Community Safety Initiative

The Prince William County Office of Community Safety (OCS) convened regional leaders, service providers and community partners for a Harm Reduction Workshop and Landscape Analysis Convening, marking a significant step toward strengthening a coordinated, data-informed approach to community safety across the Greater Prince William region.

The workshop brought together stakeholders from Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, health care systems, community-based organizations and public safety agencies to align strategies, share expertise and identify opportunities to enhance collaboration in addressing harm and violence. A central theme of the workshop was clear: community safety is a shared responsibility that requires strong, intentional coordination across systems. Participants emphasized the need to move beyond siloed approaches and build a more connected ecosystem that ensures residents can access the right services at the right time.

“This convening reflects our commitment to a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach to safety,” said Dr. Tauheeda Yasin, Director of the Office of Community Safety. “By bringing partners together, we are strengthening relationships, improving coordination and building a system that better supports individuals and families across our region.”

Throughout the workshop, participants identified several key priorities for advancing harm reduction and violence prevention efforts:

• Strengthening cross-agency coordination to reduce duplication and improve service delivery

• Elevating the role of lived experience and trusted messengers in building community trust

• Developing a centralized, real-time resource directory to improve access and navigation of services

• Addressing gaps in continuity of care, particularly across critical transition points such as 911 response, hospital care and reentry

• Leveraging high-impact intervention moments, including crisis events, as opportunities for engagement and support

• Supporting the sustainability and well-being of frontline workers in harm reduction and outreach roles

The workshop also reinforced the importance of a regional approach, recognizing the interconnected nature of services across Prince William County, and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park. Participants emphasized that a “Greater Prince William” lens is essential to effectively coordinate resources and improve outcomes across jurisdictional boundaries.

The workshop is part of an ongoing partnership with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, which is leading a comprehensive landscape analysis to assess the region’s harm reduction ecosystem. This effort includes stakeholder interviews, data analysis and system mapping to identify strengths, gaps and strategic opportunities. According to a representative from Action in Community Through Service (ACTS), the workshop “reinforced how imperative it is to continue holding workshops like these” to strengthen partnerships and better protect the community, particularly in high-danger domestic violence cases.

In the coming weeks, stakeholders will continue contributing to the landscape analysis process, which will culminate in a report outlining actionable recommendations to enhance coordination, improve service delivery and strengthen community safety outcomes.

“This is not a one-time conversation,” Yasin said. “It is the beginning of a sustained effort to align our systems, invest in what works and build a more responsive, person-centered approach to harm reduction and community safety.”

Domestic violence accounted for 36 percent of victim fatalities in Prince William County in 2024, with two perpetrator murder-suicides, exceeding the national average of approximately 20 percent. In response, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors has recognized and granted its support for the launch of the Greater Prince William Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, or DVFRT, which will begin its work in early 2026 and will serve Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park.

The DVFRT is a multidisciplinary team that reviews closed cases of homicides and homicide-suicides related to domestic violence within Prince William County. The team will examine case details, identify system gaps, recognize strengths and develop recommendations for how the community can better respond to and prevent future incidents.

The Office of Community Safety began collecting domestic violence-related fatality data ahead of the launch to better understand contributing factors and received technical support from the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative to help define the team’s mission. The DVFRT also supports efforts to revive the county’s previously active Domestic Violence Council, which became dormant during and after the pandemic.

“The development of this domestic violence fatality review team is really part of our office’s larger effort in creating data informed pathways,” said Dr. Tauheeda Yasin, Director of the county’s Office of Community Safety. “The data we have compiled really proves that there is a need for further development of coordinated response pathways. What we’ve been working on is the improvement of the ecosystem around prevention and intervention, as well as risk identification.”

Deputy County Executive Dan Alexander told the Board of County Supervisors in a recent presentation that establishing the team represents a “milestone in our work to build a safer, more resilient Prince William.” The presentation can be viewed here.

“The review team is part of a larger council focus on a holistic approach to how we deal with domestic violence, and it certainly reflects our office’s role as convener and capacity builder across systems,” Alexander said. “It’s very inclusive in terms of process and who we’re going to involve in this work. Certainly, it will expand beyond that to other governmental and non-governmental entities … to work on this issue.”

