ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota is rolling out a new plan to enhance public safety by encouraging a teamwork approach to stop violent crime.
Governor Tim Walz’s office says in a statement that the idea of the Targeted Violence Prevention Strategy is to identify “acts of targeted violence before they occur.”
Members of law enforcement, educators, mental health professionals and community leaders will focus on schools, workplaces and public spaces.
“There is no room for targeted violence in our communities,” said Walz in the press release.
Specifically, the strategy “applies scientific research and evidence-based practices” with the intention to “prevent it from occurring in the first place.”
Walz’s office went on to list what they call “key components” of the plan, which include training to recognize early warning signs, community support to manage threats and continuous monitoring.
Walz crafted the plan in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Minneapolis already has its own Group Violence Intervention program that addresses gun violence and homicides.
