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| Crime Prevention. August, 2007 |
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| Joining a gang ain't cool! |
Community leaders advises kids about gangs.
Pizza, Videos, and Straight Talk about Gang Prevention.
CAPPA, Community Alliance for Progressive and Positive Action, always seems to be on the cutting edge of community development in Williamsport, PA.
On Saturday July 28, 2007, CAPPA hosted a Gang Prevention Workshop at the Campbell Street Center. The audience was mostly young black males ages 13-16. Although, their parents were asked to attend the important workshop, most parents did not attend. However, the teens were still eager to learn the information.
After pizza was served, a video-multimedia presentation was given. The graphic images of gang violence were shocking. And the facts, as presented by Mr. Gerald Smith, President of the Lycoming Tri-County NAACP, and Eileen Harley member of the CAPPA Board of Directors, were just as disturbing:
1. A gang can be a group as little as 3 people organized to commit crime.
2. Gangs no longer fight over territory “turfs.”
3. Gangs are heavily involved in the illegal drug trade.
4. Gangs usually have names, identifying symbols and colors.
5. Gang members hangout together.
6. Gangs have leaders.
7. Gangs are responsible for a large percentage of violent crime in the U.S.
Several men in the audience spoke to kids about their own personal experiences with gangs and gang related violence. One fellow said that he nearly died from 4 bullet wounds in a gang-related altercation. Another man said that he was an ex-gang member of the Zulu Nation. He said he spent most of his adult life behind prison bars.
All the presenters asked the youngsters to turn away from gang membership. Smith warned the youth not to become a part of the “Prison Industrial Complex.”
According to the website, safeyouth.org., “Joining a gang is dangerous. Violent conflict between gangs is common, and gang members are at least 60 times more likely to be killed than the rest of the population.”
In the past few decades we have seen a dramatic increase in the growth of gang problems in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas.
While things look grim, one report suggests, “Successful gang prevention is based on the proper balance of (1) attractive alternatives to gangs, (2) effective support systems for young people, and (3) accountability of young people to their parents, schools, and communities. “
The key to successful prevention to the rising threat of increased gang-violence is to provide our youth with educational and economic opportunities. The Office for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency says, “It is important to remember that while youth gang members must be held accountable for their criminal acts, they also must be provided with services for their academic, economic, and social needs. Gang members must be encouraged to control their behavior and to participate in legitimate mainstream activities.
It is important that youth understand that they will face consequences if they do not follow rules, laws, conditions, or reasonable expectations of the program. It also may be important to develop a set of incentives for compliance with the program. Thus, a range of services and sanctions is required, often in some interactive way. To be effective in this approach, an understanding of how a youth’s family, peers, and others are involved is important.”
With that in mind, CAPPA, the police department and other concerned members of the community are leading the way for a safer Williamsport.
Get involved. Call CAPPA for more information about Gang Prevention in Williamsport. 326-7700
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For more information on gang prevention and CAPPA go to:
CAPPA Project
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