Community-University Based Approach to Gang Intervention and Delinquency Prevention: Racine's Innovative Model for Small Cities

• NCJ Number: 153298
• Journal: Journal of Gang Research Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (Winter 1994-95) Pages: 25-38
• Author(s): S R Takata; C Tyler
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: An earlier version of this paper was presented during the April 1993 meetings of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Kansas City, Mo.

Annotation

Based on the experiences of Racine, Wis., this paper provides guidelines for the development of a community-university based model for gang intervention and delinquency prevention in small cities.

Abstract

As a gang problem emerges in a small city, particular agencies, programs, and community leaders will deny the problem's existence for various political reasons. To break through the denial phase, a major event can become a catalyst to "do something." This happened in Racine with the signing of a petition by 70 people, complaining about juvenile crime and gang activities in a particular neighborhood. The next step is to bring key community leaders and individuals together to form a task force for networking on gang-related issues. Following such collaboration, a local college or university should be contacted to develop some "hard data" that will become the basis for strategic plans to combat the gang problem. When the appropriate professor for the study has been identified, an initial meeting between the professor and task force representatives can outline the resources available, as well as the parameters of a study on gangs. After the report has been prepared, the task force or funding agency should coordinate how the report will be presented and disseminated. In Racine, a city hall press conference was planned, and all the key community leaders and organizations were invited. With documentation in hand, the next step is to search for possible funding sources. Proposed projects should reflect the recommendations of the initial study. In Racine, the two projects focused on community collaboration and a youth needs assessment. In the course of the development and implementation of plans it is often necessary to deal with various politicized reactions to the program. A "time out" may be in order to renew creative energies, assess projects, and improve on the strategy and its implementation. 31 references and appended steps for a community-university model for gang intervention and delinquency prevention in small cities