The Youth Firearms Violence Initiative

The Youth Firearms Violence Initiative

William Hensley

Grantham University

Reducing Juvenile Weapons Crimes

Explain the Youth Firearms Violence Initiative. Choose one of the strategies and tactics shown in Table 8.2 (p. 246). Explain the program in depth and its effectiveness in reducing juvenile weapons crimes. Requirements 2-3 pages double spaced at least two reliable sources used other than the text (not Wikipedia)

“The Youth Firearms Violence Initiative (YFVI) was designed to help law enforcement agencies develop programs and strategies to combat firearm violence by youths. In 1995, the COPS Office provided funding to ten police departments across the nation to support targeted, focused enforcement efforts to combat the rise of youth firearm violence. YFVI encouraged selected jurisdictions to employ community policing approaches to develop or enhance programs designed to, decrease the number of violent crimes committed by youths, reduce firearms-related gang offenses, reduce firearms-related drug offenses in their cities and neighborhoods. The tactics developed in this program were based on the fundamentals of community policing-problem solving, partnerships, and prevention. Strategies included developing and enhancing partnerships with schools, communities, and probation/parole agencies; using such civil remedies as code enforcement and civil abatement; and using directed patrol and overtime to enforce zero-tolerance laws. Funding was also provided to the ten departments to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies. (YTVI) was announced in September 1995. All grants were for a one-year period, with no-cost extensions granted on a case-by-case basis. A total of $10 million was made available under YFVI, with each site eligible to receive up to $1 million. No local match was required, but each agency was encouraged to contribute an in-kind match”. http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=77

Other than the information that I have provided before this I have chosen to speak about the program in Baltimore, and according to the text book they had all of this capabilities without these grants, so why did it take so long to get involved? They received 999,906 dollars for this grant, it involved 9 officers from Cherry Hill, and 15 officers from Park heights. That was the total budget and configuration, now we will list the street based activities. First, they had Juvenile Violent Crime flex teams, surveillance, intelligence gathering, and targeted enforcement. Next, they had a Curfew Enforcement Team, which was primarily focus was to pay attention to chronically truant students.

Next will be the school based activities. In Park heights two city police officers worked with then entire Middle school and High schools. They supported the Magnet school for law enforcement, which is basically a student criminal justice curriculum for high school students. And three officers implemented the Straight talk about risk, better known as (STARS).

Community based activities involves the Community resource centers (Kobans) in schools provided a police presence and liaison with community groups, and the curfew officers providing information, counseling and housing to truant students and families.

Juvenile justice textbook table 8.2 page 246 in Chapter Eight.

The GIS/Crime analysis stated that the department had these capabilities prior to the start of this program. So it sounds like that someone just wanted a little extra spending cash.

But this has been my assignment for week five I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed doing this work thank you and God Bless!

Juvenile justice textbook table 8.2 page 246 in Chapter Eight.

http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=77