MENU TITLE: Reducing Youth Gun Violence. Series: OJJDP Published: August 1996 30 pages 45,623 bytes U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Program Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reducing Youth Gun Violence NATIONAL SATELLITE TELECONFERENCE August 9, 1996 Produced by: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention U.S. Department of Justice 633 Indiana Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20531 in association with Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project Training Resource Center Eastern Kentucky University 301 Perkins Building Richmond, KY 40475-3127 Michael A. Jones, Project Director Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project 606-622-6671 ------------------------------ OJJDP National Satellite Teleconference Reducing Youth Gun Violence TABLE OF CONTENTS Greetings from OJJDP Agenda Broadcast Objectives Teleconference Key Contributors Youth Gun Violence: The Problem Six Steps to Starting a Program in Your Community Assessing the Youth Gun Situation in Your Community: A Preliminary Checklist Promising Programs o Handgun Intervention Program; Detroit, MI o Boston's Intervention, Enforcement, and Prevention Program; Boston, MA o Prince George's Hospital Center Shock Mentor Program; Cheverly, MD Telephone Protocol Program Panelists Previous OJJDP Teleconferences Community Action: Taking Steps to Reduce Youth Gun Violence Evaluation Form ------------------------------ Greetings from OJJDP Youth gun violence in our country has become an epidemic. During the period 1976 to 1991, firearms were used by 65 percent of juvenile homicide offenders. Four times as many juveniles were killed with a gun in 1994 than in 1984. Homicides involving firearms have been the leading cause of death for black males ages 15 to 19 since 1969, and the rates more than doubled in the decade from 1979 (40 deaths per 100,000) to 1989 (85 deaths per 100,000). Teenage males in all racial and ethnic groups are more likely to die from gunshot wounds than from all natural causes combined. Based upon a review of promising youth gun violence reduction programs, current efforts take a range of approaches. Some are court-based and involve diversion or family education; some are hospital-based and link school lessons, the shock of emergency room experiences, and mentoring; some are school-based and focus on enhancing school safety through school resource officers, conflict resolution curricula, safe corridors, and after school programming; and some are community or public housing-based, combining targeted suppression in high crime spots with public education campaigns. While each of these programs is significant, a combination of them that ties prevention, intervention, and suppression approaches to the risk and protective factors for youth gun violence, juvenile delinquency and violence is more likely to yield sustained results. In response to this problem of juvenile violence, OJJDP is working to help communities reduce youth access to gun possession and use. Today's national satellite teleconference is one component of a broad initiative to assist communities to develop strategies to reduce youth violence. The broadcast will describe promising approaches to youth gun violence prevention and intervention. In addition to the broadcast, two publications will be made available to the public. One report, Reducing Youth Gun Violence: An Overview of Programs and Initiatives, assesses research on the incidence and context of youth gun violence, as well as, potential solutions from the fields of public health, criminology, and sociology; summarizes current Federal and State legislation to reduce youth gun violence; reviews selected prevention programs across the country; and, provides information on organizations working to address youth gun violence. The other report, Community Action: Taking Steps to Reduce Youth Gun Violence, profiles eleven promising programs already at work and provides step-by-step guidance for implementing a youth gun violence program. Moreover, this Fall, OJJDP will fund up to five communities to coordinate and implement comprehensive approaches to reduce youth gun violence. This three year demonstration effort will include an evaluation to test various approaches and strategies to reducing youth gun violence. OJJDP hopes that you will take advantage of existing resources at the local, state, and federal level to tackle this critical issue in your community. Thank you for your interest and concern. We hope you enjoy today's program. ------------------------------ OJJDP National Satellite Teleconference Reducing Youth Gun Violence AGENDA August 9, 1996 Broadcast Time 1:30 p.m. (ET) 12:30 p.m. (CT) 11:30 a.m. (MT) 10:30 a.m. (PT) The following information is presented in this order: Activity Approximate Time Time Table (ET) Pre-Teleconference Activities (Conducted by local facilitator) 30 minutes 1:00-1:30 Pre-teleconference activities should include familiarization with site surroundings, introduction of other participants, an introduction and program overview provided by the site facilitator, preliminary discussion of issues surrounding youth gun violence, and a review of Participant Packet materials. 