Some Preliminary Findings From the Evaluation of Communities in Schools of San Fernando Valley/Valley Unit Peace Treaty Gang Prevention and Intervention Strategies

Patricia O'Donnell Brummett, California State University at Northridge
Bill Flores, California State University at Northridge
Robert LaCarra, Los Angeles County Probation Dept.

ABSTRACT
While long considered a major problem in the United States, clearly discernable street gangs have only recently become a large concern in Canada. Typically, Canadian gangs are urban-based, organized along ethnic lines, and members come from economically marginal situations. In Winnipeg, Manitoba, concern over street gang crime, particularly violent crime, has led to a number of crime suppression and crime prevention strategies. Our research examines the experience of a community intervention project having as its goal the reduction of street gang recruitment. The data indicate that the project was successful, but issues related to the measurement of "success" raise important questions about our understanding of intervention strategies.

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Updated 05/20/2006