GREAT Program

The Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program is a life-skills competency program designed to provide students with the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence. G.R.E.A.T.'s violence prevention curricula help students develop values and practice behaviors that will help them avoid destructive activities. G.R.E.A.T. program staff coordinates project activities with federal, regional, state, and local agencies, as well as individuals from community and civic groups. The goal of the program is to train criminal justice professionals to deliver a school-based curriculum that teaches life-skills competencies, gang awareness, and violence-avoidance techniques.

The Suisun City Police Department will use FY 2010 Bureau of Justice Assistance Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program funds to teach two G.R.E.A.T. components: Elementary and Middle School curricula. The program's primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.

Suisun City Police Department will deliver the G.R.E.A.T. elementary school component to all three elementary schools within the city and the middle-school component to the city's middle school and hybrid elementary/middle school. As the program grows, the number of G.R.E.A.T. officers will be expanded to include more personnel from all ranks.

All schools within Suisun City have pledged their commitment to this program by signing letters of commitment and agreeing to integrate the program into their curriculum. The goal of Suisun City is to develop partnerships between cities and local law enforcement to improve capacity of established organizations, programs, and institutions that serve youth and to provide information on gang awareness and institute evidence-based prevention practices.

CA/NCF