Introduction

Faith-based and other grassroots, community organizations can be effective partners in efforts to prevent and neutralize juvenile delinquency, especially gang-related crime.  The Department of Justice is among a number of federal agencies that administer programs intended to support local law enforcement and community-based crime prevention efforts that address at-risk youth and gangs.  Please contact us if you have any questions.

The Latest

Faith-Based & Community Initiatives Portal Page

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has launched a Faith-Based & Community Initiatives portal page which provides entry points to information on OJJDP's outreach efforts, programs, and publications.  Visit the OJJDP Faith-Based & Community Initiatives Portal Page.

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales Announces Expansion of Justice Department’s Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative

On April 26, 2007, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales announced the expansion of the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative to include four additional sites targeting dangerous street gangs and promoting prevention efforts to keep communities and neighborhoods safe.  Four sites will receive $2.5 million in additional grant funding to combat gang violence. Rochester, N.Y., Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. were selected to receive funding as part of the Department’s Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative.  View the press release.

The Attorney General's Anti-Gang initiative builds upon the effective partnerships and strategies developed through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) by dedicating approximately $30 million in grant funding to support PSN anti-gang enforcement and prevention efforts and to provide training and technical assistance.  $2.5 million is dedicated to each of 10 sites for an anti-gang pilot program devoting extensive resources to reaching ex-offenders with past or probable future involvement with some of the most violent and pervasive gangs in the country.  This program focuses on prevention, targeted enforcement, and reentry of prisoners back into society.  This initiative also establishes a Reentry Coordinator to oversee programs offering assistance to ex-offenders through services such as mentoring, transitional housing, substance abuse treatment, and work-readiness.  Read the Attorney General's February 15, 2006 announcement.

The sites include:

• Cleveland, Ohio
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Los Angeles, California
• Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas
• Tampa, Florida
• Pennsylvania's "222 Corridor"
• Rochester, New York
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

Attorney General Gonzales Highlights Department Efforts to Fight Gang Violence in Los Angeles

On March 2, 2007, Attorney General Gonzales joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in highlighting the collaboration between the Department of Justice and the City of Los Angeles to curb the threat of violent gang crime in the city.  View the press release.

Inaugural Compassion in Action Roundtable – Reducing Youth Violence

On January 16th, 2007, the White House convened government, philanthropic and nonprofit leaders, including representatives from the Department of Justice, to discuss grassroots solutions for reducing youth violence and to showcase the accomplishments of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise.  This Compassion in Action roundtable was the first in a series to be held that will highlight organizations, programs and policies that are addressing critical social needs.  Read about the Reducing Youth Violence event.

ABA Launches Youth at Risk Initiative

The president of the American Bar Association (ABA), Karen Mathis, announced the Youth at Risk Initiative.  This initiative is designed to help at-risk youth by addressing issues such as finding better ways to serve status offenders, meeting the needs of youth who "age out" of support systems, and supporting teens living in dysfunctional homes.

First Lady Hosts White House Conference On Troubled Youths

On October 27, 2005, First Lady Laura Bush was the host of a White House conference on troubled youths.  The New York Times (10/28, Deparle, 1.19M) reports, "Part of Mrs. Bush's effort, called Helping America's Youth, involves casting a spotlight on programs she admires by making personal visits. In addition, she said, she is trying to spur research on disadvantaged teenagers, with her interests clustered in three themes: family, school and community. Among the things she has learned, Mrs. Bush said, is the importance of jobs in stabilizing young men. 'If people have jobs where they feel productive, where they can live a decent life, where they don't have to depend on drug dealing or any other gang sort of behavior to eat, they will in many cases be successful,' she said.

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Publications

Publications from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)

OJJDP produces numerous publications and products each year, including the National Youth Gang Survey, OJJDP News @ a Glance, the National Evaluation of the Title V Community Prevention Grants Program, and others. Access a complete list of OJJDP publications - where you can link to HTML and PDF formats - or narrow your search using the Publications Search page.  Visit OJJDP’s publications page.

