR BPI AND THE EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES PUBLIC SAFETY COALITION.

DAMON, LET'S START WITH YOU.

HOW DOES THE COMMUNE COMMISSION DEFINE PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> IT IS DEFINED AS EVERYONE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HOME SAFELY EVERY DAY.

RIGHT?

REGARDLESS OF THEIR INTERACTIONS THEY HAVE WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR IF THEY HAVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

GETTING HOME SAFELY AND NOT HAVING THEIR RIGHT TO A TRIAL OR TO A COURT APPEARANCE PLACED IN JEOPARDY BY MISCONDUCT OR ACTS OF VIOLENCE OR TERROR, THAT IS HOW THEY DEFINE PUBLIC SAFETY.

WHEN INDIVIDUALS LEAVE THEIR HOMES OR ARE IN THEIR HOMES, IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED, THEY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH PROFESSIONALLY, WITH JUSTICE FIRST.

AND NOT VENGEFUL HATEFUL ACTIONS THAT CAN PUT THEIR LIVES IN JEOPARDY.

>> LAUREN JONES, YOU ARE PART OF THE COALITION THAT FOUGHT TO HAVE THIS ESTABLISHED.

SO HOW DOES IT DEFINE PUBLIC SAFETY?

>> WELL, I WOULD REITERATE WHAT DAMON SAID.

FIRST OF ALL, AND SECOND.

AS A COALITION OF PART OF WHAT WE WANTED TO ESTABLISH WITH THIS ORDINANCE IS GETTING FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THEMSELVES.

IT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION.

LIKE DAMON SAID, IT INCORPORATES PROTECTION AND SAFETY FROM POLICE VIOLENCE AND PROTECTION AND SAFETY FROM ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS FOR THEMSELVES AND GIVE FOLKS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> ELECTIONS ARE FEBRUARY 28th.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

HOW DOES THE BOARD GET UP AND RUNS?

>> SO, THEY START RUNNING FOR ELECTIONS NOW.

THEY ARE RUNNING BETWEEN NOW AND THE 28th.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THE CCPSA, THE AGENCY I WORK FOR, WILL BE HOLDING TRAININGS FOR THE DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS TO WALK THEM THROUGH THE PROCESSES FOR THEIR JOB.

TO WALK THEM THROUGH WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE DISTRICT COUNCILS.

HOW DO YOU HOLD MEETINGS AND TAKE THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD THAT TRUST WITH THEIR LOCAL POLICE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP.

WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW IS BUILDING THAT TRUST.

BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS FROM THE DISTRICT LEVEL UP THROUGH THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

INSTEAD OF DOWN FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR CITIZENS WHO JUST DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD.

AND CITIZENS.

THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICTS TELL THE POLICE HOW THEY WANT TO BE POLICED.

BUT THERE'S A WAY THAT HAVE TO GO ABOUT DOING THAT.

>> LAUREN JONES, YOU ARE ASKING VOTERS TO ELECT A LOT OF PEOPLE.

ARE YOU CONCERNED AT ALL OR ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT ENGAGEMENT?

BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR EXAMPLE WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCILS WITH NOT EVERYBODY.

NOT ALL OF THE SEATS BEING FILLED.

NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE RUNNING.

IS THAT A CONCERN HERE AT ALL?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT IS A CONCERN OF THE COALITION.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ENGAGED AND HAVING THIS PLATFORM TO HAVE PEOPLE GO OUT AND VOTE FOR THESE POSITIONS.

AND IN THE FUTURE, WE HOPE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT ECPS IS AND THE POWER OF IT BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS AN OPINION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.

RIGHT?

AND SO, HAVING THE SEPARATE MECHANISM IN CHICAGO THAT IS DEDICATED SPECIFICALLY TO THAT, WE ARE HOPING THAT WILL KEEP PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE LONG RUN.

>> AND LAUREN, DESCRIBE IF YOU WOULD BRIEFLY, THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF HAVING THESE VERY LOCAL COUNCILS.

>> SO WHEN WE DREAMT UP THIS IDEA OF HAVING POLICE OVERSIGHT IN CHICAGO, ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANTED TO MAINTAIN WAS THAT COMMUNITY VOICE WAS GIVING INPUT TO A SMALLER BODY.

BECAUSE IN SOME PLACES, THERE IS JUST THAT SMALLER BODY.

AND SO, THE PURPOSE OF THESE DISTRICT COUNCIL IS TO ADDRESS LOCALIZED CONCERNS.

AND LIKE I SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY IS DIFFERENT IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IN CHICAGO.

