[House Hearing, 110 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
PROTECTING OUR YOUTH: PATHS TO
GANG PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES
=======================================================================
FIELD HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTHY
FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND LABOR
U.S. House of Representatives
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
HEARING HELD IN FREEPORT, NY, JUNE 4, 2007
__________
Serial No. 110-42
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor
Available on the Internet:
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______
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COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
GEORGE MILLER, California, Chairman
Dale E. Kildee, Michigan, Vice Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Chairman California,
Donald M. Payne, New Jersey Ranking Minority Member
Robert E. Andrews, New Jersey Thomas E. Petri, Wisconsin
Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Virginia Peter Hoekstra, Michigan
Lynn C. Woolsey, California Michael N. Castle, Delaware
Ruben Hinojosa, Texas Mark E. Souder, Indiana
Carolyn McCarthy, New York Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
John F. Tierney, Massachusetts Judy Biggert, Illinois
Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania
David Wu, Oregon Ric Keller, Florida
Rush D. Holt, New Jersey Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Susan A. Davis, California John Kline, Minnesota
Danny K. Davis, Illinois Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Washington
Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona Kenny Marchant, Texas
Timothy H. Bishop, New York Tom Price, Georgia
Linda T. Sanchez, California Luis G. Fortuno, Puerto Rico
John P. Sarbanes, Maryland Charles W. Boustany, Jr.,
Joe Sestak, Pennsylvania Louisiana
David Loebsack, Iowa Virginia Foxx, North Carolina
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii John R. ``Randy'' Kuhl, Jr., New
Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania York
John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky Rob Bishop, Utah
Phil Hare, Illinois David Davis, Tennessee
Yvette D. Clarke, New York Timothy Walberg, Michigan
Joe Courtney, Connecticut Dean Heller, Nevada
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire
Mark Zuckerman, Staff Director
Vic Klatt, Minority Staff Director
------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
CAROLYN McCARTHY, New York, Chairwoman
Yvette D. Clarke, New York Todd Russell Platts, Pennsylvania,
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire Ranking Minority Member
Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon,
Raul M. Grijalva, Arizona California
John P. Sarbanes, Maryland Kenny Marchant, Texas
Jason Altmire, Pennsylvania Luis G. Fortuno, Puerto Rico
John A. Yarmuth, Kentucky David Davis, Tennessee
Dean Heller, Nevada
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held on June 4, 2007..................................... 1
Statement of Members:
McCarthy, Hon. Carolyn, Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Healthy
Families and Communities, Committee on Education and Labor. 1
Platts, Hon. Todd Russell, Senior Republican Member,
Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, Committee
on Education and Labor..................................... 3
Prepared statement of.................................... 4
Woolsey, Hon. Lynn C., a Representative in Congress from the
State of California:
Prepared statement of Jane Bender, committee chair, Gang
Prevention/Intervention Programs....................... 59
Statement of Witnesses:
Argueta, Sergio, executive director of S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth,
Inc........................................................ 22
Prepared statement of.................................... 26
Hayes, Edward, chief executive officer, Cayuga Home for
Children................................................... 20
Prepared statement of.................................... 21
Maddox, Chris, assistant outreach worker, H.E.V.N............ 33
Prepared statement of.................................... 34
Additional H.E.V.N. materials submitted for the record... 35
Rice, Kathleen M., district attorney, Nassau County, NY...... 7
Prepared statement of.................................... 10
Sapp-Grant, Isis, LMSW, director of Youth & Empowerment
Mission, Inc............................................... 29
Prepared statement of.................................... 31
Woodward, Michael, chief of Freeport Police Department....... 13
Prepared statement of.................................... 14
PROTECTING OUR YOUTH: PATHS TO
GANG PREVENTION IN OUR COMMUNITIES
----------
Monday, June 4, 2007
U.S. House of Representatives
Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities
Committee on Education and Labor
Washington, DC
----------
The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10:21 a.m., at
the Village Hall, 46 North Ocean Avenue, Freeport, New York,
Hon. Carolyn McCarthy [chairwoman of the subcommittee]
Presiding.
