Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Saskatoon Gang Strategy: Evaluation Report

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Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Saskatoon Gang Strategy: Evaluation Report Process and Outcome Evaluation of the hiCh Saskatoon Gang Strategy: Evaluation Report Prepared for: Saskatoon Gang Strategy Steering Committee Ministry of Corrections, Public Safety, & Policing Ministry of Justice & Attorney General National Crime Prevention Centre Prepared by: Carrie Tanasichuk, Sarah Hogg, Terri Simon, Myles Ferguson and J. Stephen Wormith University of Saskatchewan Department of Psychology November 29, 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS................................................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................... vii 1.0. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ x 2.0. THE SASKATOON GANG STRATEGY................................................................................. 1 2.1. History and Background............................................................................................... 2 2.2. Objectives and Activities of the Strategy ..................................................................... 3 3.0. LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 5 3.1. Purpose of the Literature Review ................................................................................. 5 3.2. Overview of Gang Activity in Canada ......................................................................... 5 3.2.1. Gang Activity in Saskatchewan ................................................................... 7 3.3. Prevention..................................................................................................................... 9 3.3.1. Risk Factors for Gang Membership ............................................................. 9 3.3.2. Examples of Gang Prevention Programs ................................................... 10 3.3.2.1. GREAT: Gang Resistance Education and Training (U.S.)......... 10 3.3.2.2. GPTTO: Gang Prevention through Targeted Outreach .............. 12 3.3.2.3. Urban Improv.............................................................................. 12 3.3.2.4. GRIP: Gang Resistance is Paramount ........................................ 13 3.3.2.5. Gang Alternatives Program (GAP)............................................. 13 3.3.2.6. Multisystemic Therapy (MST) ................................................... 13 3.3.2.7. Wraparound Milwaukee (WM) .................................................. 14 3.4. Intervention................................................................................................................. 14 3.4.1. Examples of Gang Intervention Programs ................................................. 15 3.4.1.1. GITTO: Gang Intervention through Targeted Outreach............. 15 3.4.1.2. Edmonton Native Alliance ......................................................... 15 3.4.1.3. YVRP: Philadelphia Youth Violence Reduction Partnership .... 15 3.4.1.4. Los Angeles Violence Intervention Academy............................ 16 3.4.1.5. The Boys and Girls Club of America ......................................... 16 3.4.1.6. Breaking the Cycle (BTC).......................................................... 16 3.4.1.7. The Upward Movement Program (UMP)................................... 17 3.4.2. Special Considerations in Aboriginal Gangs ............................................. 17 3.4.2.1. Key Elements in Aboriginal Gang Programming....................... 18 3.5. Suppression................................................................................................................. 19 3.5.1. Examples of Gang Suppression Programs ................................................. 20 3.5.1.1. Operation Ceasefire (a.k.a. Boston Gun Project) ....................... 20 3.5.1.2. Dallas Anti-Gang Initiative......................................................... 20 3.5.1.3. TARGET: Tri-Agency Resource Gang Enforcement Team ...... 21 3.5.1.4. Operation Hardcore (OH):.......................................................... 21 ii 3.6. The Comprehensive Approach: Prevention, Intervention & Suppression ................. 21 3.6.1. Examples of Comprehensive Gang Programs............................................ 22 3.6.1.1. MGIP: Mesa Gang Intervention Project (Mesa, AZ) ................. 22 3.6.1.2. GVRP: Gang Violence Reduction Project (Chicago, IL)........... 22 3.6.1.3. Bloomington-Normal Comprehensive Gang Program: (Bloomington & Normal, IL)....................................................... 23 3.7. Considerations in Evaluating Gang Programs............................................................ 29 3.8. Multi-Agency Collaboration....................................................................................... 30 3.8.1. Benefits of Multi-Agency Collaboration ................................................... 30 3.8.2. Common Barriers to Success ..................................................................... 31 3.9. Summary..................................................................................................................... 32 4.0. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................ 34 4.1. Evaluation Purpose and Objectives ............................................................................ 34 4.2. Scope of Evaluation.................................................................................................... 35 4.3. Development of Program Logic Model...................................................................... 36 4.4. Data Collection Activities .......................................................................................... 37 5.0. RESULTS ................................................................................................................................. 41 5.1. Non-participatory Observation................................................................................... 41 5.1.1. The Steering Committee .............................................................................. 41 5.1.2. The Prevention Subcommittee..................................................................... 42 5.1.3. The Intervention Subcommittee................................................................... 42 5.1.4. The Prevention/Intervention Subcommittee ................................................ 44 5.1.5. The Suppression Subcommittee................................................................... 45 5.2. Saskatoon Gang Strategy Initiatives........................................................................... 46 5.2.1. The Saskatoon Street Crimes Unit ............................................................. 46 5.2.2. Community Connections............................................................................ 46 5.2.3. Strategic Planning...................................................................................... 47 5.3. Committee Member Interviews.................................................................................. 47 5.3.1. Interviews with Steering Committee Members.......................................... 47 5.3.1.1. Perceptions of the Gang Strategy ............................................... 48 5.3.1.2. The Role and Functioning of the Steering Committee ............... 49 5.3.2. Interviews with Prevention Subcommittee Members ................................ 51 5.3.2.1. Perceptions of the Gang Strategy ............................................... 51 5.3.2.2. The Role and Functioning of the Prevention Subcommittee...... 52 5.3.3. Interviews with Intervention Subcommittee Members.............................. 53 5.3.3.1. Perceptions of the Gang Strategy ............................................... 54 5.3.3.2. The Role and Functioning of the Intervention Subcommittee.... 54 5.3.4. Interviews with Suppression Subcommittee Members.............................. 56 5.3.4.1. Perceptions of the Gang Strategy ............................................... 56 5.3.4.2. The Role and Functioning of the Suppression Subcommittee.... 57 5.4. Community Forum Evaluation................................................................................... 59 iii 5.4.1. Community Forum Description................................................................. 59 5.4.2. Evaluation Methodology............................................................................ 59 5.4.3. Non-participatory Observation.................................................................. 60 5.4.4. Community Forum Questionnaire............................................................. 61 5.4.5. Service Gaps Poster ................................................................................... 61 5.4.6. Overall Conclusions................................................................................... 61 5.5. Community Forum Follow-up Interviews.................................................................. 62 5.5.1. Follow-up Interviews with Community Forum Attendees ........................ 62 5.5.1.2. Perceptions of the Community Form.......................................... 62 5.5.1.3. Perceptions of the Saskatoon Gang Strategy.............................. 64 5.6. Follow-up Community Forum...................................................................................
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