Weed and Seed
Weed and Seed, a community-based strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is an innovative, comprehensive multiagency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community revitalization. The Community Capacity Development Office oversees the Weed and Seed initiative.
Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy—rather than a grant program—that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods across the country. The strategy involves a two-pronged approach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" violent criminals and drug abusers and public agencies and community-based private organizations collaborate to "seed" much-needed human services, including prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration programs. A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements.
There is currently one Weed & Seed site in the District of Maine.
City of Calais
Lincoln County is now a Graduated Site.
A graduated site is one that has completed its years of funding and maintains an organizational structure that continues to work on the strategic plan for the site, including weeding and seeding efforts.
Androscoggin and Sagadahoc County completed their years of funding in June 2009. Both sites are exploring the graduated site application process.
Please find a Frequently Asked Questions information page regarding Weed and Seed on the Community Capacity Development Office Web site.