GREAT Project City of Petersburg

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 Petersburg's Commonwealth Attorney's Office will use the 2006 G.R.E.A.T funds to implement the G.R.E.A.T. program/curriculum in the 7th grade in both middle schools, and in the fourth and fifth grades in six elementary schools. Additionally, the summer component will be implemented with the assistance of Petersburg Parks and Recreation who sponsors the summer camps for the children. The G.R.E.A.T. instructors will be police officers, probation officers, and aided by the Commonwealth's Attorney. The project itself will allow greater interaction with the youth as well as provide extra manpower to the gang unit. The data and other clerical needs will be handled by a part time administrative assistant located within the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.

CA/NCF