Weed and Seed Best Practices: Evaluation-based Series, Volume 2

• NCJ Number: 202524
• Author(s): Shannon Morrison Ph.D.; Bob Parker; Beverly McLean Ph.D.; Donna M. Massey M.A.
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 24 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice, Executive Office for Weed and Seed
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; US Dept of Justice, Executive Office for Weed and Seed
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded March 17, 2004.

Annotation

This report describes Weed and Seed programs and practices that have been effective in reducing crime, violence, and juvenile delinquency while increasing neighborhood vitality and economic strength.

Abstract

The Weed and Seed program in Albuquerque, NM, has emphasized weeding out violent crime, gang activity, drug use, and drug trafficking. Of the many programs developed to address these issues, one of the most innovative was the creation of the community and prosecutions coordinator (CPC) position in the district attorney's office. The CPC maintains and uses a database with information on drug-trafficking cases to track the scheduling of court hearings for the purpose of keeping crime victims and neighborhood organizations informed of cases that affect them and their communities. The Bethel Weed and Seed initiative in Eugene, OR, has had two particularly notable successes that stemmed from a series of public safety forums sponsored by the program. These were the creation of a user-friendly brochure on safety tips and suggestions for dealing with neighborhood drug trafficking and the development of a cooperative relationship between police and community residents in setting priorities for public-safety actions. The Buffalo, NY, Weed and Seed Program has experienced a decrease in the crime rate while the geographical area it serves has increased. This effect has been due to the development of strong partnerships that provide a wide range of services. The four components of the program are law enforcement; community policing; prevention, intervention, and treatment; and neighborhood restoration. The Weed and Seed program in Humboldt, TN, has led to interagency and intergovernmental cooperation in addressing drug dealing in the city, the development of a community-policing strategy that has reduced the fear of crime and improved the overall quality of life, reduction in school drop-out rates, and neighborhood restoration through code enforcement. Evaluation design and findings are profiled for each of the aforementioned Weed and Seed programs, and contact information is provided.