The G.R.E.A.T. Program

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.

Bernalillo County is located in central New Mexico and is centered on major interstate corridors that have been determined as major drug trafficking routes within the State. The County's estimated population exceeds 800,000 -- approximately 8,500 validated gang members reside within the county. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office has taken pro-active measures to educate youth on basic concepts of safety and recognition of drug activity and possible gang situations. Since 1987, the Sheriff's Office has been teaching drug awareness curriculums to 5th and 7th grade students through the DARE Program. The department also incorporated the G.R.E.A.T. curriculum in 1992. These two programs effectively complement each other and serve to impact thousands of children during the course of the school year.

Currently, the department has three deputies who have received G.R.E.A.T. training through federally-sponsored workshops and seminars. These deputies service 17 elementary schools and 6 middle schools within the county. The Sheriff's Department has a full-time G.R.E.A.T. Unit that includes a Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Hundreds of community members are made aware of these programs through various community events occurring throughout the year. Other initiatives such as PSN, Weed and Seed, and Project Sentry are also present within the community. These 2006 funds will allow the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office to continue supporting its G.R.E.A.T. Program activities by covering overtime for three deputies; training certification costs for three deputies (travel and registration fees); travel costs for the 2007 G.R.E.A.T. Conference for three staff; G.R.E.A.T. incentive supplies (pins, stickers, banners, etc.); officer teaching supplies; and office equipment (G.R.E.A.T. presentation viewer, and storage bins and shelves).

CA/NCF