Operation Weed and Seed
Operation Weed and Seed is a joint federal, state and local coordinated law enforcement and community initiative that aims to prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country,
Sponsored by the United States Department of Justice and under the local
leadership of the United States Attorney, the strategy involves a two-pronged
approach. First, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding
out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to
prevent their return to the targeted areas as part of the program.
Second,
"seeding" brings a variety of human services to the area encompassing crime
prevention, intervention, treatment and neighborhood revitalization.
Program objectives include:
- Developing a comprehensive, multi-agency strategy to control and prevent violent crime, drug-trafficking and drug related crime in the target area.
- Coordinating existing federal, state, local and private agency resources
and concentrating them in the target area to
reduce crime; foster housing and economic development support prevention activities; encourage education and training; and provide social and recreational opportunities. - Implement community policing in the target area to link concentrated law enforcement and support of social, educational and recreational activities.
Pittsburgh's Weed and Seed effort has reduced crime by more than 41% in targeted neighborhoods. Residents perceive their neighborhoods to be significantly safer now than when the initiative was launched in the early 1990's.
Since its inception, the program has operated in several different communities:
- Lawrenceville since July 2003
- 23rd Ward (Deutchtown, East Allegheny, part of Spring Garden) since April 2001
- 31st Ward (Hays, Lincoln Place, New Homestead) since January 2001
- Homewood since September 2000
- East Liberty, Garfield, Larimer since January 1998
- Hazelwood, Glen Hazel, Homestead, West Homestead, since January 1996
- Hill District from April 1992 to March 1997
If you are interested in obtaining more information about our Office's Weed and Seed program, please visit http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/weednseed.