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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:48 am
Time: 11:48 am
Results for gang prevention
20 results foundAuthor: Troutman, David R. Title: Prosecutor's Comprehensive Gang Response Model Summary: The comprehensive gang response model is designed to help prosecutors and allied professionals design and implement gang initiatives that focus on the specific needs to individual jurisdictions. Drawing on the experiences of experts from various disciplines across the country and available research on what works in gang prevention, intervention, and suppression. Details: Alexandria, VA: National District Attorneys Association, American Prosecutors Research Institute, 2007 Source: Interest Resource: Accessed May 30, 2018 at: https://www.ndaa.org/pdf/pub_prosecutors_comprehensive_gang_response_model_07.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: https://www.ndaa.org/pdf/pub_prosecutors_comprehensive_gang_response_model_07.pdf Shelf Number: 116667 Keywords: Criminal Justice AdministrationGang PreventionGang SuppressionGangsProsecutors |
Author: Dane County (Wisconsin). Enhanced Youth Gang Prevention Task Force Title: Dane County Enhanced Youth Gang Prevention Task Force: Final Report Summary: This report represents the collective work of a highly committed group of community volunteers who care deeply about Dane County, our community. It reflects the concerns of the Enhanced Gang Task Force for the plight of a large segment of our youth population who face difficult challenges and significant risks to their future and to the well being of our community. Gangs, crime and poverty are the underlying causes for these challenges—and these issues represent only the tip of the iceberg among factors affecting our youth. Poor academic achievement and limited job opportunities coupled with high incarceration rates for minority youth are causing significant and long-term damage to their lives and to the quality of life in our community. We are all too familiar with the state of gang violence in our larger urban centers. But make no mistake, gangs and crime impact all segments of our community as was evident in the gang-related shootings in the City of Oregon in 2005. In this case, a group of young men and women set aside their racial, ethnic and class differences and united as a gang to commit a serious crime. Gangs have steadily moved into mid-size cities such as Madison and gang activity is reported in Sun Prairie, Stoughton, Middleton and in many other communities. The root causes are similar in all cases—a lack of opportunities for youth, access to weapons, peer pressure and a demonstrated willingness to resort to violence at the slightest provocation. Clearly, not all youth crime is caused by gangs. But gangs are prevalent in our community and in our schools and they are increasingly responsible for the crime and violence that impacts the perception of safety in our neighborhoods. Law enforcement officials indicate that there are over 30 active gangs in Dane County, including several girl gangs. A recent survey of young adults and youth involved in the Dane County juvenile and adult court systems indicates that 32% of respondents report being current or former gang members. The question is not whether our community has a gang problem, the question is what can we do about it and do we have the willingness to confront the problem and dedicate the appropriate resources to address it? As a community we have an obligation to nurture and to provide for our children. All of us have a stake in the outcome of the recommendations made by this Task Force. If we fail to move on them, the entire community will suffer. The recommendations presented to you reflect the belief that no single strategy will work. If we rely solely or too heavily on law enforcement to solve this problem, we are sure to fail. The Task Force strongly proposes a comprehensive, community based strategy that addresses the needs of families as well as those of our youth. They are grouped into the following categories: Basic Needs, Prevention, Education, Employment Development, Faith Communities, Public Safety and Re-Entry from Incarceration. Details: Madison, WI: Dane County Department of Human Services, 2007. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2010 at: http://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/pdf/gang_task_force_report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.danecountyhumanservices.org/pdf/gang_task_force_report.pdf Shelf Number: 119784 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ViolenceGangs (Madison, WI)Juvenile OffendersYouth Gangs |
Author: Chettleburgh, Michael C. Title: Evaluability Assessment Final Report: Breaking the Cycle Youth Gang Exit and Ambassador Leadership Program Summary: The issue of street gangs in Canada has generated considerable concern among criminal justice professionals and the general public. Because of the high level of criminal behaviour associated with street gangs, and the inherent dangers posed to youth who choose to participate in their activities, the value of prevention and intervention programs has taken on new importance. Specific programs that seek to help young people exit a gang are not yet commonplace in Canada, and those that do exist typically have not undergone formal evaluation to determine actual program effect. This study sought to assess the evaluability of one of Canada’s longest running street gang exit programs ‐ Breaking the Cycle, developed and managed by Toronto‐based Canadian Training Institute – that is, to answer the question “Is the Breaking the Cycle program at a suitable state of readiness for comprehensive process, impact and cost effectiveness evaluation?” Four key methods were used to show that subject to some modifications to identification of the appropriate target group, documentation and data collection practices, the Breaking the Cycle program can be accurately evaluated in the near future. Thus, the National Crime Prevention Centre or other organizations are encouraged to formally evaluate the program, and indeed, support it financially, because of the initial positive indicators demonstrated during the Evaluability Assessment. Details: Report to the National Criminal Prevention Centre of Public Safety Canada, 2008. 159p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2012 at: http://www.cantraining.org/BTC%20Final%20Report.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Canada URL: http://www.cantraining.org/BTC%20Final%20Report.pdf Shelf Number: 125971 Keywords: Gang PreventionJuvenile OffendersStreet GangsYouth Gangs (Canada) |
