Vancouver Safe Streets Safe Communities Anti-Gang Initiative

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 1, the city of Vancouver will use its award to provide additional support to the Vancouver Safe Streets Safe Communities Anti-Gang Initiative. The Vancouver Safe Streets Safe Communities Anti-Gang Initiative is a collaborative partnership based on the Project Safe Neighborhoods Anti-Gang Initiative, the FBI Safe Streets Program, and the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model which will coordinate the resources of local, state, and federal agencies to prevent and reduce gang violence through an effective combination of suppression, intervention, and prevention initiatives.

The purpose of the initiative is to prevent and reduce gang crime and violence in Vancouver. The following three objectives will be used to meet the goals of the program: 1) suppression through establishing a regional gang taskforce that includes local law enforcement officers, corrections parole/probation officers, and coordination with federal partners; 2) intervention programs to connect gang members, at-risk youth, and their families with a combination of deterrence and social services; and 3) prevention through outreach programs for at-risk youth and their families.

CA/NCF