1. Test Slate 60 min. 12:30 - 1:30 2. Pre-Teleconference On-Site Activities 30 min. 1:00 - 1:30 3. Teleconference Introduction (Bonnie Krasik) 1 min. 1:30 - 1:31 4. Segment 1: Youth Gun Violence: An Overview 6 min. 1:31 - 1:37 5. OJJDP Welcome and Comments (Shay Bilchik) 2 min. 1:37 - 1:39 6. Segment 2: A Law Enforcement-Based Approach 13 min. 1:39 - 1:52 7. Panel Discussion/Call-In 30 min. 1:52 - 2:22 8. Segment 3: An Hospital-Based Approach 13 min. 2:22 - 2:35 9. Break (Local Group Activity) 10 min. 2:35 - 2:45 10. Panel Discussion/Call-In 30 min. 2:45 - 3:15 11. Segment 4: A Court-Based Approach 13 min. 3:15 - 3:28 12. Panel Discussion/Call-In 30 min. 3:28 - 3:58 13. OJJDP Upcoming Events 1 min. 3:58 - 3:59 14. Closing Credits 1 min. 3:59 - 4:00 15. Post-Teleconference Discussion (Conducted by local facilitator) 30 min. 4:00 - 4:30 ------------------------------ Broadcast Objectives This satellite teleconference is designed to: o summarize the problem of juvenile gun violence, risk factors, and possible community program objectives and strategies; o illustrate "promising" programs in utilizing law enforcement-based, hospital-based, and court-based approaches; o provide an opportunity for a dialogue between teleconference participants and a panel of experts; and, o promote the availability of OJJDP publications and initiatives, such as: (1) Reducing Gun Violence: An Overview of Programs and Initiatives (2) Community Action: Taking Steps to Reduce Youth Gun Violence. Thank you for your dedication to the nation's youth! ------------------------------ This satellite teleconference was developed through the collaboration and hard work of numerous individuals and agencies. Special thanks for the commitment and dedication displayed by each agency in their involvement. Key contributors include: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention U.S. Department of Justice 633 Indiana Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20531 202-307-5940 National Institute of Justice U.S. Department of Justice 633 Indiana Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20531 202-307-0693 Handgun Intervention Program 36th District Court Madison Center 421 Madison Avenue Detroit, MI 48226 313-965-3724 Prince George's Hospital Center 3001 Hospital Drive Cheverly, MD 20785-1189 301-618-3858 Boston Police Department 364 Warren Street Roxbury, MA 02119 617-343-4444 Harvard College Holyoke Center-440 Cambridge, MA 02138 617-495-5188 Center to Prevent Handgun Violence 1225 I Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 202-289-7319 The Urban Institute 2100 M Street NW Washington DC 20037 202-857-8592 Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse PO Box 6000 Rockville, MD 20849-6000 800-638-8736 ------------------------------ OJJDP National Satellite Teleconference Reducing Youth Gun Violence Youth Gun Violence: The Problem* Over the past few years, there has been a distressingly rapid rise in the number of American children and adolescents who are using guns and getting shot. The number of juvenile arrests for weapons violations by both females and males increased by more than 100 percent between 1985 and 1994. Today, teenage males in all racial and ethnic groups are more likely to die from gunshot wounds than from all natural causes combined. While the frequency of violent offenses committed by juveniles is about the same today as it was in 1980, because more and more of the young people who commit violent acts have a gun in their hands, the consequences of those acts have become much more lethal. The number of juvenile homicide offenders tripled between 1984 and 1994, and most of these offenders (82%) used a gun to kill. More and more juveniles are turning guns on other juveniles, on adults, and on themselves. For every two youths murdered, one youth commits suicide. However, the increase in gun possession and gun use among young people has also had devastating consequences beyond the infliction of injury and death. In many communities, fear permeates too many children's lives; a 1993 Louis Harris poll shows that 35 percent of children ages 6 to 12 fear that their lives will be cut short by gun violence. The trip to and from school is a frightening and dangerous passage for many, and school itself does not necessarily feel any safer. Almost half of high school students now report that there are weapons in their schools, and about 40 percent report the presence of gangs. In 1990, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveyed a nationally representative sample of high school students about how many had carried a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club during the past 30 days. One in 5 students had carried some type of weapon, and 1 in 20 had carried a firearm, usually a handgun. Self-protection is the main reason students give for carrying a gun, and fears for their safety may be well-grounded. In our society, juveniles, along with young adults, face the highest risk of becoming the victim of a violent crime such as rape, robbery, assault, or murder. Children cannot choose where they live or where they go to school. They will continue to try to protect themselves with guns and other weapons against the real threat of violence in their lives unless we work with them to help them prevent violence and feel safe. Children will also continue to engage in delinquent and criminal activity unless they have positive alternative opportunities and face immediate and appropriate sanctions when they do break the law. In response to this problem of juvenile violence, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) is working to help communities provide positive alternatives. This teleconference, along with current and