Created: 3/12/2008 8:36:06 PM 
By Lindy Thackston First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday that three local apartment complexes have met the requirements to be inducted into the "Crime Free Multi-Housing" program.
It's a partnership between apartment managers and police that started one year ago.
The JSO patrol and enforcement department has had Apartment Task Forces working in some of the zones with high concentrations of apartment crimes for several years.
JSO says North Jacksonville, Arlington, and Southside areas have seen an increase in both the construction and occupancy of multi family housing and an increase in property and violent crimes since late 2006.
The Crime Free program originated in Mesa, Arizona and was tested on Jacksonville's Southside last year before it was rolled out citywide.
There is a three step program for a complex to get certified.
An apartment owner goes through training and a tenants are required to sign a crime free lease.
Then JSO conducts a Crime Prevention through Environment Design study, with a list of minimum requirements for the community. The management must bring the complex into compliance with the requirements.
Finally, a tenant meeting is held.
Now three complexes have completed the requirements and Sheriff John Rutherford visited each complex to congratulate them.
The three complexes are Eureka Gardens on Labelle Street, Plantation Apartments on Old Kings Road South, and Paradise Island on Southside Boulevard.
At Eureka Gardens, gunshots are part of life.
In three years there have been 305 shootings and eight homicides.
"My daughter don't go out the door, period," said one mother. "I don't even let her outside unless I'm out here."
The residents looked on as Sheriff Rutherford awarded the management for working closely with police to reduce calls for police service.
Some of the requirements a complex must meet to become part of the "Crime free Multi-Housing" program include trimming up the landscaping, installing 180 degree peepholes in all the doors, adding lighting, and making tenants sign strict crime free lease papers with the penalty of eviction after the very first violation.
"I guess it is a good cause for now but how long is it gonna last?" asked one mother who worries the atmosphere she's used to won't change.
"I cant stop people from hanging on my stairs or in front of my door. I could probably go outside and say could you all move but I don't really know who I'm talking to. I could be talking to a straight killer that don't even care."
The Sheriff says there is hope for these crime-ridden complexes in Jacksonville.
"People should feel good about where they live and we're happy to help make them feel that way," said Sheriff Rutherford.
There is a long list of complexes from each zone in the city working toward meeting the requirements to be a part of the program.
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