Missoula Co. invites residents to take public safety survey

MISSOULA, Mont. — Missoula County invites residents to take part in a new public safety survey to help identify the biggest trends in local crime.

The Missoula County Community Justice Department says anyone 18 or older who lives or works in Missoula County can take the 5-minute survey online through Sept. 30.

There is an option to remain anonymous or if you provide contact information, there is a chance to win gift cards.

To take the survey, click here.

Missoula County Community Justice Department released the following information:

The Missoula County Community Justice Department is seeking public input for a survey about public safety. The department will use responses to the survey to inform new definitions and measurements of public safety in Missoula County.

People 18 or older who live or work in Missoula County are invited to participate in the study by taking a five-minute online survey.

The survey is open now through the end of September. Participants can remain anonymous or provide identifying information to have an opportunity to win gift cards.

In addition to Missoula County, researchers at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, are working with Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and St. Louis County, Missouri, to conduct the study. Researchers will use the study to help develop and sustain innovative methods to make communities across the country safer.

The survey has three goals: Identify and describe local trends in public safety Document current understandings of safety and identify what crimes are causing the biggest disruptions locally Gather information from a broad range of stakeholders to develop an inclusive and community-driven definition and measurements of public safety.

This project is funded by a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge Research Consortium. The Safety and Justice Challenge is a national initiative to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way municipalities think about and use jails.

Missoula County is one of the 57 cities, counties and states participating in the consortium network.

Since 2017, the county has received $1.4 million in grant funds from the MacArthur Foundation to reduce the jail population and recidivism. Learn more about the jail diversion efforts online.