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Youth and Gang Programs. David L. Carter Michigan State University. 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
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Youth and Gang Programs David L. Carter Michigan State University
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)
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
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
Youth and Gang Programs Basic Principles • KEY FACTORSProblem 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
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
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”
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
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
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
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
Mission’s School-Based Youth Programs • CRITICAL FACTORSOfficers 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
SITE DESCRIPTION276,880Documented Resident Population 140 Square Miles 395 Sworn Officers 207 Non-sworn ORGANIZATIONJET 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)
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
Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONBy 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
Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONAggressive 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
Corpus Christi’s Juvenile Enforcement Team (JET) • CRITICAL FACTORSAvailability 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
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
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
Youth and Gang ProgramsDISCUSSION David L. Carter Michigan State University