Present: Representatives McCarthy, Clarke, and Platts.
Staff Present: Deborah Koolbeck, Policy Adviser for
Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities; and Kirstan
Duncan, Minority Professional Staff Member.
Mr. Glacken. Good morning. First of all, I would like to
welcome Congresswoman McCarthy, Ranking Member Platts, Ms.
Clarke, Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, to
participate in this very important field hearing concerning a
very important topic on all of our minds, and that is gang
prevention, diverting our youth from the allure of gang
participation, their channel, their energy, time and their
efforts into a much more constructive healthy activity.
I think that as the hearing progresses it will become clear
that this is not just anyone's problem, this is everyone's
problem. We all have to deal with the situation because we're
talking about our children and our grandchildren. So it is
essential that every one of us, whether it be state officials,
law enforcement officials, congressmen, senators, all the way
up to federal government, we all have to deal with the
situation together and we have to solve this problem working
together because it is truly a national problem.
I would just like to welcome you all to Freeport and we are
delighted to have the Congresswoman Clarke here. She is welcome
here any time and we would be delighted to ask her to host any
hearing at any time.
Without any further ado, Congresswoman McCarthy.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you. I appreciate it.
The hearing of the committee will come to order.
Pursuant to committee rule 12(a), any member may submit an
opening statement which would be made part of a permanent
record.
Before we begin, I would like to remind everyone to take a
moment to ensure that your cell phones and Blackberries are on
Silent.
I am pleased to welcome you to the Subcommittee on Healthy
Families and Communities, the hearing on gang prevention in our
communities. I would like to thank Mayor Glacken and the Board
of Trustees in Freeport to support us and provide a location
for our hearing today. I also wanted to thank my fellow
subcommittee members, Ranking Member Platts who drove down from
Pennsylvania in this weather. So I really appreciate you being
here. And also, Congresswoman Clarke who came in from Brooklyn
this morning for examining this important issue.
Even before I was first elected to Congress, I have been
working and talking about gangs here on Long Island. As we will
hear today, there is no one program that will address the
multiple issues that revolve around the issue of gangs in the
community.
We will focus this hearing on the programs that work on
preventing young people from entering gangs. However,
prevention is a very complex issue. On many levels, we are
failing our children.
Today we come together to examine some of these failures
and learn how to educate and turn around the lives of our
children.
Research reveals risk factors that lead young adults to
join gangs. Poverty, poor education amongst students, jobless,
unstable family structures all contribute to our children
exploring the idea of joining a gang.
When a child does not see any hope for their future, namely
retaining jobs, contributing to society, they do not pursue or
maintain these goals. You ask these young people what their
dreams are, their dreams are always the same, ``I want to be a
doctor.'' ``I want to be a lawyer.'' ``I want to be a nurse.''
``I want to be a teacher.''
These are things that they dream about. And yet, for a
reason that we don't know, a lot of them lose those dreams and
end up joining gangs. That child is at risk for entering a
gang.
Young people who do not believe that society has a place
for them will feel that they are unable to integrate into
society, will look to gangs to provide acceptance, stability,
companionship and sense of identity. These children, somewhere,
lost the hope that they had for the strong vision for their
future.
Communities must come together to address these children.
Government, law enforcement, local education agencies,
businesses, institutions of higher education, service providers
and concerned citizens of all ages and walks of life must
collaborate to meeting the needs of our children so they do not
seek what they think is the need to join or form a gang.
The people of Nassau County and across the nation need to
know that we do care about them. We must invest in the young
people who work to leverage community resources to serve
children before and after school, as well. Children in a
program at school in the morning will help to ensure that the
children are going to school.
Furthermore, research shows that the hours between 3 and 6
on weekdays tend to be the hours that juveniles and gangs
commit crimes. If we have a reverent, meaningful use for
keeping current a school program that young people attend in a
safe location, we could improve academic achievement, self-
esteem and enable these children to envision their future in
taking the necessary steps to achieve their goals.