future OJJDP publications, serves as a guide to anyone who wants to develop a gun violence reduction program for young people. It is recommended that the strategies discussed here be applied in conjunction with the principles outlined in OJJDP's Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders and its accompanying Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Together these documents offer critical resource tools for communities seeking to prevent and intervene in juvenile violence. The Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders describes a community-based approach to reducing factors that place youth at risk for violence and suggests ways for enhancing protective factors. It also recommends establishment of a juvenile justice system that provides a continuum of graduated sanctions and services based on the severity of the crime and on the needs of each juvenile entering the system. *Statistics are from most recent data available for the Department of Justice. Six Steps to Starting a Program in Your Community When starting a comprehensive youth gun violence reduction program in your community, it is recommended that the following guiding principles of the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders be considered: 1) Begin by collaborating with other people and organizations. Regardless of the kind of gun violence reduction program you envision, the essential first step is to collaborate with others. Whatever the resources of your community, promising programs share one characteristic. They involve the collaboration of diverse groups and agencies. Collaborating means bringing people together, discussing and sharing resources and ideas, and taking advantage of the existing expertise and interest in your community to reduce youth gun violence. In seeking out collaborators, look not only for individuals, but also for local organizations, public agencies (such as juvenile justice, social service, and law enforcement agencies), community groups, and in particular, youth groups. In many cities and counties where the problem of youth violence has been recognized, a task force or other organization with which you can collaborate may already exist. Beginning a program by collaborating is a practical strategy for many reasons. A collaborative program has a better chance of surviving and growing, because it has more supporters. A collaborative program gives you a better chance of maximizing scarce resources. You will also have a better chance of accurately determining the nature and extent of the problem in your community if people put their heads together instead of blaming each other for the problem. 2) Assess the youth gun situation in your community. Every community is different, with a different composition and different experiences with youth gun violence. Your community will have specific needs, strengths, and resources that must be assessed before you can establish an effective program. A true assessment of the youth gun situation in your community will require help and input from your collaborators, especially law enforcement officers and young people, who may know the most about the problem. While not all programs conduct a comprehensive assessment, it is strongly recommended that your community do so. This information will give you a clearer picture of the community's problem and allow you to focus your violence reduction strategies more precisely. When conducting an assessment, review and consider the important questions listed in Assessing the Youth Gun Situation in Your Community: A Preliminary Checklist. 3) Develop a comprehensive plan for a targeted population. After assessing the local situation, you need to establish a specific set of program objectives developed for a specifically targeted population. Experience with youth violence reduction programs has shown that a program has a better chance of making an impact when it uses a variety of strategies to reach young people, rather than one single strategy. The most successful approach is a combination of strategies that connect with children at different environments in their lives -- at home, in school, among peers, in the community -- and at different stages of their development, from early childhood through middle school and high school. These may include: o A positive opportunities strategy for young people. o An educational strategy in which students learn how to resolve conflicts without violence, resist peer pressure to possess or carry guns, and distinguish between real life and television violence. o A public information strategy that uses radio, local television, and print outlets to broadly communicate to young people the dangers and consequences of gun violence and present information on positive youth activities taking place in the community. o A law enforcement/community communication strategy that expands neighborhood communication. o A grassroots community involvement and mobilization strategy that engages neighborhood residents, including youth, in improving the community. o A suppression strategy that reduces juvenile access to legal guns and illegal gun trafficking in communities by developing special gun units, using community allies to report illegal gun trade, targeting gang members and illegal gun possession cases for prosecution, and increasing sanctions. o A juvenile justice system strategy that applies appropriate treatment interventions to respond to the needs of juvenile offenders who enter the system on gun related charges. 