Operation Weed and Seed was developed in 1991 by the U.S. Department of Justice as a strategy based on four fundamental principles: collaboration, coordination, community participation, and leveraging resources with a multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. The approach is two-fold. First, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors must work together to "weed out" criminals from a specific target area. Then, the "seeding" process begins and brings prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization services to the area. The Weed and Seed Strategy requires some key elements: (1) a steering committee to offer a governing structure for the initiative and (2) a strategic plan developed by assessing community problems and needs, sound resolutions and responses, and obtaining the necessary resources and participation. Today, Weed and Seed has grown to more than 300 high-crime neighborhoods across the country.