NCJ Number
150168
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 63 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1994) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Phoenix, Arizona's Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program is a cooperative effort by the police department, area schools, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to help juveniles resist joining gangs.
Abstract
In GREAT, uniformed police officers bring a structured antigang message to students. They teach them various life skills in an effort to prevent violence, prejudice, victimization, and negative attitudes toward law enforcement. In the middle-school program, the central feature of the curriculum focuses on eight lessons. Lesson 1 introduces students to the program and their officer instructor. Lesson 2 familiarizes students with crimes, victims, victim rights, and the impact of crime in their neighborhoods. The third lesson teaches students about cultural diversity and how failure to accept cultural differences can lead to prejudice and other negative ramifications. Lesson 4 addresses conflict resolution to create an atmosphere of understanding that enables all parties to better address problems and work on solutions together. Lesson 5 equips students to meet their basic needs in ways other than by joining gangs. The sixth lesson explains the correlation between gang involvement and drugs, as well as their destructive effects on neighborhoods. Lesson 7 encourages students to understand the diverse responsibilities of people within their community. Lesson 8 emphasizes the need for establishing goals in life and suggests ways to set and meet these personal goals. Instructors use various teaching methods, including demonstrations, role plays, and practical-application exercises. Other sections of the article discuss instructor training and cooperation among the involved agencies. To date, over 751 officers in 250 agencies in 39 States and the District of Columbia have been certified to teach the GREAT Program. Over 105,000 students nationwide received GREAT instruction during the 1993-94 school year. 2 notes