4) Seek funding and other support. Although obtaining funding for a gun violence reduction program may seem like an obstacle, many promising programs show that a great deal can be accomplished with a very small budget or with even no budget at all. Funding does not have to be an obstacle to beginning a program, although many programs develop the need for some financial support as they grow. Your source of funding will depend in part on the nature of your program and the partnerships you have formed. For example, some school-based programs receive assistance from local school budgets. Some programs can be set up to take advantage of human resources that are already on-site and thus do not require additional funding. In addition to local resources, you should also look at the range of federal support that may be available. Under Title V, a grant program of OJJDP, funding may be available to help start new community-based programs that focus on youth violence prevention. The OJJDP State Relations and Assistance Division (SRAD) can direct you to a juvenile justice specialist who can help you with information about the OJJDP grant process and funding availability, as well as direct you to other potential Federal and State resources. (For more information, call the SRAD at 202-307-5921.) 5) Check the progress of your program. The fifth step to establishing a successful violence reduction program is monitoring your program's progress. This lets you see what impact your program is making, determine any program modifications needed, and give encouragement to those who are involved in the program. As you accumulate evidence of your program's progress, you will also be able to publicize your successes, thus increasing your support and broadcasting the violence-reduction message through your community. Here again, collaboration will help; for instance, local law enforcement agencies may be able to provide information about the numbers of incidents occurring "before" and "after" your program was put in place; local college or university faculty members may be able to help you develop a reliable method of evaluating your progress; and youth in the program can conduct surveys. 6) Get the word out and build your success. You need to publicize your success for three reasons: (1) to let other people know about your program and thus build further support for it; (2) to share information with others who are doing similar work, perhaps in a neighboring community; and (3) to raise public awareness of the issues your program addresses. Simply spreading public awareness that your program is at work may bring you additional support and stimulate others to get involved. Getting the word out also cues other organizations that may be interested in either replicating your program or adapting it to their situation. The ripple effect of a youth violence reduction program can potentially reach very far, and you can help to increase the effect by using the media to spread your message. ------------------------------ References Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (1996). Community Action: Taking Steps to Reduce Youth Gun Violence. Washington DC: US Department of Justice. (Final draft not ready for dissemination) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (1996). Reducing Youth Gun Violence: An Overview of Programs and Initiatives. Washington DC: US Department of Justice. NCJ 154303 Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (1995). Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Washington DC: US Department of Justice. NCJ 153681 Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (1993). Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders. Washington DC: US Department of Justice. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (1996). What Works: Promising Interventions in Juvenile Justice. Washington DC: US Department of Justice. NCJ 150858 ------------------------------ Assessing the Youth Gun Situation in Your Community: A Preliminary Checklist A. When, where, why, and how are juvenile gaining access to guns? o At home? o From friends? o Through gangs? o Out of state? o From the manufacturer? o From licensed gun dealers? o From pawn shops? o From a specific area in community? o How much do guns cost? o What types of guns do kids have access to? o What are the community norms and laws concerning firearms? o During the day? o In large amounts? o New or used? o Through trafficking? B. When, where, why, and how are juveniles carrying guns? o What time of day? o To and from school? o At school/on playground? o On the streets? o At home? o In groups? o As a gang activity? o As individuals? o At what age? o For self-protection? o Drug-trade related reasons? o To show off? o To kill or injure someone? o Lack of awareness of the dangers involved? o Lack of faith in law-enforcement? o Lack of economic/social opportunities? C. When, where, why, and how are juveniles choosing to use guns? o Accidental use? o Self-defense? o Under the influence of drugs/alcohol? o To settle disputes with peers? o To settle disputes with others? o Drug-trade situations? o Gang conflicts? o To kill or injure? o At night? o Near a particular park? o Near a school? ------------------------------ Promising Programs Many promising programs exist regarding the reduction of youth gun violence. However, given the time constraints of a teleconference broadcast only a few programs could be