Gang Reduction Program
HistoryIn the summer of 2008, gang activity in Salt Lake City and elsewhere in the valley gained widespread attention through media coverage of a series of tragic gang-related violent crimes. In the fall of 2008, Mayor Ralph Becker convened a forum of representatives from a variety of community organizations and government agencies to brainstorm effective solutions to the problem. The “Gang Reduction Forum” met every three weeks, identifying the needs of an effective solution such as the need to assess the problem; the need to increase prevention and intervention efforts while continuing to provide strong suppression; the need to improve coordination amongst organizations and agencies already engaged in gang reduction; and the need to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy to addressing the problem. While looking at established best practices for addressing gangs, the Forum identified the “Comprehensive Gang Model” developed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) as a model that could inform the development of a strong, long-term strategy. Early 2009, Mayor Becker transitioned the ad-hoc forum into a standing gang reduction program. Comprehensive Gang ModelThe Comprehensive Gang Model was developed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) through its Youth Gang Prevention Initiative. The OJJDP response involves five major components, one of which is the implementation and operation of the National Youth Gang Center (NYGC). The NYGC website contains a wealth of information relating to their efforts. For a summary of the best practices that have been integrated into the Comprehensive Gang Model, see “Best Practices To Address Community Gang Problems—OJJDP’s Comprehensive Gang Model.” For a full summary of the Comprehensive Gang Model and for pages and pages of details on conducting an assessment and implementing a plan, see “Addressing Community Gang Problems.” Salt Lake City Gang Reduction ProgramThe Salt Lake City Gang Reduction Program is a multi-agency collaboration focused on effectively reducing gang activity in Salt Lake City in a comprehensive, long-term way. The Program is following the steps of the Comprehensive Gang Model:
The first step of the model requires the establishment of a Steering Committee that includes key partners in gang prevention, intervention, and suppression solutions. The Salt Lake City Gang Reduction Program Steering Committee first met in March of 2009 and meets monthly. Initial Steering Committee participants included representatives from the following groups:
Guided by Comprehensive Gang Model training provided by the National Youth Gang Center, the Steering Committee immediately began a full assessment of the problem within the boundaries of Salt Lake City. The Utah Criminal Justice Center at the University of Utah partnered with both the State Gang Task Force and the Salt Lake City Gang Reduction Program to collect data from records and surveys on both statewide and city levels. While the 6-12 month process of data collection and analysis got under way, the Steering Committee formally established itself through by-laws and memoranda of understanding (MOU’s). These documents set rules and expectations for participation and were recognized as vital elements to the long-term sustainability of the new program. Initially, the Model requires a full-time Project Director who implements the overall plan at the direction of and with the support of the Steering Committee. Until funding could be identified to fill this position full time, Mayor Becker directed two existing employees to allocate time to jointly fill the role of Project Director. The Model eventually requires a second full-time position for successful implementation: Outreach Workers who are at the core of the case management of the multidisciplinary Intervention Team (see step 5 above). In May 2009, Mayor Becker included funding to hire an Outreach Worker in his recommendation to the City Council on the annual budget for the fiscal budget beginning July 2009. The Need for Both Immediate and Long-Term EffortsIt can take years to fully implement the Comprehensive Gang Model. The decision to follow this model was based on the need to establish ongoing gang reduction efforts that will not fade away over time. However, the Steering Committee members are sensitive to the need to balance long-term efforts with action that can and should be taken immediately. There are many activities that can constitute immediate action in the realms of prevention and intervention such as mobilizing the community in awareness and prevention activities and identifying opportunities for improved interagency coordination on existing gang reduction efforts. Coordination with Other GovernmentsThe partners of the Salt Lake City Gang Reduction Program recognize the importance of understanding the gang issue across municipal boundaries. Therefore, they are interested in partnering with other cities, Salt Lake County, and the State of Utah to better coordinate across boundaries and to share best practices and pitfalls to avoid in establishing effective gang reduction efforts. Contact Us
Michael Stott
Leticia Medina
Ron Stallworth
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