We must also work to ensure to take available time in our
schools. Bullying and other school violence could either leave
young people in school or searching for gang protection.
Children, once again, need to know that schools are safe and
provide a place where they can learn and grow.
For our at-risk youth, we must not only invest in their
education in making their education reverent. But we must
invest in their personal development. This includes
interventions for the parents, divorced parents, parents of at-
risk children to strengthen families so that parents can
essentially protect the lives of their young people and prevent
them from the life of criminal activities, or worse, their
death.
We must also draft interventions in order for our children
to envision their future. Teach them employment skills and
challenge them with reaching their goals, such as job training
or obtaining a college degree.
Children rise to the level of expectations if we challenge
our children to do the best that they can. If we expect less
from them, they will give us less.
Today we will hear the role of law enforcement in gang
prevention through the Nassau County District Attorney and
Freeport Chief of Police. We will learn about evidence-based
therapy techniques for families and children. In addition, we
will learn of two organizations who work to, not only prevent
children from entering gangs, but also to work with them to
leave gangs and end their affiliation with gangs.
Furthermore, we will hear from a young adult who two years
left a gang after five years of being in prison. I look forward
to hearing each of your testimonies and learning from you.
I can tell from your testimonies, the one thing that was
the common theme throughout all the testimonies is prevention.
That's one thing that I certainly believe in. All of us on the
committee believe in prevention because that is the key to
making certain all of our children have a good chance, a fair
chance and certainly for the future of this nation, a chance
they all need to make.
So I want to thank you all for joining us today. And now I
introduce my ranking member, Mr. Platts from Pennsylvania, for
his opening statement.
Mr. Platts. Thank you. I have a written statement I would
like to submit for the record.
I just would like to thank you for your voting this hearing
on such an important issue. Some of the preparation for today
is that the numbers were staggering for estimates of over
24,000 gangs in this country, over 700,000 or 800,000 members.
As the mayor pretty well stated, this is an issue all of us
need to be concerned about. Federal, state, local officials,
private sector, those who lived the life of a gang member,
turned their lives around and now made a difference for other
citizens, this is something we all need to be concerned about.
And I want to add my thanks to yours, Madam Chair, to our
witnesses, a great cross section of individuals in all segments
for their efforts to address this challenge for our country.
Each of your written testimonies were obviously--a lot of
thought went into them, and it's very helpful in a hearing such
as this one in helping to educate my colleagues and me about
how to address this issue.
I will get a little better and confident about everything,
and as you seek to address a specific issue you become a
specialist. One of the ways to do that is to get a knowledge of
those who work in whatever field you're addressing to share
your knowledge, your expertise with us. And through your
written testimonies, already you've done that in great form.
And Ms. Chairwoman talked about how clear it is that we
know a lot about law enforcement and intervention, but the more
we do on prevention in addressing the issues that are really
driving young men and women into gangs, the less we'll have to
worry about with intervention and law enforcement than if we do
a good job up front and consult some of the social challenges
of our communities that lead to that.
So I'm looking forward to all your testimony here today and
we're just very grateful to each and every one of you for
making an effort to be part of this hearing, for the difference
you're making in your communities, for the children in your
communities.
So thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
[The statement of Mr. Platts follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Todd Russell Platts, a Representative in
Congress From the State of Pennsylvania
Good Morning. Thank you for joining us for this field hearing on
protecting our children through gang prevention efforts. I want to
thank Congresswoman McCarthy for holding this hearing to examine this
important issue.
As the Subcommittee begins the process of reauthorizing the
Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act, it is important that we
take a comprehensive look at ways to ensure the safety of our middle
and high school students. While gangs originally formed to provide
immigrant students with a type of public support and a sense of
community, this has all too often manifested violently for our most at-
risk children.