Author: Bhatt, Gira Title: Strength-based Approaches to Youth Gang Prevention in B.C.: Community Consultation Paper Summary: This paper discusses strength-based strategies for reducing youth involvement in gang violence. The current discussion is meant to provoke thought and provide some theoretical background. This discussion includes a review of research on strengths that matter, some cautions such as concerns about cultural relevance, and a differentiation of types of strength-based interventions. It also explores some strength-based practices with examples of specific strategies implemented by the Community Assessment and Action Networks. The paper includes feedback from three workshops conducted with community stakeholders on March 24th 2010 consultation hosted by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The discussion concludes with recommendations to connect evidence-based research with practice. This discussion paper provides background that may help people considering strength-based interventions. Details: Ottawa: National Crime Prevention Centre, Public Safety Canada, 2010. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/publications/docs/gang-prevention-youth-strength-based.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/publications/docs/gang-prevention-youth-strength-based.pdf Shelf Number: 126000 Keywords: Gang PreventionGangs (Canada)Juvenile OffendersYouth Gangs |
Author: Sersli, Stephanie Title: Gang Prevention for New Immigrant and Refugee Youth in B.C.: Community Consultation Paper Summary: This paper explores why and how immigrant and refugee youth between the ages of 13-23 years old and in Canada less than 5 years may or may not become involved with youth gangs. Community stakeholders involved with the provincial youth gang prevention strategy identified a knowledge gap regarding newcomer youths’ participation in gang activities and their unique risk factors and pathways to involvement. The purpose of this research was threefold: 1) to identify why and how newcomer immigrant and refugee youth become involved in gangs in BC (i.e., specific risk factors and pathways to gang involvement in BC); 2) to review the individual, family, school and community strengths and assets that support newcomer youth to resist gang involvement and build resiliency, and; 3) to identify BC-based effective, culturally responsive strategies to prevent or intervene in newcomer youth gang involvement and support their positive development. Drawing both from contemporary Canadian studies, and consultations with newcomer immigrant and refugee youth and youth workers in Metro Vancouver, this paper outlines the challenges newcomer youth face in their settlement process and advocates for early sustained support to assist youth and their families to adjust to life in Canada. Youth who become marginalized or isolated are at enhanced risk of forming negative peer associations and becoming involved in risky behaviour; youth at the beginning of their settlement trajectory are least likely to become gang-involved, but this risk increases with number of years in Canada. The paper also identifies newcomer youths’ strengths and assets, and discusses BC-based culturally responsive approaches that endeavor to enhance strengths while decreasing risk, thus laying essential building blocks for gang prevention. These approaches include: early ongoing support for youth and families; helping families support youth; individualizing approaches; building relationships, reducing isolation and normalizing life experience; building individual and social competencies; empowering and building a positive identity; incorporating anti-oppression elements in programming, and; recognizing the unique challenges and strengths of newcomer youth. The paper concludes with proposed further research directions. Details: Ottawa: National Crime Prevention Centre, Public Safety Canada, 2010. 33p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/publications/docs/gang-prevention-immigrant-refugee.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/publications/docs/gang-prevention-immigrant-refugee.pdf Shelf Number: 126001 Keywords: Gang PreventionGangs (Canada)Immigrant YouthRefugee YouthYouth Gangs |
Author: Arciaga, Michelle Title: Street Outreach and the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model Summary: Since the early 19th century and the emergence of street gangs within urban population centers of the United States, community members have sought to reach out to these disenfranchised and criminally involved youth to reengage and redirect them to more pro-social activities. Over the years, these efforts have yielded mixed results. For instance, the detached gang worker programs of the 1950s and ’60s, while well-intentioned, delivered almost uniformly flat results and may actually have increased the cohesion of the gangs they served, thus accelerating gang offending (Klein, 1971). It seems intuitive that social intervention directed at gang members is necessary and vital as a response to gang violence. However, programmatic results, when these programs have been evaluated, suggest that street-level outreach, by itself, is not sufficient to create a reduction in gang-related crime. In 1987, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention launched the Juvenile Gang Suppression and Intervention Research and Development Program, led by Dr. Irving Spergel at the University of Chicago. Spergel conducted a national assessment of agency and community responses to gangs. After reviewing multiple program models and existing programmatic evaluations, Spergel concluded: “neither a single minded suppression nor a single-minded social-intervention approach has demonstrated success in reducing gang crime, especially gang violence.” As a result of that assessment, Spergel and his colleagues created the Comprehensive Community-Wide Gang Program Model (Spergel, 1995; Spergel et al., 1992; Spergel and Curry, 1993). The Spergel Model included a multidisciplinary Intervention Team, composed of law enforcement, probation, and outreach personnel who worked together to case manage gang intervention targets within the context of five interrelated strategies: social intervention, opportunities provision, community mobilization, suppression, and organizational change and development. The success of the Little Village Gang Violence Reduction Project led to the creation of the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model (Model). Since the 1990s, the Model has been tested in targeted sections of more than 20 different communities around the United States, from large cities (Los Angeles, California; Houston, Texas; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin) to mid-sized cities (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; North Miami Beach, Florida) to small urban and rural communities (East Cleveland, Ohio; Mount Vernon, Illinois; Elk City, Oklahoma; Glenn County, California; Longview, Washington). (National Gang Center, 2010) This article provides an overview of best practices developed in these sites for street outreach in the context of the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model. Details: Tallahassee, FL: National Gang Center, 2012. 10p. Source: National Gang Center Bulletin No. 7: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2012 at http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/Street-Outreach-Comprehensive-Gang-Model.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/Street-Outreach-Comprehensive-Gang-Model.pdf Shelf Number: 126639 Keywords: Crime Prevention ProgramsGang PreventionIntervention ProgramsJuvenile OffendersStreet Gangs |
