NCJ Number
170225
Date Published
1996
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Police departments face challenges in attempting to address the complex issue of youth violence and gang activity, and trends that have converged to create an opportunity to deal with such challenges are identified.
Abstract
Three trends are noted: (1) philosophical shift within law enforcement from traditional policing to community policing; (2) increasing levels of youth violence and gang activity; and (3) emergence and increasing use of a problem-solving methodology known as Open Systems Planning for Action to address complex social issues such as youth violence and gang activity. An analysis of these trends explored community-based activities for young people that might emerge from police-community planning and design teams, the organizational infrastructure needed in large police departments to support an Open Systems Planning for Action model, and the impact of a results mapping model on the effectiveness of youth-focused community policing initiatives. Research was conducted in San Jose, California, and Baltimore, Maryland, and included personal experiences, interviews, and a literature review. Findings showed the Open Systems Planning for Action model and results-oriented evaluation were applicable to the issue of youth violence and gangs. The model demonstrated the potential to dramatically change community norms over time. 19 endnotes