CITY OF HALLANDALE BEACH
MEMORANDUM
DATE: December 27, 2007
TO: D. Mike Good, City Manager
FROM: Thomas A. Magill, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Submission of Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Grant Application
PURPOSE:
To consider approval of a G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training) Grant Application to the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance.
BACKGROUND:
The Police Department has experienced a documented gang presence within the city, and many at risk youth have displayed known gang risk factors that contribute to youth violence. Both boys and girls have formed several local street gangs; 5 ct, 80’s and 90’s babies. Over the past year, these gangs have been responsible for several violent street fights with youths from other schools. They have also been involved in crimes such as shootings, weapons violations, criminal mischief, burglaries, possession of narcotics and stolen vehicles. Many of these groups have been observed congregating in large groups at our local parks, neighborhoods and in front of local stores.
Our Police Community Partnerships Division has identified 30 known juvenile gang members living within our city and many of these gangs have become well organized over the past year by utilizing the internet and “My Space.”
DISCUSSION:
Gulfstream Middle School has approximately 430 students enrolled for the 2007/2008 school year and the number is expected to increase since the enrollment at Hallandale Elementary School is approximately 1,200 students. Gulfstream Middle School is in its third year of existence and its first year with a School Resource Officer. Although some students have received the DARE curriculum when they attended Hallandale Elementary School, there is currently no follow-up program to educate the students about the dangers of gangs and drugs at Gulfstream Middle School. Hallandale High School has an active Crime Watch Program and the Criminal Justice Career Program, an International Affairs/Business Studies Magnet Program. With the addition of the G.R.E.A.T. Program, all three school levels will have the opportunity to receive life skills to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve their problems.
The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a school based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. Its primary objective is prevention and is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership. The G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them avoid delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems.
Staff will utilize funding from the G.R.E.A.T. grant to target all students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades at Gulfstream Middle School. Our School Resource Officer will be certified through an approved training program to deliver the 13-lesson curriculum to students. G.R.E.A.T.’s violence prevention/life skills competency curriculum helps students avoid destructive behaviors.
Funding will also be used to institute a summer education and recreation program to continue to build on the school-based program and reinforce the 13-lesson cognitive, social, and self-esteem-building lessons.
Due to the limited amount of time available when staff received information about the grant opportunity and the application deadline of December 13, 2007, staff submitted an electronic grant application online contingent upon City Commission approval at the first available commission meeting date. Staff requested $77,243.97 in grant funding for personnel training and time and a summer program, providing $211,225.77 in existing programs and local in-kind match.
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Commission approve the G.R.E.A.T. grant application in the amount of $77,244 to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance and authorize the local in-kind match, as presented in the staff report.
Reviewed:
_______________________________ __________
D. Mike Good, City Manager Date
_____Approved _____Disapproved _____Hold for Discussion