The president and CEO of Turning Point Macomb says an initiative launched midyear in Warren to break the generational cycle of domestic violence, get help to survivors and offenders and streamline the court process is more than a program.
“(Operation Cycle Break) is a promise. A promise that our community will not look away. A promise that survivors will be believed, supported and protected. A promise that together we can create safer neighborhoods and rebuild trust where it has been broken,” Sharman Davenport said Nov. 18 as local leaders at Warren City Hall highlighted the initiative’s first four months.
So far, they say, the data looks promising regarding the program’s effectiveness, and other law enforcement agencies in Macomb County are interested in hearing more and possibly replicating it in their communities.
Wayne State University’s Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice prepared the program’s preliminary report, with data from May through August. The 17-page report shows:
“Early findings indicate that Operation Cycle Break shows strong potential as a strategy to reduce domestic violence and enhance community safety,” according to the report. “Additional resources and support are essential to maintain program operations, strengthen victim engagement and service connections, focus enforcement efforts in high-need areas, and foster continued collaboration among law enforcement, courts, and community partners.”
Several hot spots emerged, according to the report, with the majority of incidents in south Warren. One prominent hot spot was noted near the far southwest corner of the city.
Local officials announced the initiative in June. The effort involves, among other things, domestic violence victims getting follow-up visits from police within 10 days; offenders getting court-ordered counseling as a condition of bond, and dedicated court days for domestic violence cases in Michigan’s third most populous city.
Warren Police Commission Eric Hawkins said in June that a majority of major cases in the city, including many homicides, had a domestic violence nexus.
The report indicated that police responded to more than 9,125 domestic violence calls in the last two years and that domestic violence is a primary driver of violent crime in the city, adding that 68% of homicides and 50% of aggravated assaults between 2022 and 2024 were domestic in nature.
However, it said, there was no structured system for follow-up on domestic violence incidents and fragmented coordination with police, prosecutors and victim services. Victims often became disengaged after the initial incident, limiting opportunities for community violence prevention efforts to connect with them and interrupt cycles of violence; offenders were not consistently monitored to prevent additional violence, and court cases were not prioritized.
Operation Cycle Break is modeled after an initiative that originated in High Point, North Carolina, according to the report.
Hawkins said no additional funding is needed for Warren’s program. He said all officers have been trained and officers are more aware and informed and better able to serve domestic violence victims than before. He hopes this program will serve as a model for law enforcement across the country.
County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said more than 10,000 domestic violence cases in the county were dismissed in the last four years for a host of reasons. He said getting to the root of the problem earlier and keeping re-offender levels down will help lead to better success.
The 37th District Chief Judge John Chmura said at the news conference he has noticed offenders have been getting counseling, which police said the offenders must pay for. Chmura said he has noticed a change in the demeanor in many of the defendants, with their defiant attitudes softening since the program began.
Davenport said more survivors are coming forward and pressing charges. They feel safer and feel seen, she said, with officers treating them with respect and compassion and giving them the courage to move forward and seek justice.
Alaina De Biasi, an assistant professor at Wayne State who helped prepare the report, said “overall, the early results show that Operation Cycle Break is a promising strategy for reducing domestic violence and improving public safety in Warren. But like all focused-deterrence initiatives, the full impact of this work will take time, sustained collaboration, supported funding and a commitment to evidence-based practices will be essential to maintaining momentum, expanding services and reinforcing the program’s deterrent message and focused follow-up.”Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: New approach to domestic violence in Warren working, report shows
Reporting by Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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