White House Fact Sheet: Helping America's Youth

The President and Mrs. Bush are committed to helping America's youth. The President and Mrs. Bush believe every American has an opportunity to help children and youth in their families and communities to avoid trouble and lead more hopeful lives. Faith-based, community, and volunteer organizations across the Nation are involved in efforts to reach at-risk youth and get them involved in their communities. The Federal government plays an important role by pursuing policies that help the good works of these organizations by emphasizing the importance of family, school, and community. Read the March 7, 2005 White House Fact Sheet, Making a Difference For America's Youth to learn more.

National Criminal Justice Reference Service

The National Criminal Justice Reference Service, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, produces In the Spotlight, a Web-based resource highlighting topics of current interest. Each topic includes information on: Facts & Figures, Legislation, Publications, Programs, Training & Technical Assistance, and Grants & Funding.  Click here to visit In the Spotlight: Gangs.

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Programs

Project Safe Neighborhoods

The President's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Initiative is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in America. The effectiveness of PSN is based on the ability of local, state, and federal agencies to cooperate in a unified offensive led by the U.S. Attorney in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across the United States. Through collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, each U.S. Attorney will implement the five core elements of PSN-partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach, and accountability-in a manner that is contoured to fit the specific gun crime problems in that district. In many districts, anti-gang programs are important to attaining the PSN goal of creating safer neighborhoods by reducing gun violence and sustaining that reduction.

Resources from PSN's National Conference (May 2-4, 2006)

• Attorney General Alberto Gonzales addressed the Project Safe Neighborhoods National Conference in Denver, Colorado on May 2, 2006 regarding combating gang violence and reducing gun crime.  Read the Attorney General's remarks.
• Read the Department of Justice's Press Release regarding the Project Safe Neighborhoods conference.
• Steven T. McFarland, Director of the Task Force for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, participated in the workshop "Crime Prevention Through Prisoner Re-Entry."  View his PowerPoint presentation.

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Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Programs support a broad range of activities by state and local governments to prevent and control crime and to improve the criminal justice system:

• Law enforcement programs
• Prosecution and court programs
• Prevention and education programs
• Corrections and community corrections programs
• Drug treatment programs
• Planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs

Faith-based and other community organizations are eligible to apply for funding from the state agency that administers this program.  A list of state agencies that administer these funds can be obtained by clicking here.

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Gang Resistance Education and Training Program (G.R.E.A.T.)

The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. The program's primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems. A successful G.R.E.A.T. program requires a formal commitment by a local law enforcement agency and local schools to ensure mutual cooperation and the allocation of resources.

• Faith-based and other community organizations can help start a G.R.E.A.T. program in their community. Go to the G.R.E.A.T. Web page for more information regarding the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum, how to start a G.R.E.A.T. program, and training and certification of G.R.E.A.T. officers. For more information, click here.

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Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program is administered by the Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and provides funds to state governments for programs promoting greater youth offender accountability in the juvenile justice system, such as juvenile drug courts, school safety, and restorative justice programs. Funds may only be used in support of any of the 16 Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program purpose areas. Visit the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants program web page to learn more.

• Local and tribal governments are eligible to apply for sub-grants under this program through the state agency that administers this program and are encouraged to collaborate with faith-based and other community organizations. Contact information for state agencies can be found here: State Contacts.

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Juvenile Justice Formula Grants Program

The Juvenile Justice Formula Grants Program supports state and local delinquency prevention and intervention efforts and juvenile justice system improvements. Through this program, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provides funds directly to state and territorial governments and the District of Columbia to help them implement comprehensive state juvenile justice plans based on detailed studies of needs in their jurisdictions. State Advisory Groups, comprised of members appointed by a state's governor, set priorities for funded activities. Click here to obtain contact information for your state's advisory group and click here to learn more about the Juvenile Justice Formula Grants Program.

• Faith-based and other community organizations are eligible to apply for funding from the state agency that administers this program. A list of state agencies that administer these funds can be obtained by clicking here.

