The Metro: Detroit’s new neighborhood safety office will lead with community residents
Sam Corey, The Metro January 13, 2026Shantay Jackson is the Director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network at the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. She spoke to The Metro about her role in shaping the office to connect directly with residents with a holistic approach to safety.
Mayor Mary Sheffield speaks at press conference, sharing another drop in Detroit's crime rates.
Safety continues to improve in Detroit.
Recent numbers suggest that homicides fell well below 200 last year. That was the first time that happened in six decades.
There are a number of things that are given credit for the decline. Community violence interventionists who are preventing harm, and police officers that focus on de-escalation and complete their homicide investigations. It can also be attributed to increased surveillance with things like Project Green Light.
Now, Mayor Mary Sheffield is creating an Office of Neighborhood & Community Safety, which will focus on mental health issues, after-school programs and resident access to jobs to further increase safety.
What exactly will the office do? And why is a holistic approach needed to increase resident safety?
Shantay Jackson is the Director of the National Offices of Violence Prevention Network at the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, which will help establish Detroit’s office. She spoke with The Metro‘s Sam Corey.
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Authors
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Sam Corey is a producer for 101.9 WDET, which includes finding and preparing interesting stories for the daily news, arts and culture program, The Metro. Sam joined WDET after a year and a half at The Union, a small newspaper in California, and stints at a variety of local Michigan outlets, including WUOM and the Metro Times. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. -

