Instituion Name
The key reasons for the presence of gangs in a neighborhood are low-income economy and civic neglect. Street gangs prefer neighborhoods that have dark alleys, reduced police presence, rundown buildings, and people living in poverty. These elements allow the street gangs to operate their trade in drugs and extortions. The low economic condition allows gangs to recruit new members with relative ease. The approach for creating a safe environment for the people of Newburgh requires a three-phase action plan.
The first phase involves removing the violent criminal elements from the street. Although all street gang members are violent, however, not all of them prefer violence. The rehabilitation for lower ranks of any gang is highly successful. Hence, the police, in conjunction with the FBI must weed out the gang’s leadership. In this inter-agency cooperation type of operation, the FBI assists police departments to clean up their streets (FBI, n.d). The next phase is critical. This is a community policing initiative which will help clean up the neighborhood and remove the entire infrastructure used for gang related activity. Involving the people within the community is important. It is most often neglect by local authorities that allows street gangs to thrive (POP Center, 2016). Demolishing rundown buildings, removing any bushes or hedges that allow criminals to take cover, removal of unused vehicles, installing streetlights, installing CCTV cameras in sensitive zones, and increasing patrols by regular police will enforce phase two effectively. In addition, regular meetings with leaders from the community and deployment of specially trained auxiliary police officers for events like cookouts or picnics will help establish lasting relationships with the community (Braga et al, 2001).
The final phase is to improve the economic condition of the neighborhood. In this phase, the initiatives must start from the youngest members. A revamp of the standard of education available is critical to success. Inviting guest teachers, organizing promotional field trips to encourage enrollment and re-enrollment in school, and regular interactions with community police personnel are important activities. The lower ranking gang members are the target audience for these activities. They will embrace a second chance when they see it, especially, if the gang leaders are out of the picture.
The local police must invite business establishments to move into these neighborhoods once phase two is in progressive mode. The lack of legitimate employment often leads to criminal activity. If there are legitimate options to generate income, the majority of the civilians will opt for it. In addition, allocating seats for admission in local community colleges (for a short period of time like 5 years) to encourage community members to take up higher education or vocational training. A neighborhood without (or reduced) criminal activity that hosts a trained population with sufficient employment opportunities will not encourage illegal activity anymore. Hence, with the cooperation of civilians, the police will be in a position to keep these neighborhoods safe (The Campbell Collaboration, 2012).
References
Braga, A. A., Kennedy, D. M., Waring, E. J., and Piehl, A. M. (2001). Problem-Oriented Policing, Deterrence, and Youth Violence: An Evaluation of Boston's Operation Ceasefire. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency. 38 (3). Pp. 195-225.
FBI Staff (n.d). Violent Gang Task Forces. Retrieved from: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/vc_majorthefts/gangs/violent-gangs-task-forces
POP Center Staff (2016). The Key Elements of Problem-Oriented Policing. Retrieved from: http://www.popcenter.org/about/?p=elements
The Campbell Collaboration Staff (2012). Community-Oriented Policing to Reduce Crime, Disorder and Fear and Increase Legitimacy and Citizen Satisfaction in Neighborhoods. Retrieved from: http://campbellcollaboration.org/lib/download/1879/Weisburd_Community+Policing_title.pdf
