Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative

The Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative (CAGI) was launched in March 2006 by the Attorney General as a comprehensive approach to address gang crime and to prevent further gang activity. Based on a precipitous increase in crime, Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI have been designated as CAGI sites in FY 2008. In addition to Chicago and Detroit, there are ten sites currently participating in CAGI: Tampa, FL; Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; Cleveland, OH; Route 222 Corridor of Eastern Pennsylvania; Los Angeles, CA; Milwaukee, WI; Raleigh/Durham, NC; Indianapolis, IN; Oklahoma City, OK; and Rochester, NY. Each of the site's activities are coordinated and directed through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the district in which the site is located. The project addresses three components of an anti-gang strategy: suppression/law enforcement, prevention, and reentry.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, through the Institute for Public Safety Partnerships (IPSP), will use the FY 2008 CAGI grant to target the 4th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 15th districts in Chicago, as well as the south suburbs of Cook County. IPSP is a Regional Community Policing Institute. CAGI funds will be used to: support the High Point Initiative in the 4th district; fund a gang analyst, who will attend the various meetings where gang enforcement efforts are discussed, track the progress of various gang investigations conducted by multiple agencies, and coordinate inter-agency enforcement initiatives; support case-specific enforcement and focused investigations; enhance law enforcement services for southern Cook County, where some gang members have migrated; and pay the salaries for one prosecutor and four full-time law clerks for the Cook County State's Attorneys Office.

Grant funds will also be used to: support police overtime costs for two one-to-two month task force (ATF and Chicago Police Department) initiatives in each of the six target districts; purchase innovative law enforcement equipment as needed; hire three full-time case workers to provide direct assistance to returning offenders through employment services, transitional housing, and educational programs; support faith-based mentoring programs in each of the six PSN districts; hire a probation forum coordinator to conduct parolee forums for select Cook County probationers; and strengthen current reentry efforts through community-based and other agencies.

CA/CF