AND SO, WE ARE HOPING THAT THOSE CONVERSATIONS CAN START TO HAPPEN MORE REGULARLY ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND SHAPE WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE FOR THE ENTIRE CITY.

>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE ECPS COALITION.

THEY ARE 109 INDIVIDUALS RUNNING FOR DISTRICT COUNCIL SEATS THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND 29 WRITE-IN CANDIDATES WHO HAVE MADE THEMSELVES ELIGIBLE TO RUN.

SO THAT TELLS YOU THE RESIDENTS ARE VERY INTERESTED IN POLICING THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AND DECIDING WHAT THAT POLICING LOOKS LIKE.

SO KUDOS TO THE COALITION FOR DOING THAT WORK.

>> DAMON, THESE ARE FOUR-YEAR TERMS.

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR SUCCESS AT THE END OF THE FIRST TERM AND YOUR METRICS FOR SUCCESS ALTOGETHER?

>> HOW DO YOU JUDGE SUCCESS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

WE ARE LOOKING AT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT.

ARE THE COMMUNITIES COMING TO THESE MEETINGS, PARTICIPATING IN WHAT POLICING LOOKS LIKE.

ARE THEY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATIVE JUSTICE?

PEACE CIRCLES.

COMMUNITY POLICING AND HAVING INCIDENTS ADDRESSED THAT MAY NOT INVOLVE HANDCUFFS AND POLICE OFFICERS.

BUT ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES TO BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND RESOLVING THESE ISSUES AMONG COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.

MAYBE INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND HAVING THOSE ISSUES ADDRESSED AS WELL INSTEAD OF HAVING THE POLICE INVOLVED.

THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.

THAT IS HOW WE ARE JUDGING IF THIS WORKS OR NOT.

WE WANT TO HELP REDUCE WHAT THE POLICE HAVE TO DO IN OUR COMMUNITY SO WHEN THEY ARE CALLED, IT IS FOR A TRUE EMERGENCY WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED FAIRLY.

AND EQUITABLY AND HAVE THE RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICTS DECIDE WHAT POLICING LOOKS LIKE GOING FORWARD TO THEM SO THEY TRUST THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WARREN, THE ECPS ISSUED A STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTING GROUND WORK THAT HAD BEEN LAID.

AMONG THEM, ESTABLISHING ANNUAL GOALS AND POSTPONING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CRIMINAL INFORMATION, THE CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE INFORMATION SYSTEM.

KNOWN AS THE SO-CALLED GANG DATA BASE.

WHAT INDICATERS WILL THE ECPS BE LOOKING FOR TO DETERMINE THAT THE BOARD IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

>> IN THE COALITION'S MIND, WE WANT TO MARK SURE WHEN WE HAVE A CONCERN LIKE THE GANG DATA BASE POLICY, THAT IT IS BEING RESPONDED TO.

WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN CHICAGO OF THOSE CONCERNS NOT BEING ADDRESSED.

SO ONE OF THOSE METRIC IS HAVING THAT ADDRESSED AND HAVING THERE BE A CONVERSATION WITH THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE WAS IMMEDIATE.

THERE WAS REACTION.

AND WE HOPE TO SEE THAT WITH EVERY CASE IN THE FUTURE.

>> LAUREN, I'LL LET YOU HAVE THE LAST WORD.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

CHICAGO HAS SEEN EFFORTS OF POLICE OVERSIGHT BEFORE.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS TIME?

>> THIS IS THE VERY FIRST COMMUNITY-LED POLICE OVERSIGHT BODY.

WE ARE HOPING TO RIGHT SOME OF THE WRONGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE COMMUNITY WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

AND, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT IS NOT THE END.

IT IS THE BEGINNING.

FOR US TO REALLY BE A PART OF THE PUBLIC IN CHICAGO.

SO AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND VOTE.

AND TO ENGAGE.

THERE IS A MEETING TONIGHT.

>> IT IS BEGINNING SOMETHING, WE WILL BE WATCHING GOING FORWARD.

LAUREN JONES, DAMON SMITH, THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT, NEW ART SPACES.

>>> THE INNER CITY MUSLIM ACTION NETWORK IS CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY FOR THE GALLERY AND CERAMIC STUDIO.

ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US FOR A LOOK AT THE NEW COMMUNITY SPACES.

>> Reporter: THESE STUDENTS ARE GETTING A TASTE OF IMAN'S NEWEST ADDITION.

THEIR CERAMIC STUDIO.

>> THIS IS MY HEAD, MY NOSE.

