2007 Anti-Gang Initiative

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.

The North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety serves as the fiscal agent for the Western District of North Carolina's 2007 Anti-Gang Initiative. The District has experienced gang problems as Mecklenburg County, for example, has approximately 1,800 documented gang members and 115 gang sets and cliques. Of these documented gang members, over one-third are under the age of 18. To combat this situation, the District will use this grant to conduct the following activities: 1) Continue funding the Gang of One program and the Youth Leadership Academy; 2) Provide education and outreach programs that promote schools free of guns, gangs, and drugs; 3) Promote community awareness and education through community engagement; and 4) Target gun-, gang-, and drug-related crimes within targeted communities through the collaboration with local, state, and federal counterparts. Most of the funds will be used in the following categories: Personnel (two researchers, a project manager, a resource coordinator, research assistants, and outreach volunteers); Travel, to meet with Anti-Gang partners; and Consultants, (media campaign and providing training instructors). The District will use up to 10 percent of the grant for administrative costs.

NCA/NCF