The Tacoma Gang Reduction Project

Tacoma Recieves State Grant!
 

The Tacoma Gang Reduction Project is working to reduce and prevent gang violence through prevention, intervention and suppression efforts.  For years, youth crime had been on the decline but over the past three years youth involvement in gangs and youth violence is once again on the rise.

The Tacoma Gang Assessment was completed in early 2012.  The assessment closely follows the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) comprehensive gang model.  The assessment has given us better information and created a better understanding of how gang crime is impacting the local community. Research Partner: Executive Interface, LLC Website 

Key Findings of the gang assessment include the fact that five neighborhoods (South Tacoma, South End, Eastside, Central, and New Tacoma) are more heavily impacted by gangs, gang crime, and related risk factors.  Also, middle school is a critical time for youth in Tacoma.  Middle school aged children here in Tacoma are exposed to elevated levels of risk and are making decisions about joining gangs.  Click here to read the entire gang assessment.  Appendix 1 Appendix 2  Appendix 3  Appendix 4   Appendix 5 

Project Leadership, composed of key policymakers, leaders of agencies and community organizations concerned with the community's gang problem are working on strategies to mitigate the gang problem and to develop system-wide solutions that reduce gang activity and involvement by our youth. Executive Steering Committee, Community Steering Committee, Internal Strategic Team  Project Organizational Chart

Funding priorities for the City of Tacoma include:
• Gang prevention, intervention, and/or suppression services are available in Tacoma neighborhoods that are disproportionately impacted by gang crime.
• Youth/gang member access to and involvement with guns is reduced.
• Tacoma Middle School youth at risk of gang involvement have reduced risk factors and/or increased protective factors.