Fighting Juvenile Gun Violence

• NCJ Number: 182679
• Author(s): David Sheppard; Heath Grant; Wendy Rowe; Nancy Jacobs
• Date Published: September 2000
• Length: 12 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-MU-FX-0004
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

The U.S. Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)established the Partnerships To Reduce Juvenile Gun Violence Program, which seeks to increase the effectiveness of existing strategies by enhancing and coordinating prevention, intervention, and suppression efforts and strengthening community linkages; this Bulletin describes the program's implementation at four demonstration sites in Baton Rouge and Shreveport, La.; Oakland, Calif.; and Syracuse, N.Y.

Abstract

Program goals are to reduce youth's illegal access to guns; reduce the incidence of youth carrying guns illegally and committing gun-related crimes; increase youth awareness of the personal and legal consequences of gun violence; increase participation of community residents and organizations in youth violence reduction efforts; and increase and coordinate services and resources for at-risk youth, especially youth involved in the justice system. The implementation of seven strategies is required by the program. Four demonstration communities received OJJDP funding for this 3-year program. The four demonstration sites were required to develop integrated and comprehensive gun violence reduction plans that incorporated each of the seven strategies within suppression, intervention, and prevention frameworks. The specific strategies and activities selected by each site were based on an analysis of available community resources and gaps in services. Each site has successfully developed a comprehensive plan that contains integrated suppression, intervention, and prevention strategies. Lessons learned thus far in the program's implementation at the demonstration sites are outlined. 3 tables and 13 references