Author: Howell, James C. Title: Prevalence of Gang-Involved Youth in NC Summary: Drugs, property crimes, guns, turf battles, senseless violence…these are all consequences of serious gang problems. North Carolina has youth gangs, youth gang members, and associates of gangs - all creating fear in citizens for safety in their neighborhoods, schools and social institutions. There are gaps in services available to address the needs of high-risk or gang-involved youth. The NC Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) has taken broad steps in examining the extent of the problem and use of best practices to reduce gang involvement. This report reviews the law passed in 2008 to combat the challenge of youth street gangs, the initiatives led by DJJDP and their progress to date, and what DJJDP data reveals with regard to the characteristics of gang members. Details: Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2011. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Fact Sheet: Accessed February 12, 2013 at: http://www.ncdjjdp.org/resources/gang_forms/DJJGangFactSheetPublicationDec2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.ncdjjdp.org/resources/gang_forms/DJJGangFactSheetPublicationDec2011.pdf Shelf Number: 127593 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ViolenceGangs (North Carolina) |
Author: McGarrell, Edmund F. Title: An Assessment of the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative: Final Project Report Summary: The U.S. Department of Justice developed the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI) to support local communities in their efforts to prevent and control gang crime. The cities involved include Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Tampa, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Rochester, Raleigh/Durham, Chicago, Detroit, and a seven-city region in Eastern Pennsylvania. Multiple methods were used to evaluate the process and impact of CAGI. These included site visits, phone interviews, mail surveys, video conference calls with project staff, and review of progress reports submitted to the Department of Justice. Local crime data were gathered from five of the CAGI cities and city level crime data were collected from all the jurisdictions as well as from comparable cities nationwide. In terms of the implementation several key findings emerged. There was consensus across the sites that CAGI had allowed for the development of a variety of new partnerships. These relationships were most readily established among criminal justice agencies. The four most common enforcement strategies included increased federal prosecution, increased state and local prosecution, joint case prosecution screening, and directed police patrols. The most common prevention strategies included education and outreach, school-based prevention, ex-offender outreach, and substance abuse treatment. Re-entry interventions proved to be the most challenging to implement with most of the sites struggling to meet target numbers of clients. Unfortunately, the majority of sites could not provide consistent and reliable measures of gang crime. Thus, for most of the impact analyses the focus was on violent crime. CAGI cities were compared to all other comparable U.S. cities and to a matched comparison group of cities. Additionally, within city analyses were conducted in five of the sites. Overall, the CAGI cities experienced a larger decline in violent crime than the comparison cities but the difference was not statistically significant when controlling for concentrated disadvantage and population density. When level of implementation of enforcement was included, the high enforcement CAGI cities experienced a 15 percent decline in violent crime that was statistically significant. The comparison based on a propensity matching approach yielded similar findings. Looking only at the CAGI cities, higher levels of federal prosecution for gun crime were negatively related to violent crime. The final analyses involved within city time series analyses of target areas compared either to other comparison areas or the remainder of the city. These results were inconclusive. Although the CAGI sites all experienced declines in violent crime, in many cases they were not statistically significant or they were similar to declines in the rest of the city or comparison area. The findings of difficulty in implementing all components of the comprehensive strategy in a well-timed and coordinated fashion, as well as the mixed, and at best modest, impact on violent crime, are largely consistent with prior studies of large-scale, comprehensive anti-gang programs. At a minimum, much greater attention needs to be given to effective implementation. Local CAGI officials recognized these challenges and recommended a planning period to allow for the establishment of necessary partnerships before fully funding programs like CAGI. Finally, much greater attention needs to be given to developing reliable measures of gang crime at the local level. Federal funding agencies may wish to make gang crime data availability a prerequisite for the investment of federal funding for anti-gang programs. Details: East Lansing, MI: School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, 2012. 197p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2013 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240757.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/240757.pdf Shelf Number: 127689 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ViolenceGangs (U.S.)Gun Violence |
