Gang Reduction Program

Unit 3 Assignment

October 25, 2015

Gang Reduction Program

        I have chosen to discuss the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) program for gang reduction.  The program incorporates resources form the local, state and federal groups to implement a state-of –the-art programs in prevention, intervention and suppression of gangs in certain neighborhoods.  The programs main goal is to reduce gang activity by implementing a wide range of research-based interventions to focus on variables that may cause gang activities and juvenile delinquency. (OJJDP, 2015)  

        According to Meagan Cahill and David Hayeslip’s article Findings From the Evaluation of OJJDP’s Gang Reduction Program, in the December 2010 issue of the Juvenile Justice Bulletin, the Gang Reduction Program (GRP) was successfully implemented in four different cities including Milwaukee, WI.  Successfully starting the GRP alone was an achievement because many previous crime prevention programs were never successfully fully applied.  This program is also unique where different elements of the program can be added or removed to accommodate the needs of a certain city.  In addition to this “Successful outcomes related to crime reduction were seen in most of the sites although results varied” (Meagan Cahill, 2015)

        The success of the program can be attributed to a few different variables.  First “GRP is not a one-size-fits-all approach to gang prevention and reduction.  The model is flexible enough that sites can adapt it to local conditions yet remain true to the original design.” (Meagan Cahill, 2015) In addition, the National Youth Gang Center provides assistance and training for the GRP.  The Center along with “Strong leadership of a site coordinator, close oversight by OJJDP during the strategic planning and implementation phases, and the availability of technical assistance contributed to implementation progress at the site” (Meagan Cahill, 2015)  have also contributed to the success of the program.

        While the results vary based on the location, overall the Gang Reduction Program is strong and successful due to great leadership and organization.  The successful implementation and resources have made it possible for the GRP to continue in its success.

References

Meagan Cahill, D. H. (2015, 10 25). Findings From the Evaluation of OJJDP’s Gang Reduction Program . Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/230106.pdf

OJJDP. (2015, 10 25). Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.ojjdp.gov/: http://www.ojjdp.gov/programs/ProgSummary.asp?pi=38&ti=&si=&kw=&PreviousPage=ProgResults