According to the 2004 National Youth Gang Survey, there are 760,000
gang members and 24,000 gangs active in the United States. It is often
said that our children are our most important resource. We must,
therefore, endeavor to keep them safe from harm and prevent them from
participating in those at-risk activities often connected to gang
involvement.
Research shows that poverty, unstable family structures, and poor
educational opportunities are just some of the factors that can
motivate at-risk children to participate in gang activity. These
studies have also shown that the risk of involvement in crime increases
the longer a gang member remains active in his or her gang. Effective
strategies for the prevention, intervention and suppression of gangs
and gang violence need to be in place in order to protect those
children that are most at-risk.
Many in Federal, State, and local government view gang violence as
a problem faced solely by big cities. Those of us here know, however,
that suburban and rural populations, including that of Freeport, New
York, are also battling an escalation of gang activity.
The Federal government, through the U.S. Department of Justice, has
supported grant programs to develop effective gang prevention and
intervention strategies as violent crime and youth gang involvement has
grown. But this must be done in close collaboration with State and
local governments and law enforcement to lead prevention, intervention
and suppression initiatives against gangs and gang crime. We must work
together to provide alternatives for at-risk children, keeping them off
the street and encouraging their involvement in a variety of
educational and enrichment activities.
I look forward to receiving the testimony of today's witnesses, who
have firsthand knowledge about quality prevention programs. Thank you
again for joining us.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Ms. Clarke, would you like to say a
few words?
Ms. Clarke. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, Ms. McCarthy,
Ranking Member Platts, to all assembled here.
I am delighted to bring greetings from New York's
Congressional district located in central Brooklyn. I vow this
opportunity to lend my voice to this very important issue of
gang violence and prevention as a new member to the U.S. House
of Representatives and former House member of the City of New
York.
I've had an opportunity through chairing a committee called
the Committee on Crime to really do an in-depth look at the
conditions that basically feed in our operation in-depth,
particularly in urban areas, as related to youth gangs. So this
issue of prevention in how we address this growing problem in
our nation, I think it's very timely.
You know, gang activity and related violence threaten
public order and safety in a diverse range of communities.
Historically, youth gangs were present primarily in urban
areas. However, today they migrate to suburban and rural areas.
It is of serious concern to all Americans, not just urban
Americans.
So I think having this convention of membership here will
give us an opportunity to really approach this and
understanding the nuances across our nation and what each
community is facing in terms of being able to address
specifically how we could do prevention, what type of
interventions are needed based on the climate and environment
in which our young people are growing up in these days.
Madam Chair, it is my honor to face this weather. This
issue is worthy of this type of attention. I want to thank you
and congratulate you for bringing this to the community of
Freeport.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Without objection, all members will
have 14 days to submit additional materials for the hearing
record.
We don't have a lighting system here today. So basically we
would like to go with five minutes. Members will have five
minutes, witnesses will have five minutes. So when you hear me
tap lightly, that means try to finish up.
And with that, I'm going to be a little more relaxed than
we are down in Washington because we want to hear all your
testimony.
All of your testimony will be put into the record. We all
have read it, so I want to start introducing the witnesses.
Today we will hear from a panel of witnesses. Your
testimonies will proceed in the order I introduce you.
I would like to introduce our first witness, Ms. Kathleen
Rice. Ms. Rice is the first woman to be elected to District
Attorney in Long Island's history. Prior to this position, Ms.
Rice served as award-winning Assistant United States Attorney
in Philadelphia. Today she will describe the gang situation in
Nassau County and prevention and surplus suppression in her
community.
We will next hear from Mr. Michael Woodward, Chief of
Police from the Village of Freeport. Mr. Woodward, native of
Freeport, has been Chief of Police since 1997 and during his
chamber he has maintained the availability of the Community
Response Unit. The activities of this unit led Mr. Woodward to
develop a Gang Awareness Suppression and Prevention Program
which involves the community in addressing gang prevention and
related crime. We will hear of this program by the Village of
Freeport Police Department.
Now I wish to recognize the distinguished--you'll
introduce. Sorry.
