Youth and Gang Programs

1. Youth and Gang Programs David L. Carter Michigan State University

2. Program Sites • Victoria’s Gang Prevention Program • Mission’s School-Based Youth Program • Kingsville’s Gang Identification & Suppression Program • El Paso’s Drive-by Shooting Response Team • Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET)

3. Youth and Gang Programs Basic Principles • PREDOMINANT POLICING PROBLEMS  Gang membership and associated offenses (e.g., graffiti, assault, etc.) Theft Vandalism and nuisance offenses Drug, alcohol,and tobacco abuse • CHARACTER OF THE PROBLEMS Gang problems appear to grow geometrically Problems represent underlying social decay Costly to repair/replace damages Lowers community’s quality of life

4. Youth and Gang Programs Basic Principles • INTENT OF CRIME-SPECIFIC POLICE RESPONSES Identify and arrest offenders Suppress growth of endemic problems (notably gangs) Prevent future youth and gang problems to the extent possible • GENERAL OBSERVATIONS Programs must be continuous Programs must be proactive, frequently non-traditional

5. Youth and Gang Programs Basic Principles • KEY FACTORSProblem youth appear to have idle time which needs to be filled Peer pressure appears to be have more influence on many youth than parents and/or educators Many problem youth appear to lack a sense of belonging to a family or to a constructive social group

6. SITE DESCRIPTION 63,000 Documented Resident Population 35 Square Miles 103 Sworn Officers  39 Non-sworn YOUTH OFFICERS Investigator Assigned to Public Housing 5 Officers Assigned to Schools+ Sergeant at Alternative High School+ 2 Officers at High School+ 2 Officers at Junior High Victoria’s Gang Prevention Program

7. Victoria’s Gang Prevention Program • PURPOSEProactively use a variety of integrated approaches to suppress existing gang activity and prevent future gang involvement • The program has eight integrated elements…Graffiti Education and Eradication Gang Education (community and schools) Adopt-A-Gang Retaliation Reaction Gang Grand Jury Personal Protection Classes Schools-Malls-Community Anti-Gang Programs Promotion of “Legitimate Large Gangs”

8. Victoria’s Gang Prevention Program • CRITICAL FACTORS The most effective tools are…+ Building a bond of trust with gang members+ Communicating with gang members (and families)+ “Showing respect” to the gang member • PROGRAM EFFECTS Gang violence has decreased Gangs still exist, but they are less visible Gangs have taken on a “more social” character and are less involved in criminal enterprises

9. SITE DESCRIPTION 42,000 Documented Resident Population 30 Square Miles 74 Sworn Officers  20 Non-sworn YOUTH OFFICERS Youth Services Division--3 School Districts 15 Officers (21.6%) Assigned to Schools+ 8 ERO’s (High School)+ 2 GREAT (Jr. High) + 5 DARE (Elementary) Mission’s School-Based Youth Programs

10. Mission’s School-Based Youth Programs • PURPOSEDeciding that “heavy handed” policing was not effective, the MPD began an aggressive partnership with the school districts to provide a program-based police presence in the schools. • Officers roles include... Teaching (D.A.R.E. and G.R.E.A.T.) Guest lectures in classes Answer calls in the schools they are assigned to Provide counseling to students Serve as an information/intelligence resource for youth-related crime

11. Mission’s School-Based Youth Programs • POLICIES AND PRACTICES School districts pay the officers’ salaries during the academic year (177 days) During the summers…+ School officers receive mandated training+ Attend special assignment-based training (e.g., D.A.R.E. in-service)+ Assigned to patrol A review board from the schools selects officers Supervision…+ Principal supervises for curriculum-related matters+ Sergeant supervises all other facets

12. Mission’s School-Based Youth Programs • CRITICAL FACTORSOfficers must be self-initiated and communicative Officers must be given administrative flexibility Schools must make an officer feel like “one of the family” Honesty, sincerity with students is essential It must be clear that the officer will enforce the law when necessary+ He/she is not a “soft touch”+ No undue influence from schools on crime control decisions

13. Mission’s School-Based Youth Programs • PROGRAM EFFECTS Notably fewer gang problems in both the schools and throughout the city (largely displaced) Fewer reported crime problems in schools or on school property Enhanced communication and liaison with schools to help solve crimes and symptomatic problems Significant increase in communication between police and community (students and parents alike) General increase in the quality of relationship with the community

14. SITE DESCRIPTION 25,300 Documented Resident Population 16 Square Miles 46 Sworn Officers  17 Non-sworn ASSIGNMENTS Two primary officers assigned to youth programs Other officers used as needed Chief takes an active role Kingsville’s Gang Identification & Suppression