As the DVFRT gathers more data, Alexander said the team’s work will extend beyond individual cases, strengthen coordination across agencies and support broader prevention efforts.

“At the Office of Community Safety, we joined with our community partners in addressing this critical issue by reviving domestic violence counseling, conducting domestic violence resource mapping and conducting a gap analysis,” said Rachel Taylor, Office of Community Safety Domestic Violence Coordinated Response Analyst. “We’ve identified that there are scarce resources for victims that are within our county.”

Partners in this initiative include representatives from the Office of Criminal Justice Services, ACTS, the Prince William Health District, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Community Services, the Office of Community Safety, the Department of Social Services, law enforcement, the judiciary, advocacy organizations, health care providers and community-based domestic violence programs.

Prince William County Executive Christopher Shorter said establishing the DVRFT was a longstanding opportunity for the county.

“This team represents the kind of collaborative and forward-looking work that truly strengthens a community,” Shorter said. “By bringing partners together to study these cases through a modern, evidence-based lens, this innovative approach allows us to learn from the past and build safer pathways for residents across Prince William County.”

Residents seeking support or information about domestic violence resources can contact ACTS at actspwc.org/domestic-violence.

To learn more about the Office of Community Safety, visit pwcva.gov/ocs.

Prince William County recently hosted the inaugural Community Safety Innovations Symposium on Friday, June 13, 2025, at George Mason University’s Potomac Science Center. The symposium brought together public safety professionals, health experts, researchers and government leaders from across the region – including representatives from Loudoun, Fairfax, Richmond, Manassas City, Manassas Park, Spotsylvania and several other jurisdictions – to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies and strengthen cross-agency collaboration to better protect and serve residents.

Organized by the Prince William County Office of Community Safety, or OCS, the event reflected the county’s innovative, systems-level approach to building safer communities—before, during and after crisis. Attendees participated in panel discussions and breakout sessions addressing critical safety issues, such as domestic violence, gang activity, human trafficking and emergency communications. Experts shared innovative approaches to geospatial data, trauma-informed care and coordinated response models that improve prevention, intervention and recovery efforts across jurisdictions.

“Effective safety systems recognize the need for an ecosystem approach,” said Dr. Tauheeda Yasin, Director of the Office of Community Safety. “Learning from one another and collaborating across sectors and communities allows us to address not just local challenges, but regional issues—while supporting our neighbors and strengthening the safety net for everyone.”

The day-long event featured a keynote address from Milwaukee Fire Department Assistant Chief Joshua Parish, recognized for pioneering the integration of behavioral science, public health and technology to improve public safety outcomes.

When asked about the symposium, County Executive Chris Shorter said, “Innovation doesn’t happen in silos—it happens in spaces like this, where people come together to learn from one another. Our greatest asset isn’t just a program or a new piece of technology—it’s our shared willingness to work together, listen deeply, and try bold, collaborative approaches that strengthen trust and make our communities safer.”

Participants also took part in wellness activities focused on resilience and stress management, reinforcing the county’s commitment to the well-being of our employees in high-pressure public safety roles.

The Community Safety Innovations Symposium is part of Prince William County’s broader vision to create a community in which everyone feels included, empowered and safe. By convening leaders from partner jurisdictions and multiple disciplines, the county is fostering an ecosystem of continuous learning and shared responsibility that strengthens the region’s capacity to respond to evolving safety challenges.

For more information about the Office of Community Safety and its ongoing initiatives, visit pwcva.gov/ocs.

Watch the Buzz video for a recap of the event.

The Office of Community Safety recently hosted a Community Conversation as a follow-up to the Emergency Services & Senior Support Listening Session held in November 2024, providing direct responses to concerns raised by local seniors.

The Community Conversation brought together multiple agencies and experts to discuss key safety topics, including emergency response, crime prevention, coordinated care, fraud awareness and health and wellness resources. Presenters from Prince William County Police, Fire & Rescue, the Sheriff’s Office, Manassas City Police and Prince William County Parks & Recreation engaged seniors in discussions and Q&A sessions on essential programs.

In addition, the event announced the upcoming Elder Care Resource Fair on May 10, 2025, which will provide further guidance on dementia support, legal resources and home care services.