NCJ Number
247075
Date Published
June 2011
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This report explains the provisions and implementation of Maryland's Safe Schools Act of 2010 (the Act), which mandates an unprecedented level of collaboration and information sharing among school, community, and criminal justice partners in a comprehensive effort to protect children and youth at school.
Abstract
The Act has established a foundation upon which the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), local school systems, and Department of Juvenile Services (DJS), State and local law enforcement agencies, local criminal justice agencies, and parents and guardians can improve collective accountability for the identification of gang activity in schools and mobilize to prevent violence and intervene in the lives of at-risk youth. The Act required the Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP) to perform a community services survey to determine existing youth gang prevention and intervention programs within each county. In addition, it required the development of criteria for gang prevention and intervention programs that are evidence-based and produce measurable outcomes, as well as develop recommendations for a pilot program to provide comprehensive gang prevention and intervention services for a high school and the high school's middle school feeder system. Throughout this report, innovative local, statewide, and national youth gang prevention and intervention models are presented. The criteria for the success of such models are outlined. The criteria include community involvement; collaboration across government systems; information/resource sharing; accountability; gang education/awareness; alternative activities/after-school programs; anti-bullying strategies; sustained adult mentoring/investment; and multi-systematic or family therapy. 30 notes and appended community services survey to determine existing youth gang prevention and intervention programs within each county