Author: Leshnick, Sukey Soukamneuth Title: Evaluation of School-District-Based Strategies for Reducing Youth Involvement in Gangs and Violent Crime Summary: In 2007, the Employment and Training Administration provided funding to five school districts to improve services to youth who are involved, have been involved or are at risk of involvement with gangs or the juvenile justice system. A variety of educational, employment, and violence prevention programs and strategies were developed and designed to increase academic performance, lower the involvement of drop-outs and reduce involvement in crime and gangs. The Evaluation of School District-Based Strategies for Reducing Youth Involvement in Gangs and Violent Crime report summarizes findings that cover several key areas for improving services: community context, school district characteristics, in-school and out-of-school youth service models, and program outcomes. The goals of the evaluation were to document prevention and intervention strategies, assess partnership models, document outcomes, and identify successful strategies, challenges and lessons learned. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Labor/ETZ, 2010. 239p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2013 at: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/Evaluation_of_School_District-Based_Strategies_for_Reducing_Youth_Involvement_in_Gangs_and_Violent_Crime_Final_Report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://wdr.doleta.gov/research/FullText_Documents/Evaluation_of_School_District-Based_Strategies_for_Reducing_Youth_Involvement_in_Gangs_and_Violent_Crime_Final_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 127711 Keywords: At-risk YouthDelinquency PreventionEducational ProgramsGang PreventionGangs (U.S.)Violent CrimeVocational Training and EducationYouth Violence |
Author: Whitbeck, Barbara Title: Gangs and Youth Violence Interventions: A Review of Research and Literature Addressing Evidence‐Based and Promising Practices for Gang‐Affiliated and Violent Youth in Juvenile Institutions and Detention Centers Summary: This report reviews current research and literature to determine which evidence-based and promising practices work best for gang‐affiliated and violent youth in juvenile institutions and other detention settings, and what factors need to be considered when implementing best practices. It also notes evidence‐based practices currently used by Washington’s DSHS Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration (JRA), and practices JRA may consider for future implementation. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, 2010. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Report 2.23: Accessed February 27, 2013 at: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/graphics/Main/jra/VIP%20Literature%20review.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/graphics/Main/jra/VIP%20Literature%20review.pdf Shelf Number: 127735 Keywords: Evidence-Based PracticesGang PreventionGang ViolenceGangsJuvenile DetentionJuvenile Offenders |
Author: Williams, Mahatma E. Title: Can the Jamaican Security Forces Successfully Reduce the Violent Impact of Gangs? Summary: This research discusses the high murder rate in Jamaica as a consequence of gang activity. It higlights the negative impact of gangs in regard to national security. The complexity of the gang problem is identified by describing the gangs’ connection to political parties and society overall. Further, endemic corruption, a weak justice system, an unreformed security sector and limited social intervention are identified as part of the complexity and facilitates the gang phenonmenon. A case study comparison was done with Jamaica, Brazil and Guatemala to try to identify workable approaches to the gang problem. Although various preconditions were identified which are required for countergang operations to work in a country, the research tried to address the security defense aspect. Various operations were reviewed and an assessment made to the level of effectiveness. Overall the study identified the reason for Jamaica’s failure to address gangs as a national security issue. The paper concluded by identifying the preconditions for successful operations, recommending social programs to be a part of any countergang operations, advocating the establishment of a Joint-Interagency Task Force and a doctrinal shift in an attempt at bringing a new philosophy and practice to countergang approaches within Jamaica. Details: Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 2012. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed June 22, 2013 at: http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p4013coll2/id/2952/filename/3003.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Central America URL: http://cgsc.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getfile/collection/p4013coll2/id/2952/filename/3003.pdf Shelf Number: 129142 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ViolenceGangs (Jamaica, Brazil and Guatemala)Homicides |
Author: Keaton, Sandy Title: City of San Diego CALGRIP Project: Evaluation Report Summary: In 2007, California launched a statewide initiative to support a comprehensive approach to reduce gang violence. The California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) program pooled together state and federal dollars to fund prevention, intervention, and suppression activities through the state. In 2008, the San Diego Police Department in partnership with the San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention was successful in their submission of a CalGRIP grant application. The purpose of the project was to implement a continuum of services from prevention to suppression in communities with high rates of gang violence. As one of the partners in this endeavor, the Criminal Justice Research Division of SANDAG was tasked with documenting the outcomes of the project. Details: San Diego: SANDAG, 2011. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 3, 2015 at: http://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1577_12940.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.sandag.org/uploads/publicationid/publicationid_1577_12940.pdf Shelf Number: 135861 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ReductionGang-Related ViolenceGangsYouth Gangs |
Author: Human Impact Partners Title: Dignified & Just Policing: Health Impact Assessment of the Townsend Street Gang Injunction in Santa Ana, California Summary: A gang injunction is a controversial policing practice that essentially acts as a group restraining order against alleged gang members within a safety zone, a specific geographic area thought to be "controlled" by a gang. Since the 1980's, over 60 gang injunctions have been imposed in California in an attempt to curtail a historic spike in violent crime in the state (and in the nation) during the late 1980's and early 1990's, a topic we tackled in a previous blog post. The injunction in Santa Ana, the city's second, would prevent alleged gang members from associating with each other or carrying out certain illegal and legal activities within the safety zone. The injunction has stirred up heated debate in Santa Ana since June 2014, when it was first implemented, and has been a flashpoint for controversy more recently amidst allegations of police brutality. Supporters of the injunction say it will lead to decreased crime and violence for all residents, while opponents say the injunction fails to