NCJ Number
249518
Date Published
April 2015
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This issue contains articles that address planning for successful summer programs, online behavior among American street gangs, constitutional policing, the launching of an online brief on adolescent development and policing, and an update of the National Gang Center's (NGC's) resources.
Abstract
The article on conducting a gang assessment focuses on the efficient and effective development of an inventory of data that will be needed for the assessment. This article promotes the use of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP's) "Guide to Assessing Your Community's Youth Gang Problem" as well as other resources. Another feature article, "Promoting Adolescent Behavioral Adjustment in Violent Neighborhoods: Supportive Families Can Make a Difference," discusses the findings of a study that found living in violent communities during childhood has negative effects on later psychosocial functioning, but this effect differs based on gender and levels of family cohesion. A third article, "Boys & Girls Clubs Gang Intervention Through Targeted Outreach" describes the components of an OJJDP initiative that involves Boys and Girls Clubs based in communities with gang problems. This initiative involves community assessment/mobilization, recruitment of gang members into the clubs, programming, and case management. The "Spotlight" feature of the newsletter describes how the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County (Washington) have become involved in a community collaboration to prevent gang violence. "Using the Developmental Perspective to Better Serve Youth" features a discussion of the latest research on the biological and related social development of youth and how this research should impact juvenile justice policies. Other articles discuss the recent update of the "Parents' Guide to Gangs," and a memorial review of the life and work of Glen David Curry.