NCJ Number
160904
Date Published
1992
Length
58 pages
Annotation
After profiling the elements of the youth component of the Weed and Seed program, which is a program to revitalize high- crime communities, this booklet outlines the steps for beginning a Weed and Seed youth component.
Abstract
Weed and Seed is a comprehensive multiagency approach to law enforcement and community revitalization. "Weed" is achieved by using the resources of the criminal justice system, including intensive police efforts, to remove and incapacitate violent criminals and drug traffickers from targeted neighborhoods and housing developments; this includes dangerous juvenile offenders. "Seeding" revitalizes the community by providing prevention, intervention, and treatment services along with broad economic opportunities. The youth component of Weed and Seed is a "seed" program within the overall program. It is designed to assist all youth who live in a designated geographic area and are therefore "at risk" of involvement in the juvenile justice system. It also provides intervention and treatment, coupled with accountability, for youth who engage in delinquent activity. The prevention elements of the youth component are designed to strengthen the personal characteristics of youth, institutions that influence youth, opportunities for youth, and the involvement of youth in the community. An element of graduated sanctions focuses on responding immediately and appropriately to delinquent conduct through a range of intermediate interventions, secure confinement, and a balance of sanctions and treatment. After outlining the principles of the program, this booklet profiles the elements, presents a program-approach overview, and then details the program approach. Strategies are described before explaining how to begin a Weed and Seed youth component. The appendixes provide research and statistics on juvenile crime, a list of subjects for "seeding" programs in the youth component, and a list of Coordinating Council statutory members and Weed and Seed interagency members.