NCJ Number
169014
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1997) Pages: 126,130-131
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Operation Night Light is a partnership formed between the anti-gang unit of the Boston police and a specialized unit of the Boston probation office and designed to address gang activity and other juvenile and youth crime.
Abstract
Operation Night Light deals with probationers ages 17-25 in Dorchester who are known to be gang members or at high risk for violent behavior. Probation and police share information on any contacts either has with probationers and of any status changes or appropriate intelligence. Probation officers are visible at night. They visit street corners, schools, and off-limit areas and work in conjunction with police officers. Probationers are held accountable for violations of curfew and area restrictions. Probation and police officers also team to make home visits. The project has produced several benefits. These include a decline in problem behavior in the targeted neighborhood, improved probation compliance, prevention of victimization through gang violence, parental satisfaction, and improvements in probation case management and the ability of police to investigate serious crimes. The positive results of this partnership have led the probation office to expand it to 23 more jurisdictions.