Targeted Gang Intervention Program

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 2, the Santa Barbara County Probation Department will be awarded $1,005,334 to develop a Targeted Gang Intervention Program to reduce the number of gang-related violent crimes in the community. The program will deploy three full-time DPO Seniors (and one shared support staff) to regional offices, with each officer supervising a hybrid caseload of approximately 40 adult and juvenile probationers identified as gang members, associates, or affiliates, and assessed at a high level of risk to reoffend. Collaborative efforts with allied criminal justice agencies and community-based organizations will be utilized, and a GPS component will be integrated to enhance deterrence of adult offenders. The assigned probation officers will collaborate with local law enforcement agencies and task forces to effectively supervise offenders and suppress violent crime. Case plans will include evidence-based therapeutic programs, drug testing, field contacts, educational/employment goal setting, and payment of financial obligations as based on the terms and conditions of probation and identified needs. Bench marks will be identified and reassessments will include review of the offender's progress toward each case plan objective.

CA/NCF