Strong Hold Anti-Gang Program

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City will utilize its Fiscal Year 2007 Byrne Discretionary Category 1: Targeting Violent Crime Initiative (TVCI) funding to enable the Kansas City Police Department to address the increases in gang related activity, from property damage to drive-by shootings. The Department has developed 'Project Strong Hold', an anti-gang work group consisting of a collaboration between the City of Kansas City, the Kansas City Police Department, federal, state, and local prosecutors, and various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Project Strong Hold will direct the Police Department resources to address gang related activity in order to lower the number of property crimes and violent crimes committed by gang members, as well as juveniles seeking acceptance into the various gangs operating within the city. The TVCI project will provide overtime for officers assigned to the project to conduct enforcement initiatives that will combat gang activity.

CA/NCF