NCJ Number
144370
Date Published
1992
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This report identifies key issues and recommended actions to deal with gang and drug problems in Anaheim, California, that focus on prevention, intervention, and suppression and the need for a partnership of citizens, schools, nonprofit youth service organizations, churches, the business community, and city services.
Abstract
Anaheim's Gang/Drug Citizens Task Force has identified the following 10 issues, in order of priority: lack of an effective and efficient criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections; lack of effective action in dealing with the root causes of gang and drug problems; lack of community awareness of the impact of gang and drug activity on neighborhoods; lack of funding priorities for dealing with gang and drug issues; lack of parent and youth education regarding gangs and drugs; lack of communication and coordination among nonprofit service organizations, government, the community, neighborhoods, and ethnic groups; overcrowded conditions that result in inadequate housing, open space, and community facilities; lack of programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of a culturally diverse community; lack of career development and employment programs for at-risk individuals; and lack of affordable custodial and recreational child care. Proposed actions are delineated for each issue that represent Anaheim's gang/drug strategy. Evaluation measures are suggested to gauge the success of the gang/drug strategy in reducing and preventing crime, along with guidelines for implementing the strategy. Appendixes contain supplemental information on the activities of Anaheim's Gang/Drug Citizens Task Force.