Community Crime Prevention Initiative (CCPI)

The Trinidad Community Foundation (TCF) has joined with the Trinidad Youth Club (TYC) and other partners to form “Keep Trinidad Safe.”  This came about after the Colorado General Assembly created the Transforming Safety program through legislation in 2017 and expanded it in 2021 to include Trinidad and Grand Junction through the enactment of HB 21-1215.   The goal of this bill is to prevent crime and reduce recidivism in “Trinidad and surrounding non-incorporated area” (Las Animas County) by investing in “at risk” individuals so that they do not end up in prison or return to prison.

The bill supports community development through grants and small business loan programs.  It uses a framework that focuses on crime prevention by:
  1. Concentrating on community and economic development in specific impacted by crime and justice system involvement, 
  2. Empowering local community members to identify priorities and solutions, 
  3. Providing funding to the community and 
  4. Using a private sector approach that braids both non-profit and for-profit strengths.

The bill defines a “Justice-System-Involved Person” as one “who has completed, or is serving, a sentence for a criminal offense or delinquent act; or has been convicted of, pled guilty or Nolo Contendere; or who has unresolved charges pending for a criminal offense or delinquent act but is participating in a diversion program; or has received a deferred sentence for a criminal offense or delinquent act.  Justice-System-Involved Person does not include a person who is currently incarcerated.”

TCF invited the community to join them to form a Local Crime Prevention Planning Team (LCPPT) to establish the target age group, priorities to address to reduce crime, and the geographic area.  The LCPPT met six times and identified the City of Trinidad and any unincorporated area of Las Animas County as the geographic area.  The priorities are: Case Management; Substance Abuse, Prevention, and Treatment; Employment Services and Support; Housing Support; Restorative Justice; Education; and Mental Health.  The target population originally was 14-25; however, after executing the program for six months, TCF recommended and the state approved to expand the age group to 10-45.   

TCF issued a Request for Proposal to community nonprofits and selected the Trinidad Youth Club as a partner to implement the program.
Visit our partner at  Keep Trinidad Safe.