Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2007, $152,113)
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 Iowa Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy serves as the fiscal agent for the Northern District of Iowa's Fiscal Year (FY) Anti-Gang Initiative. The District will utilize its grant funds to eliminate or reduce the gang activity and has identified three agencies where the funds will be utilized. The Black Hawk County and Waterloo Police Department intend to continue their efforts that were implemented with their FY 2006 Anti-Gang Initiative, employing a gang coordinator to serve as an expert in trials to assist the jury in understanding gang culture. The 6th Judicial District, in cooperation with the Cedar Rapids Police Department (CRPD) will train an additional two CRPD officers and two 6th District residential staff members as certified gang specialists. The CRPD-certified specialists will increase direct patrol in the current Weed and Seed neighborhoods to identify gang members. Additional foot or bike patrols will be established in these target areas to identify gang members and enforce laws. The gang specialists will also establish working relationships with large apartment complexes in the city, which are havens for unidentified gang members. Finally, Woodbury County will employ deputies along with the county-funded gang prevention specialist to provide training and education in the 36 school districts served by the Area Education Association. In-service training workshops for teachers and guidance counselors will include presentations by the deputies and gang prevention specialists on how to identify gang graffiti, signage, and dress. Gang culture information will also be presented to reduce the presence of gang-related behavior within the schools.
NCA/NCF