address the root causes of crime and may lead to increased police mistreatment of local youth. The HIA, which worked locally with SABHC, Chicanos Unidos de Orange County, KidWorks, Santa Ana Boys & Men of Color, Latino Health Access, UC Irvine's Community Knowledge and Community & Labor projects, and the Urban Peace Institute, examined the impact the gang injunction would have on crime, safety, community-police relationships, education and employment, and collected data on community safety through surveys, interviews and focus groups. The HIA focused on populations that may be disproportionately affected by the gang injunction, including youth, undocumented immigrants, transgender or queer-identified people, the homeless, and those with physical and mental disabilities. Members of these groups fear that increased police presence in the neighborhood will exacerbate the potential for profiling and discrimination. The HIA concluded that the injunction is unlikely to bring about significant and lasting reduction of serious crime, based on the outcomes of other gang injunctions and input gathered from residents, city officials, community organizations and police. On the contrary, the injunction could have negative effects on public safety, public health and public trust. The HIA found that: The evidence is insufficient that a gang injunction will reduce violent crime, gang activity or gang membership, or that it will improve community-police relationships. An injunction could make some in the community, particularly parents, feel more safe, but members of marginalized groups may, in contrast, feel more threatened by increased police presence. An injunction could lead to significant disruptions to education and employment opportunities for those named in the gang injunction, with immediate harm to their health and well-being and long-term harm to their chances in life. Young black and Latino men who experience repeated, unsubstantiated searches and other forms of suppression-based policing may experience higher levels of anxiety and depression than their peers. An injunction could divert funding from community programs that address the economic and social problems that are the root causes of much crime and a detriment to public health and well-being. In contrast to the mixed evidence on the effects of policing strategies on crime, there is solid evidence that correlates reductions in crime with environmental, educational and economic factors. Our findings led us to make specific recommendations for the police and other law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, city officials and community organizations. Our partners plan to use the data from the HIA in their campaigns on healthy policing practices and in upcoming court proceedings to determine whether the gang injunction will be upheld or reversed. Details: Oakland, CA: Human Impact Partners, 2015. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: HealthImpactAssessmentoftheTownsendStreetGangInjunctioninSantaAna,California+ Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: HealthImpactAssessmentoftheTownsendStreetGangInjunctioninSantaAna,California+ Shelf Number: 137017 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ViolenceGangsInjunctionsStreet GangsViolent Crime |
Author: Rios, Victor M. Title: Santa Barbara School District Gang Intervention Specialist Evaluation Report Summary: In 2009 the Santa Barbara School District launched an intervention program for some of the students identified by school personnel as possibly involved in gangs. In this pilot year the program was evaluated by a research team led by Dr. Victor Rios, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, to document the program's implementation, analyze program efficacy, and determine student needs. This evaluation included qualitative pre test surveys completed by 59 students and qualitative post test surveys completed by 84 students. These surveys were designed to measure the students’ attitudes towards school, community and family, and also allowed for the confidential reporting of violence, victimization, crime and gang-involvement. The evaluation also consisted of participant observations of group sessions, events and workshops in which four researchers shadowed the outreach worker to witness the immediate impact participation in the program had on students. The evaluators also conducted forty in-depth interviews with individual students and ten focus group interviews. These interviews included open-ended and structured questions regarding their perceptions of the outreach worker and how he has impacted their perceptions and aspirations. Finally, grade, attendance, suspension, and citizenship data were analyzed in an attempt to measure academic progress. We found that the program’s "Gang Intervention Specialist" (from here on “outreach worker” or “GIS”) employs a motivational approach that is supported by the findings of previous evaluations of gang prevention and intervention programs. A motivational approach emphasizes building a one-on- one relationship based on trust and advocacy. Some of the leading researchers specializing in gang intervention programs have concluded that these motivational, “detached worker programs” are particularly suited for helping gang youth by connecting with them on their level. Outreach workers with similar backgrounds who can understand the experiences of the students they work with are adept at connecting these youth with school and community. Overall, the outreach worker appears to be meeting the school district’s primary goals of connecting the students with school and reducing the level of gang related conflict and violence. For example, students reported greater levels of attachment to school six months after the evaluation’s pre test surveys. 71% of students reported that grades were always or usually very important to them in the post test survey and 54.2% indicated that they wanted to achieve a university degree, which represented a dramatic rise from the 26% who claimed to have similar aspirations in the pre test. Students also reported lower rates of delinquency, victimization, and pressure to join gangs after their participation in the outreach program. The program has been found as overall effective based on the improvement of student levels of self-esteem, educational attitudes, and self-reported decrease in negative gang behaviors. Thirty of 110 students that Mr. Huerta worked with, or 27% raised, their G.P.A by at least .25 points within two marking periods. 51% of students experienced no change in their G.P.A. 22% of students saw a drop of .25 points or more in their G.P.A. No significant changes in citizenship, attendance, or suspensions were found. Details: Santa Barbara, CA: Chicano Studies Institute University of California, Santa Barbara: 2010. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2016 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4x29k460 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4x29k460 Shelf Number: 140872 Keywords: Gang PreventionGangs Intervention Programs Youth Gangs |