highlighted. The following overview is provided to give you an initial understanding of each site highlighted in the teleconference. You are encouraged to contact each site to request further information if your community is interested in implementing similar approaches. The highlighted programs of today's teleconference are: Handgun Intervention Program The Handgun Intervention Program (HIP), a Detroit-based intervention program operated by volunteers in the State of Michigan's 36th District Court, seeks to educate and confront defendants charged with carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) with the consequences of gun violence, the personal risks of gun carrying, the importance of nonviolence and personal responsibility in African-American heritage, the realities of prison life, and alternatives to violence. In this way, the HIP intervention program not only recognizes CCW violations as both an occasion for arrest and an opportunity for prevention of future violent events, but also as a behavioral risk factor on which a preventive intervention can be focused without generating a counterreaction against stigmatization. As such, instead of either refraining from action until causal relationships are established unambiguously or committing to an intervention that is grounded in a single presumed causal relationship, HIP takes an eclectic approach; the program includes components intended to change behavior by appealing to a variety of a causal factors. Each HIP class opens by confronting attendees vividly and directly with the consequences of violent gun use through graphic slides of the remains of teen-aged gun murder victims. Other sections are designed to challenge attendees to expand their locus of internal control, to challenge confidence in firearms as a means of self-protection, to demonstrate alternatives to violence in real-life situations in the community, and to mobilize alienation and mistrust in prosocial directions by discussing and highlighting the profits of white-owned gun manufacturers and the high earnings of rap musicians whose music may be increasing the homicide rates. Later, the class draws examples from African-American heritage and from the presenters' lives to demonstrate the power of nonviolence and of taking personal responsibility for one's own life. The program concludes with appeals from a spiritual perspective, with a rap video urging nonviolence, and with an invitation to affirm and sign an oath of nonviolence. For more information, contact Terrence Evelyn, Program Coordinator, 36th District Court, Madison Center, 421 Madison Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226, telephone 313-965-3724, fax 313-965-3951. The program is presently the subject of an impact evaluation conducted by The Urban Institute and funded by the National Institute of Justice. Boston's Intervention, Enforcement and Prevention Program With the firm belief that youth violence can not be solely dealt with by law enforcement, the Boston Police Department has formed a number of creative partnerships with area agencies, such as: the schools, court system, probation department, hospitals and other organizations. The theory behind these collaborations is that by working together the resources and ideas brought to bear on this crucial problem would be increased exponentially. The Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management at Harvard University over the past few years has assisted the Boston Police Department in analyzing its juvenile gun problem and designing an intervention. The goal of the intervention is to reduce juvenile gun violence in Boston by utilizing a problem-solving approach focused on disrupting illegal firearms markets and reducing fear. The Boston Police Department's strategy to prevent youth violence is a central element in the Department's overall philosophy and strategy of neighborhood policing. Boston police officers, in their daily interactions with youth, operate within the principles of prevention, problem solving and partnership. On an institutional level, the departmental rubric of neighborhood policing incorporates a threefold strategy of intervention, enforcement, and prevention. This strategy represents a continuum of services designed to protect communities and young people by preventing victimization of and criminal activity by Boston youth. The best intervention and enforcement programs are also preventative, conversely the best prevention programs also arguably produce intervention effects. While the intervention/enforcement/prevention strategy is seen as providing a continuum of services, effects are certainly overlapping. This is a complex strategy. To this end, some of the more innovative youth programs created by the Department since the inception of neighborhood policing are the: Operation Cease Fire, Operation Nightlight, Youth Service Providers Network, Child Witness to Violence Project, Alternatives to Incarceration Network, and the Boston Police Student/Youth Athlete Program. These youth programs would not be possible without the collaborative resources of many partner agencies. The programs are at the very heart of neighborhood policing. They illustrate the strong commitment to Boston's youth, not just by the police department -- but by private businesses, social service agencies, other law enforcement agencies, and other area organizations and institutions. Under the community justice umbrella everyone has to work together to restore