About the National Youth Gang Center
Background
The proliferation of gang problems in large and small cities, suburbs, and even rural areas over the last two decades led to the development of a comprehensive, coordinated response to America’s gang problem by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). The OJJDP response involves five major components, one of which is the implementation and operation of the National Youth Gang Center (NYGC).
Purpose
The purpose of the NYGC is to assist policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in their efforts to reduce youth gang involvement and crime by contributing information, resources, practical tools, and expertise towards the development and implementation of effective gang prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies.
To accomplish this mission, the Center conducts assessments of the scope and characteristics of youth gang activity in the United States, develops resources and makes them available to the field, and provides training and technical assistance in support of community-based prevention, intervention, and suppression efforts.
Core Functions
Develop Resources for the Field
Identification and review of current gang literature
NYGC continually identifies and reviews current gang literature. Results are made available principally through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) and the Publications section of this site.
Compilation of gang-related legislation
Using automated databases and working with a variety of entities, NYGC identifies gang-related legislation. This information is updated as new legislation and existing legislation are identified.
Identification of promising gang program strategies
NYGC identifies promising gang program strategies across the country that may merit replication. This includes determining promising programs, conducting site visits, developing documentation, and preparing summary reports.
Provision of a listserv (GANGINFO)
NYGC provides GANGINFO as an electronic forum for professionals working with youth gangs. Participants can exchange information about effective strategies for identifying and countering gang crime; prevention, intervention, and suppression strategies; working with victims of gang crime; and promoting professional education and research.
Provision of a database of gang-related news articles
NYGC staff research news articles from around the country. A listing of these news articles is provided on the Gang-Related News Articles page of this site. Links to the source of each article are provided.
Provision of Technical Assistance and Training to Communities Participating in OJJDP Gang Programs
Gang Reduction Program
NYGC provides technical assistance and training to communities engaged in OJJDP’s Gang Reduction Program.
Gang-Free Schools Initiative
NYGC provides technical assistance and training to communities engaged in the process of replicating the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model.
National Gang Problem Assessment
Statistical Data Collection and Analysis
NYGC annually collects and analyzes gang-related data from law enforcement agencies across the nation. National Youth Gang Surveys have been completed each year since 1995, producing timely and critical national-level information pertaining to youth gang problems.
NYGC Advisory Board
The NYGC Advisory Board functions as a high-level group to advise and help guide NYGC staff in the accomplishment of the Center’s objectives. Seven experts from academic, research, faith-based, and operational settings who have hands-on experience in gang research, prevention, intervention, and suppression compose the Board and meet biannually.
NYGC Advisory Board Members
Keith G. Burt, Esquire
Deputy District Attorney
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office
Dr. Lee Colwell
Director, Business Development and Strategic Planning
Center for Society, Law, and Justice
University of New Orleans
C. Ronald Huff, Ph.D.
Dean and Professor
School of Social Ecology
Department of Criminology
University of California, Irvine
Sergeant Wesley McBride
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (Ret.)
The Honorable
Andrew
A.
Valdez
Judge
Utah Third District Juvenile Court
Father
Gregory
J.
Boyle,
S.J.
Director
Homeboy Industries—Jobs for a Future
Los Angeles,
California