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Safe Schools/Healthy Students

The Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative is an unprecedented grant program created and administered by three Federal agencies-the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Justice-designed to prevent violence and substance abuse among our Nation's youth, schools, and communities. Funding supports the implementation of comprehensive programs that address the following six elements:

• A safe school environment
• Violence, alcohol, and drug abuse prevention and early intervention programs
• School and community mental health preventive and treatment intervention services
• Early childhood psychosocial and emotional development services
• Supporting and connecting schools and communities
• Safe school policies

Eligible grantees are school districts in partnership with law enforcement officials, local mental health authorities, and often with juvenile justice officials and faith-based and other community organizations. Click here to learn more about this program.

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Safe Start: Promising Approaches for Children Exposed to Violence

The Safe Start: Promising Approaches for Children Exposed to Violence Program, administered by the Office of Justice Program's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, helps communities develop and implement comprehensive programs to prevent family and community violence and reduce its impact on young children (primarily from birth to age 6) and their families. Grantees of this program are expanding existing partnerships among service providers in key areas such as early childhood/development, health, mental health, child welfare, family support, substance abuse prevention and intervention, domestic violence, crisis intervention, law enforcement, courts, and legal services.

• Eligible applicants are collaborative groups of two or more public agencies and/or private organizations, including faith-based and other community organizations. Click here to learn more about this program.

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Resources

Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report

Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report draws on reliable data and relevant research to provide a comprehensive and insightful view of juvenile crime across the nation. The Report offers Congress, state legislators and other state and local policymakers, professors and teachers, juvenile justice professionals, and concerned citizens empirically based answers to frequently asked questions about the nature of juvenile crime and victimization and about the justice system's response.

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Highlights of the 2006 National Youth Gang Survey

As reported in the 2006 National Youth Gang Survey, some 785,000 gang members and 26,500 gangs were active in more than 3,400 U.S. jurisdictions in 2006. As most gang members join between the ages of 12 and 15, prevention is a critical strategy within a comprehensive response to gangs that includes law enforcement, prosecution, and reentry.

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The Office of Justice Program's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention created the National Youth Gang Center (NYGC) to assist policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in their efforts to reduce youth gang involvement and crime by contributing information, resources, practical tools, and expertise towards the development and implementation of effective, community-based gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies.

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The National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations (NAGIA) is comprised of representatives from 16 regional associations of gang investigators representing over 15,000 gang investigators, federal agencies and other organizations from across the country. NAGIA's Website provides visitors with a copy of the National Gang Threat Assessment, published in April 2005, and maintains an exclusive online library of gang-related articles. This Web site also offers links to regional Gang Investigators Associations, gang-related conferences, and other Web sites featuring regional gang-specific information, including gang prevention and intervention strategies.

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The Center for Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) provides effective community and faith-based organizations with training and technical assistance, links them to sources of support, and evaluates their experience for public policy. Societal problems addressed by the CNE grassroots network include youth violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, homelessness, joblessness, poor education and deteriorating neighborhoods.

In 1997, CNE created the Violence Free Zone program, a neighborhood-based youth intervention initiative designed to reduce youth violence and rebuild communities in a specific geographic area. CNE believes that a neighborhood's leaders and grassroots organizations are key to an effective program because they have a history of trust in the neighborhood and the confidence of its youth. Through this program, CNE provides technical assistance and training to strengthen their capacities, and links them to partners in the public and private sector to provide support for their efforts.

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National Criminal Justice Reference Service

The National Criminal Justice Reference (NCJRS) service, administered by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, maintains an on-line library of publications prepared or sponsored by the Department of Justice on gangs. To search this library, please visit the NCJRS Abstracts page.

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The National Major Gang Task Force (NMGTF) is nationally recognized in the criminal justice system for its unique gang intervention and management strategies. NMGTF supports networking and training programs and the establishment of information sharing standards with regard to gangs and security threat group management. NMGTF Executive Board members and state coordinators provide technical assistance in the development of statewide gang/security threat group programs in numerous jurisdictions.

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The Office of Justice Program's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, developed this Web site to collect and disseminate truancy-related information and resources. Because truancy is a complex problem requiring a comprehensive response, educators, law enforcement agencies, courts, communities and families all play a part in truancy prevention.

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