Public Health Madison & Dane County is leading a new, collaborative approach to preventing crime in downtown Madison.
An advisory council, coordinated by Public Health, is leading the effort to create a set of strategies and interventions that will comprise the Isthmus Safety Initiative. The council includes community leaders from nonprofit organizations, student services leaders from UW–Madison, downtown business owners, elected officials, and more.
The strategies include:
- Bystander awareness training for State Street-area bar and restaurant staff. The training is free and includes three sessions. The primary goal is to ensure staff have the tools to stop potential sexual violence, prevent conflict, and to deescalate and intervene if conflict does happen.
- Safety navigators stationed in the State Street area will promote a sense of community. They will do this by welcoming visitors and offering help to those who need it. This could mean anything from basic first aid, providing “safe walk” services, giving directions, and more.
- Increased lighting in the Buckeye parking lot above Peace Park to improve visibility in the lot.
A federal grant awarded to the city of Madison from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is providing the support need to make the Isthmus Safety Initiative happen.
