Gang Awareness and Resistance

These services seek to initiate a community based strategy to the gang culture that incorporates law enforcement, schools, crime prevention and community revitalization. Prior to this strategy implementation is an understanding of the gang culture which includes:

• America’s Most Prevalent And Dangerous Gangs
• Distinguishing Characteristics
• Criminal Activities
• Common Gang Indicators
• Clues Of Gang Membership
• Manifestations Of Gang Activity

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Weed and Seed strategy will be reviewed and implemented. The goal is to

• Encourage law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to "weed out" violent criminals and drug abusers
• Develop collaboration among public agencies and community-based private organizations to "seed" much-needed human services, including prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood restoration programs.

A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding elements. The Weed and Seed strategy is a multilevel strategic plan that includes four basic components:

• Law Enforcement;
• Community Policing;
• Prevention, Intervention, And Treatment; And
• Neighborhood Restoration.

Four fundamental principles underlie the Weed and Seed strategy:

• Collaboration,
• Coordination,
• Community Participation, And
• Leveraging Of Resources