National Evaluation of Weed and Seed Cross-Site Analysis

• NCJ Number: 176358
• Author(s): T Dunworth; G Mills; G Cordner; J Greene
• Date Published: July 1999
• Length: 108 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Research Report
• Grant Number(s): 95-DD-BX-0134
• Agencies: NIJ

Annotation

This report synthesizes the national evaluation research findings and lessons of eight case-study cities involved in the Weed and Seed strategy.

Abstract

Weed and Seed is a collaborate effort of Federal, State, and local government agencies and private organizations designed to improve the quality of life in targeted high-crime areas of American cities. Begun in 1991, the program targets drug trafficking, gang activity, and violence for intervention, enforcement, community policing activities, human services programs, and neighborhood improvement initiatives. The evaluation included a review of funding applications and other significant program documents; individual interviews with key program administrators, senior law enforcement staff, managers of seeding activities, service providers, and community leaders; analysis of automated, incident-level records of crimes and arrests; group interviews with participants in seeding programs; and two surveys of residents in target areas conducted in 1995 and 1997. Hartford and Pittsburgh showed strong evidence of reduced Part 1 crimes and improved public perception of crime- related measures. Manatee/Sarasota (North Manatee) and Shreveport exhibited substantial evidence of reduced Part 1 crimes. Other sites exhibited some evidence of reduced Part 1 crimes, and two sites (Salt Lake City and Meadows Village in Las Vegas) showed no evidence of reduced Part 1 crimes. Factors related to program success were community setting, program design, concentration of funds, and leadership and partnership. The most effective implementation strategies were those that relied on bottom-up participatory decision-making approaches, especially when combined with efforts to build capacity and partnership among local organizations. Appended questionnaires and extensive exhibits