FY 2007 Anti-Gang Initiative - Northern District of Georgia

The Anti-Gang Initiative provides funds to support new or expanded anti-gang enforcement and prevention efforts under the existing Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Initiative. These new funds may be used by the PSN task force to combat gangs by leveraging current strategies and partnerships developed under PSN initiatives or may be used to develop new anti-gang initiatives. The Anti-Gang initiative will be led by the United States Attorney in each of the 94 federal judicial districts across America. Grant funds will be awarded to a single fiscal agent in each of the 94 districts. The fiscal agent, in coordination with the PSN task force, will allocate the funds throughout the community to support the anti-gang initiative in that community.

Since 2006, the Northern District of Georgia has combined its Anti-Gang Task Force with the PSN Task Force and also merged PSN activities with other federally funded initiatives, such as Weed and Seed and Public Housing Safety. This combined working group meets monthly to discuss PSN-related updates and to share strategies for further enhancements. Due to input from the working group, the Northern District has decided to focus its 2007 strategy on regions outside of last year's targeted areas. The project goals will focus on community collaboration and gang prevention and suppression efforts.

The strategy will be accomplished through a collaboration of the Anti-Gang/PSN Task Force and the following six partners: 1) Cherokee County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad to expand its scope to include a multi-jurisdictional anti-gang task force that will cover the county and all municipalities within the county; 2) Clayton County Police Department to continue supporting its gang task force and provide training to state and local law enforcement; 3) City of Sandy Springs Police Department to curtail criminal and gang activities by investigating and arresting gang members, providing officer training, improving intelligence and data, and improving public awareness and community outreach efforts; 4) Wholistic Stress Control Institute to provide prevention education, counseling, tutoring, and referral services; 5) Georgia State University to support the Computer Assisted Debate Project ' a prevention program that has improved verbal skills trade-off with physical aggression by focusing on improving student communication and reading abilities; and 6) City of Marietta to support its various after-school programs. Funds will cover personnel and fringe costs for three positions - a planner to monitor sub-grant performance, a researcher to compile statistical data, and an auditor to process reimbursements and ensure financial compliance; training expenses; general supplies; and contracts with six partners.

NCA/NCF