the fabric of the community. For more information, contact Lt. Gary French, Boston Police Department at 617-343-4444. This program is presently the subject of an evaluation conducted by Harvard University and funded by the National Institute of Justice. Prince George's Hospital Center Shock Mentor Program The Shock Mentor Program is a collaborative effort among Prince George's County Public Schools, the Washington, DC chapter of Concerned Black Men, Inc. (CBM) and Prince George's Hospital Center (PGHC). The purpose of the program is twofold. First, the Shock Mentor Program aims to educate young men and women about the repercussions of violence and other high-risk behaviors. Second, it encourages young people to avoid and not participate in violent acts, and in the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during the school year between 6:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., a volunteer mentor from CBM or other community groups accompanies youth to PGHC's trauma center. The referrals to the program may come from local high schools or the local juvenile court. The youth, together with their mentors, witness what violence and "careless living" create in the real world. After watching trauma teams at work, the teens talk with their mentors about the experience. In essence, the visit serves as a discussion and teaching tool. A member of the trauma team explains the medical issues of the trauma patient, and the mentor talks to the youngsters about the social issues. Students and mentors alike are encouraged to forge a committed relationship, to include opportunities for volunteer service at the Hospital Center, and other community groups. Neither hospital personnel nor county school officials believe that the shock therapy visit will alone achieve the effect they desire. Therefore, the program is part of a larger conflict resolution effort being taught in the county high schools. Additionally the CBM also offers activities with the youth in anger management, peer mediation, and black achievement group sessions. For more information, contact Ian Lee Brown, Director of Community Affairs, Prince George's Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, MD, 20785-1189, telephone 301-618-3858, fax 301-618-2547. ------------------------------ TELEPHONE PROTOCOL The telephone is a key component in allowing participants to communicate with the panelists in the television studios. The questions that are asked and comments that are made generally reflect what many others are thinking and provide perspective and depth to the teleconference. We will try to get as many calls on the air as possible. If you call in, please be patient. Our operators may be handling other calls. The following information will assist you. 1. If the phone is in the same room as the TV(s), you should be ready to lower the volume before you go on the air to reduce noisy feedback. 2. Dial the toll-free number to ask a question or make a comment: 1-800-895-4584. 3. When your call is answered, please state your question to the operator succinctly and clearly. You will be put on hold. 4. When you are to be put on the air, another operator will come on the line and ask your home State. She will inform you when you are next on the air and this would be a good time to turn down the sound on your TV. Please turn down the sound on your TV. 5. When you are on the air, please state your name, city and State and ask your question loudly and clearly. 6. After you have finished with your conversation, please hang up. **Cellular Phones** Please do not use cellular phones to place your calls. Cellular phones may produce static interference that may result in your being disconnected. ------------------------------ OJJDP National Satellite Teleconference Reducing Youth Gun Violence PROGRAM PANELISTS* Shay Bilchik, Administrator, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington DC 20531, 202-307-5911, Fax 202-514-6382 Mr. Bilchik was confirmed by the United States Senate as Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in 1994. Prior to that time, he served as Associate Deputy Attorney General. Mr. Bilchik's career began in the State of Florida where he worked seventeen years as a prosecutor. As a prosecutor, he served as a Chief Assistant State Attorney and as the coordinator of many special programs, including all juvenile operations as the Police-Juvenile Prosecutor Liaison and the School-Juvenile Prosecutor Liaison. Ian Lee Brown, Director of Community Affairs, Prince George's Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, MD 20785-1189, 301-618-3858, Fax 301-618-2547 Mr. Brown co-manages the Office of Public Affairs for the Prince George's Hospital Center, a major urban trauma center located between Baltimore and Washington DC. In this position, he has coordinated the Shock Mentor Program, a collaborative effort between the hospital, the public school system, and concerned community groups such as the Washington DC chapter of Concerned Black Men, Inc. Gary French, Lieutenant, Boston Police Department, 364 Warren Street, Roxbury, MA 02119, 617-343-4444, Fax 617-343-5659 Lt. French coordinates the efforts of Boston's intervention, enforcement, and prevention strategy to prevent youth violence as part of the Department's overall philosophy of neighborhood policing. Lt. French believes that effective law enforcement begins as the community level by fostering positive relationships with young people. His hard work