Local Crime Prevention Program - Free Essay

Crime prevention is very vital in reducing the number of convictions, which leads to overcrowding of prisons. The official statics by the bureau of statistics show there are more than 73.8 million youths in the United States; in 2010, courts with juvenile jurisdiction handled youth cases of more than 1.3 million. The youth are the most affected as statistics show, and in California, their involvement in criminal activities is massive. Therefore, it is essential to note the availability of crime prevention programs such as the gang reduction program in Los Angeles, California. The program is a multi-year comprehensive project aiming to reduce youth gang-related criminal activities and educate adults on the importance of being responsible for the young. The program targets youths, both male and female, and requires the public's participation because crime is a community phenomenon that requires collaboration to succeed.

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The department of justice in the United States had decided to fund gang reduction programs and violence associated with youth gangs in the streets, which led to the program's birth. The participants of the initiative included top federal agencies, local stakeholders, and the community (Cahill & Hayeslip, 2008). California benefitted from this program, which aimed at preventing, intervening, and gang suppression strategies. The program is taught by qualified individuals from federal law enforcement agencies in collaboration with local agencies to offer education and intervention measures on crime. Gang-related activities had become rampant in the city of Los Angeles in California, and it facilitates the formation of the crime prevention unit to help suppress and educate participants and the public on criminal activities.

Some of the topics taught include; truancy prevention, leadership, youth development, awareness, and academic skills. Recidivism has dramatically reduced, and evidence shows that 10% of participants in the program had a lower chance of being rearrested (Chaskin, 2010). The program aims to determine youth needs and assess them to provide specialized care by engaging their families, and the local communities. The assessment of the success of the program is was rated effective in the aspects of community adjustment, relationship satisfaction, and reduction of substance use and abuse. The program resulted from many gang-related crimes happening in the streets of major cities in the U.S.A. The program aims at reducing, preventing, and educating the public on the benefits of preventing crime. It aims to reduce the cost involved with the formal criminal justice system and social values which arise from criminal behavior.

The program demonstrates an ability to be implemented in all counties as it provides a continuum for the process of juvenile crime prevention. A quick evaluation of the program is easy because it is directly felt by society through a reduction in crime rates (Cahill & Hayeslip, 2008). The program's funding structure is elaborate, making it easy to seek additional funding if necessary. The plan, however, focuses only on urban areas habited by mostly Hispanic and black Americans. It narrows to focus on youths alone, and yet in gangs, all people, both young and old, are participants. Though the program helps to reduce crime among the youth, law enforcement officers' purging is rampant, with the justification for fighting gangs.

There are ethical issues involved in implementing the program on whether the use of force is necessary for achieving the plan. The teachers or instructors engaged in educating and implementing the program is adequately qualified to offer the needed expertise (Chaskin, 2010). It includes a group of individuals from top law enforcement agencies, both from the state and federal government, in collaboration with the community. The material used in teaching is primary data collected on gang activities, the aftermath of the actions. Gangs are known to engage in very violent events, but membership does not require a certain age because even children are welcome to join. The program has been very effective in reducing criminal activities associated with gangs in major Los Angeles streets. Youths have found a more fulfilling venture to engage and desist from groups.

Rebellious youths have found themselves brushing with the law, and others killed, giving a wake-up call for adolescents who still participate in criminal activities. Since its inception in the year 2003, the program has achieved great success, as mentioned by researchers noting gang-related events in the city had dropped by 6.73% (Vasquez et al., 2016). There was also a decrease in calls for short fired in the areas which reported high gang activity cases, which shows the program has successfully fulfilled its vision and mandate. The study is backed by research and review (Cahill & Hayeslip, 2008). The program educates the general public, including older individuals in the society, about crime. Through public campaigns and sponsorships, the community learns about the importance of crime prevention and how it can participate in rehabilitation for those who engage in misconduct.

The program provides youths at the highest risk with a continuous adult or older contact to promote the development and reduce risk factors. The practice has been very effective in minimizing delinquency, has diminished the abuse and use of alcohol and other drugs. Relations between the community and the youths have improved as a result of the program (Vasquez et al., 2016). It has guidelines and steps of community reentry to teenagers who come from prisons after release. The project's success is also attached to the considerable funding it receives from the federal and local governments, including individual stakeholders who see the need to reduce crime and help the youth embrace productive ways of earning a living. It has been very pivotal in ways crime is tackled by law enforcement due to a reduction in the number of convictions.

In conclusion, the program has been beneficial in reducing the number of gangs in the streets of Los Angeles. The programs' policies have encouraged more community center approaches to the crime by engaging the community in crime prevention measures by fostering a working relationship between inmates and society. It provides a basis of study to find ways and means of making crime prevention programs more effective. The model implementation should focus on youths and the general population to reduce the number of people receiving prison sentences. In turn, the number of convictions reduces minimizing overcrowding in prisons. Policies formulated for crime reduction should aim at reducing recidivism and learn towards innovation to deal with truancy among the youth.

References

Barbieri, N., Clipper, S. J., & Vasquez, A. G. (2016). Adolescent Gang Membership and Differences in Ethnic Identity, Esteem, and Efficacy. Deviant Behavior, 37(12), 1429-1442.

Cahill, M. & Hayeslip, D. (2008). Findings from the evaluation of OJJDP's Gang Reduction Program. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Chaskin, R. (2010). Youth gangs and community intervention: research, practice, and evidence. New York: Columbia University Press, cop.