15. Kingsville’s Gang Identification & Suppression • PURPOSEBecause of the emergence of gangs, a program focusing on the schools, parents and at-risk youth was developed to suppress current gang activity and prevent gang growth. • The program was not instituted as a result of a specific plan, rather elements were included to meet needs or issues as they became apparent to the police

16. Kingsville’s Gang Identification & Suppression • The program has several elements… Day and evening curfews School Liaison Officer received gang training Patrol officer on each shift was designated as a gang officer to monitor and report gang activity A “Parents on Patrol” was developed; predominantly work in the schools as hall monitors A “bike clinic” was established for the summers  Graffiti eradication program Police respond to gang fights in schools Police work with the school to ban “gang colors” Tobacco ordinance passed as a tool for investigation

17. Kingsville’s Gang Identification & Suppression • CRITICAL FACTORS Recognition that complete eradication of gangs is not a realistic goal; control is realistic Recognize that crime problems will change, so new program elements must be constantly developed to meet the evolving problems Be flexible, creative, and open to ideas • PROGRAM EFFECTS Most serious problems have been eliminated “Wannabe” gang participation down significantly fewer problems in the schools Better communication with parents

18. SITE DESCRIPTION 614,000 Documented Resident Population 257 Square Miles 1,182 Sworn Officers  230 Non-sworn DSRT Structure Work all gang related investigations  5 officers 24 hour on-call basis Work “straight through” investigation  Physically located next to Juvenile Probation and Juvenile Service El Paso’s Drive-By Shooting Response Team

19. El Paso’s Drive-By Shooting Response Team • PURPOSEFollowing growth in gang activity and increasing numbers of drive-by shootings, the DSRT was formed as an element of the department’s gang response. The intent of the DSRT is to quickly and effectively identify and arrest suspects in gang-related crime. • DSRT works closely with…Gang Intelligence Unit which keeps track of gang members and trends in gang activities Community Response Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) units working as proactive enforcement out of the patrol commands

20. El Paso’s Drive-By Shooting Response Team • CRITICAL FACTORS An immediate “frozen” crime scene and control of witnesses by first responding officers Fast response by DSRT regardless of time Ability to work “straight through” a case Reliable, on-going intelligence Investigators getting to know the gang members, their families, and “showing respect” to gang members On-going, reliable confidential informants Strong relationship with District Attorney Support from administrators to operate creatively Dedicated personnel making the “extra effort”

21. El Paso’s Drive-By Shooting Response Team • PROGRAM EFFECTS The DSRT’s current clearance rate is 93% Roughly 90% of the DSRT’s arrests occurred within 24 hours of the call out The DSRT seized 61 weapons from gang members in a 28 month period While gangs still exist, their presence has become less visible

22. SITE DESCRIPTION276,880Documented Resident Population 140 Square Miles 395 Sworn Officers  207 Non-sworn ORGANIZATIONJET has 10 to 15 officers Organized in the Special Services Division of the Field Services Bureau Originally part of the patrol division Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET)

23. Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • PURPOSE The Corpus Christi Police Department systematically enforces both a night-time and a daytime juvenile curfew A curfew center located in a sub-station is the site where nighttime curfew violators can be taken, while the YMCA operates a truancy center as a repository for daytime curfew violators The police department also fields a Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) that emphasizes curfew enforcement

24. Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONBy June 1996 increased public concern about gangs and drive-by shootings led the police department to examine its youth-focused tactics and programs JET was intended to be a concentrated effort on juvenile curfew enforcement Assumption was that gang activity and gang-related crime could be reduced if...+ Curfews were aggressively enforced+ Parents had greater information and accountability

25. Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONAggressive enforcement followed a 2 week public information campaign for students and parents “Zero Tolerance” policy Some complaints from parents, but generally strong public support Use of curfew center and YMCA cut down on time required to enforce curfews

26. Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • CRITICAL FACTORSAvailability of curfew centers “Zero Tolerance” policy Having a team of officers (JET) specifically responsible for curfew enforcement Inter-related mission of JET to also deal with gangs

27. Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • PROGRAM EFFECTS At the outset, increase in number of curfew citations Decreased victimization of juveniles Decreased offenses committed by juveniles Increased arrests of juveniles for offenses other than curfew violations

28. Youth and Gang ProgramsImplications • As simple as it sounds, the first stage is to identify... The existence of youth problems The character/dynamics of those problems • The goals of youth programs are to: Resolve immediate serious problems Suppress growth of dysfunctional behavior Displace crime phenomena Develop preventive programs • Accomplishing these goals requires integration of Community policing Tactical policing Problem solving

29. Youth and Gang ProgramsDISCUSSION David L. Carter Michigan State University