NCJ Number
151965
Date Published
1991
Length
0 pages
Annotation
This video profiles the problem of gang crime in Aurora, Col., and portrays the comprehensive community strategy developed to counter the problem.
Abstract
Narration and portraits of gang neighborhoods and gang members explain how the gang problem has grown in Aurora, both in numbers and in violent behavior. One gang member currently in prison states that he had no choice but to join a gang in his neighborhood, both for protection and to be accepted. To address the problem, a 9-month citizen study of the problem was conducted. An outgrowth of the study was the establishment of a police gang intervention unit, which tracks gangs and their members and sets priorities for countering gang behaviors that pose the greatest threats to the community. A task force of citizens and police has been established to set comprehensive goals for addressing gangs. There is a strong emphasis on preventive measures that provide juveniles alternatives to gang affiliation and participation in gang behaviors. There are plans to establish a teen center and provide education for parents that will enable them to spot gang behaviors in their children and provide the guidance needed to divert their children from gang affiliation. An ordinance passed by the city government holds parents legally responsible for parents' reckless disregard of their children's involvement in a gang. The D.A.R.E. curriculum in the local schools is also used to guide children away from gangs and gang behaviors. These activities are portrayed in the video along with comments bye the citizens and police involved in the various antigang programs.