Salinas Police GREAT 2006

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.

In addition to participating in the G.R.E.A.T. Middle School Component, the Salinas Police Department's School Resource Officer/G.R.E.A.T. unit will also incorporate the G.R.E.A.T. Families Program to help create a dialog between parents and children. The Salinas Police Department has established several school- and community-based collaborations. The Salinas Police Activities League (PAL) and Boys and Girls Clubs (BGC) combine forces at the Harden Youth Development Center to provide vital gang prevention and outreach services. PAL will manage youth sports and fitness activities, and BGC will maintain and operate the center. The Salinas Union High School and Partners for Peace offer a two-week leadership course to address the needs of seventh and eighth grade students, and is a collaborative effort between Partners for Peace, Chamber of Commerce, Kids First Salinas, the Salinas Youth Commission and Restorative Justice of Monterey County. Project Yes, a partnership between Partners for Peace, Salinas Union High School, and Salinas Police Department, is a six-week summer school for youth at-risk of dropping out. The Monterey County Joint Gang Task Force is a partnership between the County's Sheriff's Department, County Probation Department, District Attorney's Office, and the Salinas Police Department. The Task Force identifies and prosecutes gang member, gathers criminal gang intelligence, refers gang members to school and community-based gang prevention programs, and refers families of gang members to school and community-based gang prevention programs.

CA/NCF