Gang Resistance Education and Training

The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. G.R.E.A.T.'s violence prevention curriculum helps students develop values and practice behaviors that will assist them to avoid destructive activities. The G.R.E.A.T. program coordinates with federal, regional, state and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the G.R.E.A.T. program is to train law enforcement officers in a school-based curriculum in which the officers provide instruction to school-aged children in life skill competencies, gang awareness, and anti-violence techniques. Training in the core G.R.E.A.T. program is provided to officers from any state or local law enforcement agency.

Over the past ten years, the Brockton Police Department (BPD) has actively contributed to building assets and strengthening the lives of its city's youth by participating in many youth violence prevention activities including the G.R.E.A.T. Program. Since 1997, the BPD has been very fortunate to have G.R.E.A.T. Officers' presence thanks to funding from the federal government. Currently, the BPD has four officers teaching the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum at the 7th grade level to over 1,400 students. In addition, the department provides a Sergeant at no cost (more than necessary to meet the 10% match criteria) assigned Monday through Friday during daytime shit to oversee the many activities the G.R.E.A.T. Officers become involved in whether through the schools, youth service agencies, summer programming, etc. In addition, the Sergeant attends the many meetings that arise as a result of our direct involvement in prevention-based programming, consequently, allowing the G.R.E.A.T. Officers a longer presence inside the schools. In addition, all officers teach a form of G.R.E.A.T. Drug Awareness, Railroad, and Gun Safety to third graders in all public and catholic schools in Brockton (18 in total). All incoming kindergarten children are given a modified class on G.R.E.A.T. Railroad and Gun Safety. With this new grant funding, the City of Brockton will continue its G.R.E.A.T. presence in the school system. G.R.E.A.T. Officers will attend various after-school activities for the G.R.E.A.T. Program including but not limited to skating at the local roller rink, accompany the school on related field trips, summer concert series, and admission to Brockton's local minor league baseball team games. Additionally, G.R.E.A.T. Officers will participate in Brockton Summer Day Camps held at parks throughout the city during the summer months.

CA/NCF