Author: Lancaster, Kenneth Shane Title: An Analysis of Secondary Educator and Administrator Abilities to Identify Young Gang Indicators and Risk Factors: A Phenomenological Study Summary: The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to examine secondary educator and administrator perceptions of their abilities to recognize indicators and risk factors of gang participation in a northeast Georgia school district. The study employed an interpretive phenomenological approach to obtain an understanding of educator and administrator perceptions. The study sample utilized 28 participants consisting of 14 administrators, seven veteran educators, and seven non-veteran educators. Major themes included a lack of gang awareness training as components of teacher preparatory programs, a lack of staff development exercises pertaining to youth gang indicators and risk factors, and the development of indicator awareness through various experiences. Other major themes included the development of youth gang risk factor awareness through personal and professional experiences, the significance of peer groups and youth gang formation, and the presence of gang graffiti within the given school district. Recommendations for future research included replications of this study, the expansion of this study, and the exploration of gang tendencies in relation to cultural, socioeconomic, and academic discrepancies. Recommendations for leadership included the collection of gang data, school-based assessments of indicators and risk factors, and measures designed to develop and enhance relationships among schools, communities, and local agencies. Details: Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University, 2011. 298p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 3, 2016 at: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.472.6726&rep=rep1&type=pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.472.6726&rep=rep1&type=pdf Shelf Number: 145398 Keywords: Gang PreventionGangsYouth Gangs |
Author: Esbensen, Finn-Aage Title: Process and Outcome Evaluation of the G.R.E.A.T. Program Summary: In 2006, the University of Missouri-St. Louis was awarded a grant from the National Institute of Justice to determine what effect, if any, the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program had on students. G.R.E.A.T., which is a 13-lesson general prevention program taught by uniformed law enforcement officers to middle school students, has three stated goals: 1) to reduce gang membership, 2) to reduce delinquency, especially violent offending, and 3) to improve students' attitudes toward the police. The process evaluation consisted of multiple methods to assess program fidelity: 1) observations of G.R.E.A.T. Officer Trainings, 2) surveys and interviews of G.R.E.A.T.-trained officers and supervisors, 3) surveys of school personnel, and 4) "on-site," direct observations of officers delivering the G.R.E.A.T. program in the study sites. Results illustrate a high level of program fidelity, providing greater confidence in any subsequent outcome results. To assess program effectiveness, we conducted a randomized control trial involving 3,820 students nested in 195 classrooms in 31 schools in 7 cities. Active parental consent was obtained for 78% (3,820 students) of the students enrolled (11 percent of parents declined and 11 percent failed to return consent forms). These students were surveyed six times (completion rates were: 98%, 95%, 87%, 83%, 75%, and 72%).in the course of five years thereby allowing assessment of both short- and long-term program effects. Approximately half of the G.R.E.A.T. grade-level classrooms within each school were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups, with 102 classrooms (2,051 students) assigned to receive G.R.E.A.T. and 93 classrooms (1,769 students) assigned to the control condition. Results from analyses of data one-year post-program delivery were quite favorable; we found statistically significant differences between the treatment (i.e., G.R.E.A.T.) and control students on 14 out of 33 attitudinal and behavioral outcomes. However, the question remained whether the program had long-term impacts that persisted into high school. To address this question, we continued to survey this group of students for three more years (most of the students were in 10th or 11th grade at the time of the last survey administration). The four-year post program analyses revealed results similar to the one-year post program effects, albeit with smaller effect sizes. Across four years post program 10 positive program effects were found, including lower odds of gang joining and more positive attitudes to police. Details: Final Report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2013. 617p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/244346.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/244346.pdf Shelf Number: 144783 Keywords: Gang PreventionGangs Youth Gangs |
Author: Dunbar, Laura Title: Youth Gangs in Canada: A Review of Current Topics and Issues Summary: Youth gangs are not a new phenomenon in Canada. Theoretical and empirical research and evaluation efforts continue with the goal of better understanding and responding to this issue. Advances have been made in defining the nature of youth gangs and their activities, the motivations for joining, and the risk and protective factors that influence involvement in a gang lifestyle. While a precise measure of youth gang involvement and prevalence of their activities in Canada is not currently available, in the last number of years strides have been made in understanding affiliation among several key populations, namely Aboriginal youth, immigrant youth and young women. Greater insight into specific risk factors, pathways to involvement and desistance, and guidance for prevention and intervention efforts can assist in the future development of solutions to address youth gang involvement and gang-related activities in Canada. Public Safety Canada continues to support effective youth gang prevention and intervention strategies that are known to work based on empirical evidence and lessons learned from past implementation and evaluation experiences. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2017. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report: 2017-R001: Accessed May 8, 2017 at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2017-r001/2017-r001-en.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Canada URL: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/2017-r001/2017-r001-en.pdf Shelf Number: 145358 Keywords: Gang PreventionGangs Youth Gangs |
