Gang Resistance Education and Training 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.

The City of Salisbury is centrally located on Interstate 85 in North Carolina between the major metropolitan cities of Charlotte and the Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point Tri-ad. Within the past several years they have experienced a steady rise in the number of crimes committed by youthful juvenile offenders who are middle-school age; 12-15.
The city's strategy is to eliminate the influence of gang membership to the student population and avoid potential for involvement in violence and illegal activities. GREAT training will be delivered by the Salisbury Police Departments School Resource Officer and Gang Investigator. Both officers are law enforcement instructor certified
by the N.C. Department of Justice Training and Standards Commission. These officers will attend the GREAT instructor's training program. The grant will be coordinated and administered by the Deputy Chief of Police. All financial aspects and expenditures will be coordinated by the department's fiscal analyst.

CA/NCF