has allowed Boston to become a model for reducing youth gun violence. Nancy Gannon, Director of Education Programs, Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, 1225 I Street NW, Washington DC 20005, 202-289-7319, Fax 202-408-1851 Ms. Gannon is the Director of the Education Division at the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence in Washington, DC. The Education Division innovates educational interventions, based in the principles of public health and designed to reach youth and families in their daily lives. Ms. Gannon places special emphasis on working with young people, their parents and influential community intermediaries. She has authored and edited the nation's first curricula for preventing gun violence and has developed a system for effective implementation in school and youth settings. This program, known as STAR or "Straight Talk About Risks: A Pre-K - Grade 12 Curriculum for Preventing Gun Violence," is now implemented in schools and youth settings nationwide. David Kennedy, Ph.D., Harvard College, Holyoke Center - 440, Cambridge MA 02138, 617-495-5188 Dr. Kennedy has worked closely with the Boston Police Department in the development of their youth violence reduction program. Dr. Kennedy's work has been nationally recognized and was recently examined in a Bill Moyer's special. Honorable Willie G. Lipscomb, Jr., Judge, 36th District Court, 421 Madison Avenue, Suite 3069, Detroit MI 48226, 313-965-8730, Fax 313-965-3951 The Honorable Willie G. Lipscomb, Jr. has presided over the 36th District Court in Detroit for the past ten years. In 1993, Judge Lipscomb founded the Handgun Intervention Program where he also serves as Administrator. A 1975 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, Judge Lipscomb is the school's 1996 recipient of the Alumni of the Year Award. Jeffrey Roth, Ph.D., Director, The Urban Institute, 2100 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037, 202-857-8592 Dr. Roth is the Director of The Urban Institute. Presently, with funding from the National Institute of Justice, he is conducting an extensive evaluation of the Handgun Intervention Program in Detroit, MI which is highlighted in the teleconference. Jeremy Travis, Director, National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice, 633 Indiana Avenue NW, Washington DC 20531, 202-307-0693, Fax 202-307-6394 Mr. Travis was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Director of the National Institute of Justice in 1994. Prior to that time, he served as the Deputy Commissioner for Legal Matters of the New York City Police Department. While with the Department, Mr. Travis authored New York City's ban on assault weapons and developed a proposal for a new approach to school violence. In previous positions, Mr. Travis has served as Chief Counsel to the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice for the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary. Bonnie Krasik, Moderator Ms. Krasik is the Managing Editor of the NBC-affiliate WLEX-TV in Lexington, Kentucky. She has hosted all six OJJDP satellite teleconferences. ------------------------------ Previous Satellite Teleconferences Broadcast by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Conditions of Confinement in Juvenile Corrections and Detention Facilities September 1993 Community Collaboration June 1995 Effective Programs for Serious, Violent and Chronic Juvenile Offenders October 1995 Youth-Oriented Community Policing December 1995 Juvenile Boot Camps February 1996 Conflict Resolution for Youth May 1996 ------------------------------ For Further Information For copies of previous OJJDP programs, please write to the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, PO Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000; call 800-638-8736; fax 301-251-5212; or e-mail askncjrs@ncjrs.org. For information on future OJJDP programs, contact the Juvenile Justice Telecommunications Assistance Project, Eastern Kentucky University, 301 Perkins Building, Richmond, KY 40475-3127; call 606-622-6671; fax 606-622-2333; or e-mail njdadeh@aol.com. Community Action: Taking Steps to Reduce Youth Gun Violence The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has created an action guide, Community Action: Taking Steps To Reduce Youth Gun Violence, to help individuals and organizations work together to reduce youth gun violence in their communities. Although a wide range of resources are available that address youth violence in general, few of them speak specifically to the nature of youth gun violence. To provide this critical information, Community Action focuses on where our young people get guns and why they carry and use them. OJJDP urges anyone working on these issues to obtain this guide: juvenile court judges law enforcement professionals school administrators community leaders youth and social service providers local, State, and Federal policymakers Community Action consists of two parts. Part I suggests strategies and concrete examples of how to develop a program: o Collaborating with other people and organizations. o Assessing youth gun violence in your community. o Developing a comprehensive plan for a targeted population. o Seeking funding and other support. o Checking your program's progress. o Getting the word out and building on success. These strategies can be applied using the principles outlined in OJJDP's Guide for Implementing the Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders