NCJ Number
195729
Date Published
1999
Length
113 pages
Annotation
This report describes the rationale for and the development and content of the 5-year plan for improving the quality of life in Gulfton, a crime-ridden section of Houston, Texas.
Abstract
In the mid to late 1980's, Gulfton became not only the most densely populated 3.4 square miles in Houston, but also a community where crime was rampant. The demographics had begun to change from a middle-income, single adult population to a low-income, immigrant population with a high percentage of women and children. Schools became overcrowded; public health care facilities were lacking; few residents had employment that included health insurance coverage; and the high unemployment rate forced families to "double-up" in housing. In 1988 the residents of the community took a look at themselves and their community and began the long task of making Gulfton a better place to live. The Gulfton UNITY/UNIDAD Team was established to include the following primary planning workgroups: data collection and analysis; resource assessment; outreach, communication, and media; legislative, policy, and systems issues; objective decision-making; and planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Technical assistance was provided by trainers from the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The focus of the technical assistance was on the development of a comprehensive strategy that was based in a community-focused, research-based framework for combating juvenile crime that incorporated prevention efforts and the development of a juvenile justice system of graduated sanctions and treatment alternatives. This report summarizes the activities of the six work groups and presents the 5-year plan, along with the first-year focus. A profile of action plans addresses community risk factors; school risk factors; individual/peer risk factors; family risk factors; outreach and community awareness; legislative, policy, and systems; data management and technology; and prevention and intervention. 65 tables