Every person wants to have and live in a peaceful community, a place with no threats of violence. One of the known causes of violence in many communities is the gang violence. There are many evidence showing that problems pertaining to gangs are proliferating different small and large cities across the country. Which is why establishing an anti-gang program is an important approach in order to address the associated problems with gang in the communities. The purpose of this writing is to design an anti-gang program based on the essential components proposed by either a state or federal program manager. The concept of the program covers the process of analyzing the causes of the issue, responding to the problems, and assessing the program’s effectiveness. This study argues that addressing the gang problem is a complex and challenging issue, but can be resolved through proper application and implementation of the program.
Overview
The propagation of problems about gangs in many places across the country led to the development of various approaches to against its potential adverse effects to the communities. IN fact, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention or OJJDP supported different programs in order to address such problem (OJJDP n.p.). It is essential to recognize this emerging issue due to the connection of crime rate increase and gang activities. As a program manager that addresses the issue through the creation of anti-gang program design, key components must not only include the steps in controlling the gang members, but it is also important to consider the best practices as well as the assessment procedures to measure the program’s effectiveness.
Program Design
Basically, the anti-gang program must encompass important parts, such as the scanning, analyzing, response, and assessment processes. Scott Decker (14) calls this SARA Problem-Solving Process. This approach will provide a strategies in addressing the problem using such four methods. The initial step is to scanning, which will identify the recurring problems linked to gangs in the community. This is followed by analysis step, which will identify relevant information as well as the sources of such information. This will also help the authorities in understanding why the identified problems occur in the first place. The third step is the response procedure. This is when the authorities will implement the developed plans to address anti-gang problems, such as intervention, prevention, and suppression. After the strategies have been applied, there must be an assessment to measure whether the program has been effective or not. Developing the program design is one thing and identifying the essential steps in order to ensure its effectiveness is another. There were significant key components that must be included in the program.
Key Components of the ProgramProblem Acknowledgement – This serves as one of the primary steps, thus, an essential approach in forming the design program in addressing the gang problem. If such problems will be denied, then any programs will not be as effective (OJJDP 4).
Social Intervention – The community and the rest of the society play important roles in addressing gang problems. This may include the schools, juvenile justice organizations, youth agencies, and even the families of the identified gang members.
Suppression of Gangs – This key component will be one of the crucial parts of response process, to which the control and monitoring of gang members will be implemented. This will give more information as to where, when, and how these gangs operate towards the better control planning and implementation of existing laws against community crimes (Holder, Robinson and Slowikowski 2).
Intervention Framework – The anti-gang program must also include procedures that will not only control and suppress the gangs, but will also help them in personal development and rehabilitation. This will reduce their association with their former group and will help the former members to change towards becoming a better member of the community.
Program Assessment – This is not directly related to the intervention approach as the assessment process will address the loopholes of the program itself. It is important to address the things that need improvement in order to improve the current program as well as to develop future plans in relation to addressing the gang problems. The effectiveness of the program can be measured through gathering of related data either on a quarterly or yearly basis, to see whether the program was able to reduce the gang problems or not.
Conclusion
Gang problems is one of the issues that can be managed by authorities through proper application of anti-gang models. However, it is important to acknowledge that such problem exists prior to the development of any programs against gangs and related crimes and violence. Otherwise, the absence of acknowledgement may lead to ineffective creation and application of anti-gang programs.
Works Cited
Decker, Scott H. Strategies to Address Gang Crime: A Guidebook for Local Law Enforcement. Glendale N.p., 2008. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. <http://ric-zai-inc.com/Publications/cops-p142-pub.pdf>.
Holder, Eric H., Laurie O. Robinson, and Jeff Slowikowski. Best Practices to Address Community Gang Problems. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2010. Print. 18 Apr. 2016. <https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/231200.pdf>.
Howell, James C. Gang Prevention: an Overview of Research and Programs. Juvenilejustice Bulletin. N.p., 2010. Print. 18 Apr. 2016. <https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/231116.pdf>.
Office of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. "Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative." Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016. <http://www.ojjdp.gov/programs/antigang/>.
United States. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Ojjdp Comprehensive Gang Model: Planning for Implementation. S.l.: Institute for Intergovernmental Research, 2009. Web. <https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/Implementation-Manual/Implementation-Manual.pdf>.