Author: Canada. Public Safety Canada Title: Overview of Direct Intervention Approaches to Address Youth Gangs and Youth Violence Summary: Gang-involved youth are considered to be some of the main perpetrators (and victims) of crime and violence, and impose a high burden on society in terms of criminal justice system and other societal costs. For example, the negative outcomes of gang involvement for individuals can include: dropping out of school; lack of employment opportunities or success; exposure to and involvement in drugs and alcohol use; and teenage parenthood. Moreover, participation in gangs and violence can reduce youths' connections to other prosocial activities, and they may cut ties with family, friends, schools and religious communities (Pyrooz, Sweeten, & Piquero, 2013). In order to avert these negative consequences, it is critical to try and prevent at-risk youth from joining gangs, and to intervene in the lives of current youth gang members. In general, youth gang membership cuts across many demographic, geographic and socioeconomic contexts. However, certain groups are disproportionately vulnerable to gang recruitment and involvement. Below is a brief overview of some of these populations. For a more detailed review of some of these groups, see Youth Gangs in Canada: A Review of Current Topics and Issues. Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2018. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 30, 2018 at: http://youthactionnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Overview-of-Direct-Intervention-Approaches-to-Address-Youth-Gangs-and-Yo....pdf Year: 2018 Country: Canada URL: http://youthactionnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Overview-of-Direct-Intervention-Approaches-to-Address-Youth-Gangs-and-Yo....pdf Shelf Number: 151313 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ViolenceGangsYouth GangsYouth Violence |
Author: Kraus, Molly Title: CalGRIP 15-17: Final Evaluation Report Summary: The City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) oversees a multi-pronged Comprehensive Strategy that includes the gang prevention, gang intervention, and violence interruption activities which are the subject of this report. GRYD implemented a number of significant changes during the first year of the grant period including an updated mission statement which reflects the intention that individual, family, and community level change will over time impact gang membership and violence. In addition, service areas were expanded and shifted in order to provide more substantial coverage based on community needs. Evaluation efforts have also shifted to an integrated data and practice feedback loop in order to identify areas of success and opportunities for improvement in services. Overall, it appears that GRYD programming is meeting the specific goals and objective outlines for each components on a number of fronts. The key findings for each intervention for the January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017 reporting period are presented below. GRYD Gang Prevention GRYD Prevention Services are intended to serve youth (ages 10-15) at high risk of gang joining and their families. It is important to note that youth in this category are not yet gang involved though they may exhibit some gang-related behaviors. In order to be found eligible for services, the Youth Services Eligibility Tool (YSET) is administered; youth determined to be high risk must meet or exceed preestablished thresholds on four or more of the attitudinal and behavioral scales included. YSET Eligible youth who enroll in Secondary Prevention receive a structured cycle of services broken into phases and completed over approximately six months. As clients progress through the program, YSET retests are conducted and other reassessment data collection is completed every 6 months at the end of each service cycle. A total 395 clients and their families were served during the reporting period. The primary goal for GRYD Prevention Services is to increase protective factors against gang joining among youth at high risk for gang membership by reducing risk factors related to gang membership, modifying behaviors such as those related to school performance and behavior at school or those that lead to arrests. Key findings included: GRYD Service Providers were successful in identifying and enrolling YSET eligible youth (82% of those found eligible from 2015 - 2017) into Secondary Prevention programming. Clients and their families were provided a large number of activities (12,578) and spent a substantial number of hours with both client and family during Individual Meetings (1,631 hrs.), Family Meetings (2,755 hrs.), and Group Activities (7,186 hrs.). At Cycle 1 reassessment, nearly all youth remained enrolled in school (98%); additionally, fewer youth had received disciplinary actions and fewer youth had been arrested while receiving services than in the months leading up to enrolling in GRYD programming. After 6 months, 51% of clients saw their level of risk according reduce far enough that they were no longer YSET eligible. Comparison of changes in YSET scale scores from YSET-I to YSET-R saw decreases (positive change) in nearly every measure and statistically significant reductions were observed in the areas of Antisocial Tendencies, Critical Life Events, Impulsive Risk Taking, Weak Parental Supervision, and Negative Peer Influence. In eight of the nine scales, clients who exited successfully from programming saw greater decreases than those who did not. Details: Los Angeles: California State University, Los Angeles, 2018. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 4, 2018 at: http://www.bscc.ca.gov/downloads/Los%20Angeles%20CalGRIP%20REDACTED.PDF Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://www.bscc.ca.gov/downloads/Los%20Angeles%20CalGRIP%20REDACTED.PDF Shelf Number: 151331 Keywords: Gang PreventionGang ReductionGang-Related Violence Gangs Youth Gangs |