and Reducing Youth Gun Violence: An Overview of Programs and Initiatives. Part II profiles 11 promising youth gun violence reduction programs already at work. The programs reflect the variety of approaches communities can use to involve people in prevention and intervention efforts: o Court-based, involving diversion or family education. o Hospital-based, linking school lessons, the shock of emergency room experiences, and mentoring. o School-based, focusing on enhancing school safety through school resource officers, conflict resolution curriculums, safe corridors, and afterschool programming. o Community-or public housing-based, combining targeted suppression of high-crime spots with public education campaigns. Included in each profile is a description of the process -- based on the six steps outlined in Part I -- through which the programs were developed as well as contact information for each program. Users may replicate, modify, or combine features of these different programs to create their own unique youth gun violence reduction program. An appendix with checklists is included to assist with program development. For More Information For copies of Community Action: Taking Steps To Reduce Youth Gun Violence, NCJ 161566, and additional information on the related teleconference broadcast, write to the Juvenile Justice Clearinghouse, PO Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000; call 800-638-8736; fax 301-251-5212; or e-mail askncjrs@ncjrs. org. ------------------------------ Reducing Youth Gun Violence TELECONFERENCE DATA AND EVALUATION FORM Directions: Please provide the information requested in this questionnaire regarding teleconference evaluation. Part I: PARTICIPANT INFORMATION 1. Gender o Male o Female 2. Age o 20-30 o 31-40 o 41-50 o 51 & above 3. College Degree o None o BA/BS o MA/MS o Doctorate o Other (Describe): 4. Current Position o Upper Management o Mid-Management o Line Staff o Other (Describe): 5. Years in Current Position o 3 or Less o 4-6 o 7-10 o More than 10 6. Years Experience in Youth-Related Programs o 3 or Less o 4-6 o 7-10 o More than 10 PART II: CONFERENCE EVALUATION (Circle the number that best reflects your rating.) 7. Local Site Facilitation -- The facilitator was knowledgeable and responsive to participants' concerns. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 8. Participant Materials -- The material was relevant to defining and conceptualizing school-based programs and is likely to be used as a future resource. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 9. Viewing Site -- The conference room was comfortable and appropriately arranged for clear viewing and hearing. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 10. Television Sound -- The televised sound was audible and clear. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 11. Broadcast Reception -- The television image was sharp. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 12. Television Visuals -- All visuals were readable and clear (charts, graphics, diagrams, etc.). o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 13. Panelist Effectiveness -- Topic -- The panelists were knowledgeable about the topic. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 14. Panelist Effectiveness -- Implementation -- The panelists were knowledgeable about program implementation. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 15. Panelist Effectiveness -- Delivery -- The panelists were clear and effective in presenting their points. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 16. Presentation of New Ideas -- I acquired new knowledge, information, and ideas. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 TELECONFERENCE EVALUATION FORM Broadcast Date: August 9, 1996 17. Overall Effectiveness of the Medium (teleconference) -- The teleconference medium was an effective information dissemination tool. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 18. Comparative Effectiveness of the Medium -- As compared to traditional delivery (speakers, materials), the teleconference was more effective for me as a means of acquiring new knowledge. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 19. Future Use of Video Teleconference Programming -- Video teleconferences should be used for future training and information dissemination by OJJDP. o 1 o 2 o 3 o 4 o 5 Part III: ANTICIPATED APPLICATION OF NEW IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE, INFORMATION GAINED THROUGH TELECONFERENCE 20. I anticipate being able to apply knowledge gained: o Never o Immediately o Within 1-6 months o Within 7-12 months o After at least one year 21. Implementation of new ideas/knowledge in my organization/agency/program depends on: o Self only o Supervisor o Head of organization/agency/program o Legislation o Other (Describe): Part IV: ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY 22. What did you find most beneficial about this teleconference? 23. How could the teleconference have been more productive and worthwhile for you? 24. What topics would you like to see covered in future teleconferences? 25. Additional comments: Part V: WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION 26. I would be willing to fill out a short follow up questionnaire to provide information about implementation of knowledge gained through this teleconference. o Yes o No If "yes," please provide the information requested below: Name: Title: Business Address: Telephone: Fax: e-mail: