NCJ Number
210405
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 72 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2005 Pages: 58-61
Date Published
June 2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes Durham, NC’s Hoist (Hispanic Outreach and Intervention Team) program.
Abstract
Formed through a Federal grant in 1997, the Hoist program began as an innovative outreach program of the City of Durham and the Durham Police Department. Designed to bridge the gap between the city’s growing Latino population and municipal services, particularly law enforcement, the program has grown tremendously from its original conception. Hoist began as a small program primarily offering bilingual services to crime victims and detectives and has grown into a larger program designed to enhance Latino empowerment within the community. Hoist objectives are reviewed and include a heavy emphasis on assisting Hispanic crime victims and promoting multicultural awareness within the police department. Durham officials site increased levels of trust among the Hispanic community as evidence of the success of the now 7-year old program. Lessons learned are discussed; highlighted is the importance of including the Latino community in the development and leadership of the program.