An Analysis of Curfew Projects in Five Cities

To assist the Camden City Curfew Project the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs analyzed curfew projects operating in Denver, Colorado, Jacksonville, Florida, North Little Rock, Arkansas, New Orleans, Louisiana and Phoenix, Arizona.  We looked at how the programs are funded and staffed, as well as how they use volunteers, involvement of service providers, and what type of services are provided to youth.  Findings indicate that the Camden project is uniquely dependent upon volunteers and has a relatively broad coalition of partners.

Crime in Camden City, February 2008

This report, completed in February of 2008 offers three different viewpoints for incidents of Part I crime in Camden City.  The report, based on data collected from the Camden City Police Department, provides longer and short term looks at one of Camden City’s most pressing policy concerns.  Click here to view the report in PDF format. 

Five City Crime Report

County Centric Planning and Development for New Jersey Document & Executive Summary

Responding to stakeholders in the South Jersey region, Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs at Rutgers – Camden (WRI) was approached to help explore ways to better manage regional development. Under the leadership of WRI, a Regional Development Forum was organized, bringing together diverse stakeholders for candid policy discussions about development issues. The group, comprised of builders, environmentalists, planning experts and policy advocates came together to identify common goals and generate recommendations for improving planning, with special consideration for southern New Jersey, the fastest growing region in the state. The group came to a consensus that a county-centric planning model, entitled Growth Fit.  This document serves to discuss this model, generating the necessary interest to this county-centric plan into legislation. 

South Jersey Regional Development Forum-Summary Briefing Memo April 2006

On April 4, 2006, the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs convened the second South Jersey Regional Development Forum. This Forum featured a presentation by Barry Seymour, Assistant Executive Director of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission on Destination 2030: A Vision for the Future.  This presentation provided an opportunity for policymakers and stakeholders at the Forum to discuss in a broader regional context the Growth Fit Model for housing developed by the Builder’s League of South Jersey. 

South Jersey Regional Development Forum – A Discussion on the Growth Fit Model

On November 3, 2005 the Senator Walter Rand Institute hosted the first South Jersey Regional Development Forum which featured a discussion on the Growth Fit Model as presented by the Builder’s League of South Jersey.  This forum was held in an effort to foster open and productive discussions of critical issues facing development in southern New Jersey.  The outcomes of this discussion included: identifying the need for media support and an outreach plan to educate the public about these issues, the crucial nature of further discussions regarding these issues and the need to incorporate environmental issues into this discussion. 

Smart Growth Forecast for the Counties of Southern New Jersey

In 2005, the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs completed a Smart Growth Forecast for the counties of Southern New Jersey to assess the effects of urban sprawl in the region.  The study assessed current land use practices in an effort to establish the need for better land use management in Southern New Jersey.  This assessment involves the collection of data and creation of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps to illustrate possible development scenarios in the region.

Smart Growth Forecast for Three Counties in Southern New Jersey

In 2004, the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs conducted a Smart Growth Forecast for Camden, Gloucester and Burlington Counties in southern New Jersey.  A land use simulation model was developed to enable policymakers, planners, developers and community groups to see where potential new development should take place as well as to assess the extent to which existing urban centers needed redevelopment.  This alternative approach advocates coordinated, comprehensive planning processes that encourage urban revitalization, open space preservation while promoting sustainable economic development.

Towards a Metropolitan Complex: The Camden HUB Smarth Growth Report

Written at a critical time for Camden County, “Toward a Metropolitan Complex: the Camden HUB Smart Growth Report” describes the looming peril of a decreasing tax base and increasing health and social service demands in Camden County.  Dr. Richard Harris, Director of the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs, considers the current and impending state of affairs in this report, and offers a sound solution for regional development that employs and conserves environmental, institutional, social and infrastructure resources. Read more on the forecasted state of Camden County and viable solutions for redevelopment.

South Jersey's Views on Sprawl, Development and Regional Identity

The report, “South Jersey’s Views on Sprawl, Development, and Regional Identity,” is based on surveys conducted in 2001, surrounding the issues of suburban sprawl, development and regional identity.  Survey responses from South Jerseyans help to understand the myths related to South Jersey’s identity, and the cycle of valuing open space while urban flight and suburban development increase demands for those lands to be developed. Valuable for its description of South Jerseyans’ values and preferences, click here to read more on the proposed smart growth initiatives for the region.

Burlington County Literary Needs Assessment

How are businesses being affected by the literacy of their workforce? How aware are businesses of workforce literacy issues? What kinds of literacy services would benefit businesses and their employees? Given that an estimated 42% of adults in the county lack literacy skills needed to be successful in family life and the workplace, these are critical questions for the county to answer. 

In 2006, WRI was contracted by the Burlington County Workforce Investment Board’s Literacy Committee to explore these and other questions regarding workforce literacy in the county. Utilizing surveys and focus groups, WRI helped the Literacy Committee find the answers to these questions and formulate strategies to address the needs of Burlington County businesses and residents.

MPA Alumnis Survey Analysis

The results of the MPA Alumni Survey Analysis demonstrate alumni are satisfied with the Rutgers University-Camden MPA program; however, according to the alumni, career development can be improved.  The Rutgers University in Camden MPA department graduated its first students in 1982.  In order to evaluate the quality of the program, the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs has performed a survey on all 422 MPA alumni.  The survey results indicate that decision making and problem-solving, oral communication, written communication, and leadership skills are the most important tools developed in the program. 

Social Indicators for Camden County

Community-Based Crime Suppression Efforts in Camden

Project Safe Neighborhoods Semi-Annual Report

Project Safe Neighborhoods Final Report

Analysis of Rutgers Camden Masters of Public Administration Alumni Survey - 2006

Farmland Preservation and Agritourism in South Jersey: An exploratory Study

Study of the Non-Profit Community in Camden - 2004

Camden County Assessment - 2003