NCJ Number
151389
Date Published
1993
Length
108 pages
Annotation
This report presents the methodology and results of an evaluation of Springfield's (Ill.) Weed and Seed Program, which is an attempt to reduce cocaine distribution and related crime while promoting neighborhood revitalization through coordination of various public and private resources in the target area.
Abstract
Specifically, the evaluation determined whether persons who committed target offenses were removed from the target area, whether proposed projects were implemented, whether they continued, and the results. Findings for the "weeding" efforts show that task-force investigations resulted in 212 Federal and State indictments during the first 16 months of the program. Eighty-seven percent of the indictments were for drug offenses. There were 94 Federal and 42 State convictions. Most of the State convictions were for possession of five or less grams of crack cocaine, and most of these resulted in probation with no prison sentence. Federal prison sentences removed 56 crack-cocaine distributors from the target area during the 16 months. By the end of this period, most of an additional 37 distributors were in Federal custody pending trial or sentence hearings. These findings indicate that "weeding" efforts can be effective in removing certain offenders from a target area. The "seeding" initiative includes 36 proposed projects described in one of the appendixes. Twenty-six were fully and three were partially implemented. An analysis of the second-year status of these programs showed that 22 continued, five were discontinued, and two were pending. The 26 projects constitute an implementation success rate of 72 percent, and the 22 involve a 76-percent continuing success rate. Overall, the Weed and Seed initiative in Springfield was a balanced achievement. There was significant progress with both weeding and seeding efforts. 7 tables and appended supplementary information