NCJ Number
69286
Date Published
1980
Length
101 pages
Annotation
THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GANG VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROJECT IN REDUCING GANG-RELATED CRIMES IN THE EAST LOS ANGELES UNINCORPORATED AREA ARE REPORTED FOR JUNE 1, 1978 TO JUNE 31, 1979.
Abstract
THE PROJECT, WHICH WAS ADMINISTERED BY THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH AUTHORITY, AIMED TO REDUCE HOMICIDES COMMITTED BY GANG MEMBERS FROM THE PREPROJECT LEVEL OF 12 IN 1 YEAR TO LESS THAN 6 FOR THE SAME PERIOD, AND TO REDUCE VIOLENT INCIDENTS FROM 181 TO LESS THAN 163. PROJECT MEMBERS WORKED WITH 7 OF THE APPROXIMATELY 18 FEUDING GANGS IN THE TARGET AREA. THE BASIC STRATEGIES WERE TO (1) PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION OF ANTAGONISMS IN ORDER TO MITIGATE OR RESOLVE GANG FEUDS, AND (2) PROVIDE SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO GANG MEMBERS. GANG CONSULTANTS, WHO WERE GENERALLY INFLUENTIAL GANG MEMBERS, WORKED WITH PROJECT STAFF IN IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGIES. FURTHERMORE, MEETINGS OF THE GANG CONSULTANTS ALONG WITH OTHER GANG MEMBERS COMPRISED A FORUM FOR CONFLICT MEDIATION. AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, GANG-RELATED HOMICIDES WERE REDUCED TO 2, AND GANG-RELATED VIOLENT INCIDENTS DECLINED TO 133 AT A TIME WHEN CRIMES BY NONPROJECT GANGS WERE RISING. TABLES, GRAPHS, FOOTNOTES, AND AN APPENDIX LISTING GANG CONSULTANT DUTIES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)