Addressing Community Gang Problems

Urban street-gang involvement in drug trafficking and violent crime is becoming increasingly widespread-not just in large cities, but in suburban areas and small towns as well. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) recognizes that programs aimed at combating gang-related criminal activity must incorporate both crime prevention and crime control initiatives to be effective over long periods of time. Accordingly, in October 1991, BJA initiated the development of a prototype model of the Comprehensive Gang Initiative. BJA is pleased to present this monograph, Addressing Community Gang Problems: A Model for Problem Solving, as a product of that initiative. The model can assist local communities in addressing gang problems by focusing on a comprehensive strategy for preventing and controlling street gang drug trafficking and related violent crime with components ranging from prevention to suppression. Police, other law enforcement agencies, and numerous public and private organizations can implement this prototype. A companion monograph, Addressing Community Gang Problems: A Practical Guide, provides additional in depth guidance to communities developing their unique responses to local gang problems.