Author: California. Board of State and Community Corrections Title: California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention Program. 2014 Report to the Fiscal Committees of the Legislature Summary: The California Gang Reduction Intervention and Prevention program began in 2007 when Governor Schwarzenegger created the Governor's Office of Youth Violence Policy (OGYVP). The CalGRIP program was initiated to help communities support strategies to reduce gang and youth violence. The program was first administered by the OGYVP and later transferred to the California Emergency Management Agency (CalEMA), which is now the California Office of Emergency Services. At its onset CalGRIP provided anti-gang funding to many state departments including: job training, education and intervention programs through the CalEMA, and the Employment Development Department; the Corrections Standards Authority (now the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC)) to spend $1.1 million on anti-gang programs; and $7 million for the California Highway Patrol to help local jurisdictions combat gang violence. In July 2012, as a result of AB 1464 (Chapter 21, Statutes of 2012), the BSCC acquired sole administrative responsibility for the program. The administrative responsibility of the $9.2 million annual grant program came to BSCC along with an increased level of accountability. Under the BSCC the CalGRIP allocation is based upon an applicant's ability to demonstrate that funding is used to implement proven evidence-based prevention, intervention and suppression programs. With the signing of Assembly Bill 109 (Chapter 15, Statutes of 2011), the Legislature and the Governor enacted Public Safety Realignment with an understanding that California must reinvest in its criminal justice resources to support community-based corrections programs that focus on evidence-based practices that will improve public safety. In conjunction with AB 109, the Governor signed Senate Bill 92 (Chapter 26, Statutes of 2011), which established the BSCC, effective July 1, 2012, to provide statewide leadership, coordination, and technical assistance to effectively manage California's adult and juvenile criminal justice populations. As part of the creation of the BSCC, several grant programs, including the CalGRIP, were consolidated, and administrative responsibility was transferred from other agencies to the BSCC. This responsibility also requires the BSCC to submit a report and evaluation of the CalGRIP program to the fiscal committees of the Legislature not later than April 1, 2014. The use of evidence-based strategies represents a significant shift throughout the criminal justice field that places an emphasis on achieving measurable outcomes while ensuring that the services that are provided and the resources that are used are effective. As a condition of funding recipients are now required to evaluate programs and report on outcomes. The new funding strategy, with its focus on proven programs, aligns this program with BSCC's mandate for implementing certain provisions of AB 526 (Chapter 850, Statutes of 2012 (Dickinson)). AB 526 requires the BSCC to: -- Move toward consolidating the grant application processes for delinquency, intervention and prevention funds for grant programs with similar program purpose, -- Incentivize comprehensive regional partnerships, and -- By January 1, 2014, develop funding allocation policies that ensure that within three years no less than 70 percent of funding for "gang and youth violence suppression, intervention, and prevention programs and strategies is used in programs that utilize promising and proven evidence-based principles and practices." In early 2013, the BSCC established a Gang Issues Standing Committee (Committee) and tasked the Committee with, among other things, providing policy recommendations to address the BSCC's requirements under AB 526. In November 2013 the 13-member BSCC Board (Board) adopted the Committee-recommended funding allocation policies that directed BSCC staff to clearly define what is meant by evidence-based programs, practices and strategies, and to identify the grant funding streams that will be included when determining the 70 percent threshold. The Board's approval of Committee-recommended policy also set the course for the BSCC to explore incentives that encourage regional collaborative partnerships. Regional collaborations were a significant component of previous CalGRIP awards and the BSCC will continue to emphasize these partnerships moving forward. BSCC field representatives are in the process of becoming certified by the University of Cincinnati to assess evidence-based strategies. Ultimately, trained BSCC staff will be able to help locals direct funding to programs and practices that will best reduce gang activity while ensuring that state funds are used effectively. According to a July 2013 BSCC survey of stakeholders, gang issues continue to be a public safety priority across California. Consequently, demand for CalGRIP funding remains strong. In the most recent grant cycle, 49 cities submitted proposals in request for nearly $20 million to implement antigang programs. On January 1, 2014 the BSCC began to distribute the current round of funding to the 20 cities whose proposals were deemed most likely to produce positive results. Pursuant to Budget Bill Item 5227-101-0214 (SB 92, Chapter 36, Statutes of 2011), the CalGRIP Program appropriates $9.2 million each year from the State Restitution fund with the following six provisions: 1. (a) $1 million grant annually to the City of Los Angeles;(b) $8.2 million competitive grants to all other cities 2. All grantees must provide a dollar for dollar match 3. The BSCC must submit a report and evaluation to the Legislature no later than April 2014 4. The grants shall be competitive to cities; no grant shall exceed $500,000; at least two grants shall be awarded to cities with populations of less than 200,000; preference shall be given to regional approaches 5. Grants require collaboration with local Juvenile Justice Coordinating Councils, and each grantee must establish an Advisory Council with specified representation to help prioritize the use of the funds 6. A minimum of 20 percent of the funds received by grantees shall be distributed to community-based organizations. Currently there are two active cycles of CalGRIP funding, each a two-year cycle, ending on December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2015 respectively. The BSCC is administering a total of $18.5 million in grant funds to 34 cities. Each city is required to provide a local match, which means as of January 1, 2014 more than $37 million in CalGRIP-initiated anti-gang programs are underway in California. The clerical burden of administering funding, both on the BSCC and applicants, is formidable. In March 2014 the BSCC Board approved changing CalGRIP to a 3-year grant cycle in order to ease the administrative burden, provide for greater project sustainability and, more importantly, because longer grant cycles are the cornerstone of effective evidence-based program implementation. It becomes effective for grant awards that run from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2017 Details: Sacramento: Board of State and Community Corrections, 2014. 81p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2018 at: http://www.bscc.ca.gov/downloads/CalGRIP_Rpt_FINAL_-_4.17.14.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.bscc.ca.gov/downloads/CalGRIP_Rpt_FINAL_-_4.17.14.pdf Shelf Number: 151499 Keywords: Evidence-Based ProgramsGang Intervention ProgramsGang PreventionGang ReductionGang ViolenceGangsYouth Gangs |