MY EYEBROWS.

>> Reporter: THEY ARE PART OF IMAN'S REENTRY PROGRAM PROVIDING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION AND MORE FOR RETURNING CITIZENS AND HIGH RISK YOUTH.

>> THE SERIES THEY JUST FINISHED, THE FOURTH AND FINAL SESSION.

IT WAS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO GET A TASTE OF THE CERAMIC STUDIO.

SO THEY ARE COMPLETING ORIENTATION.

NEXT YEAR, THEY WILL GET A CHANCE TO GO BACK INTO THE CERAMIC STUDIO.

THERE IS A QUOTE, IF YOU WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN, YOU HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING YOU HAVE NEVER TRIED.

>> Reporter: THE RESOURCES THEY PROVIDE HAVE HELPED HIM GREATLY.

>> I HAVE A COUNSELOR I SEE ONCE A WEEK.

I ENJOY BEING ABLE TO COME TALK ABOUT WHAT I HAVE GOING ON, ON THE OUTSIDE.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE INTO CERAMICS.

I LOVE IT BECAUSE I CAN COME EXPRESS MYSELF WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT ALL THE OUTSIDE NOISE.

THEY MADE ME MORE OF A MAN WHEN I WAS WHEN I CAME IN HERE.

THEY HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THE STUFF I THINK I WILL GET AWAY WITH.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO SHIFT AND REPRESENT YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF A RIGHTEOUS CULTURE IN GENERAL.

SO, THE STANDARD THAT'S WE UPHOLD WITHIN THE SPACE, IT IS REALLY SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

BUT SOMETIMES, ARE NOT ABLE TO VERBALIZE.

BUT, TO BE ABLE TO INTERACT AND HOLD EACH OTHER UP.

LIFT EACH OTHER UP.

LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

EAT TOGETHER.

LAUGH TOGETHER.

BE CHALLENGED TOGETHER.

IT IS A BIG PART OF WHO IMAN IS.

BRINGS A LOT OF VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACES LIKE THIS SO IT IS ONE WE HOLD VERY SACRED.

>> Reporter: THE COMMITMENT TO CREATIVE SPACES ALSO EXTENDS TO THEIR NEW MANIFEST ART GALLERY WHICH HOUSES A SELECTION OF 45 NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTISTS.

>> IN COMMUNITIES THAT HAD GENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND WE HAVE HAD DECADES OF TRAUMA, JUST HAVING A SAFE SPACE PERIOD IS SO NEEDED.

AND, TONIGHT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

YOU HAVE REALLY UNIQUE INTERACTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE.

ALL THE SPACES THAT ARE JUST VERY UNIQUE AND OFFER SO MUCH HOPE.

AND THE ABILITY TO PROCESS THEIR LIFE WITH OTHERS.

>> Reporter: IT OFFERS A FULL HEALTH CARE CENTER.

IMAN'S MISSION REMAINS FOCUSED ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR THE MIND AND THE BODY.

>> WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US IS AN EMPHASIS ON A HOLISTIC MODEL.

THAT EMPHASIZES THAT IT IS NOT JUST HEALTH CARE THAT IS GOING TO HELP SAVE OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT IS NOT JUST A FOCUS ON EDUCATION OR A FOCUS ON JOBS FOR RETURNING CITIZENS.

IT IS UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU NEED A HOLISTIC MODEL THAT YOU NEED TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC RACISM.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE FOUNDATION IS ROOTED IN MUSLIM SPIRITUAL TRADITION, THEY SAY THEIR COMMITMENT IS TO SERVE EVERYONE.

>> IMAN IS NOT IMAN WITHOUT THE COALITION.

THE ALLIANCE.

WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT I THINK STANDS OUT TO PEOPLE BECAUSE THE CORE OF OUR WORK IS THIS EMPHASIS ON BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

IMAN HAS ATTEMPTED TO BE A PLACE THAT RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

PERIOD.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> AND, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN IMAN'S HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW THIS WEEKEND.

BE SHIRE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE, NEWS.WTTW.COM FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM WTTW NEWS AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF TEN THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND.

>>> AND IF YOU ARE WATCHING US ON SATURDAY NIGHT, KNOW YOU CAN CATCH BLACK VOICES AND LATINO VOICES ON SUNDAYS BEGINNING AT 10:00 P.M. AND JOIN ME AND PARIS SCHUTZ NEXT WEEK AT 10:00 ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

THANKS FOR SHARING PART OF YOUR WEEKEND WITH US.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ROBERT A. CLIFFORD AND CLIFFORD LAW