Next, I want to introduce Ranking Member Mr. Platts from
Pennsylvania who will introduce our next witness.
Mr. Platts. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
We're delighted to have with us Mr. Hayes, who served as
Chief Executive Officer for Cayuga Home for Children since
1995. And under his leadership, the program under his tenure
has become a multi-service provider upon counseling support
facilities throughout the State of New York and in 2001 had
become the first certified public provider of Functional Family
Therapy in New York State and the first provider of Multi-
Dimensional Treatment Foster Care in 2003.
Mr. Hayes served the local community, New York State
Children and Family Services Advisory Board, and was recently
elected Chair of the Board of Directors in Community Home
Association for advancement of evidence-based practice, which I
know we'll hear about as part of your testimony as you've
submitted in your written testimony. Mr. Hayes has a bachelor
of arts in education from the State University of New York.
We're delighted to have you here.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you, Mr. Platts.
Our next witness is Sergio Argueta, Executive Director of
S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Incorporated, who will describe the work of
S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, which is dedicated to educating and
empowering the youth and community on the importance of
resisting gang-related violence. Regarded as one of the leading
experts on gangs and youth violence through New York State who
speaks through experience, he was once a gang leader himself.
I would like to ask Ms. Clarke to introduce our next
witness.
Ms. Clarke. Thank you. I have the honor of introducing Isis
Sapp-Grant. I first met Ms. Sapp-Grant on a regular program and
later became acquainted with her and her life's work as coach
of New York City Councilwoman.
After meeting with Ms. Sapp-Grant and learning about her
commitment to those who are often outcast, I am proud to have
her here. Ms. Grant is the founder and executive director of
the Youth Empowerment Mission. She was born and raised in
Brooklyn where she still resides today with her family. As a
teenager, she was the leader of one of the worst young gangs in
history. During this time her boyfriend was murdered in a gang-
related shooting. This dramatic incident made her realize there
was only two things determining her life, incarceration or
death. She made the decision to walk away from the gang.
With the help of a local police officer and certain
teachers, she was able to complete the difficult process of
separating from the gang. She was able to overcome pressure
from the gang and many other setbacks that changed her life.
She not only walked away from the gang, but finished high
school on time, graduated from college and went on to earn her
masters of science and social work from New York University. In
1995 she founded and monitored the Brooklyn Bedford-Stuyvesant
neighborhood, and while there, sought to provide hope, vision
and support to young people in high-risk situations,their
families and communities. Under one umbrella, Ms. Sapp-Grant is
able to bring together a diversity of individuals who believe
in the organization's mission of redirecting gang membership.
As part of YEM's outreach efforts Mrs. Sapp-Grant launched
the Blossom Program for Girls in 2000 to address the needs of
young women ages 11 to 21. Ms. Sapp-Grant received numerous
awards including the 2006 opportunity for the Boys Hope Girls
Hope Organization, an award in 2004 from the Redbook Magazine
and the New York Hero award in 2002 from the Robinhood
Foundation and Union Square Award in 2001.
I would like to welcome Ms. Sapp-Grant.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you, Ms. Clarke.
Our last witness is Mr. Chris Maddox. He once was an
incarcerated gang member who left his gang and gang life behind
him and is known from the Department of Social Services. Mr.
Maddox works for the organization Help End Violence Now
Families Outreach activities.
I looked forward to learning of your experiences and
hearing from you what we can do to keep our young people from
heading down the dangerous and terrible mountain of gang
violence.
I want to thank all of you for being here today. One of the
reasons we have these hearings is so that leaders and members
can learn. We will be doing reorganization this year and we
want to make sure that from whatever we hear from you today can
be put into that reorganization.
For those of you who have not testified before, don't be
nervous. We're going to be a little more relaxed today than we
are down in Washington.
And I note, when we go to District Attorney Rice, that she
will have to leave. She has matters that came up since we first
got here.
So with that, I would like to have Ms. Rice start.
STATEMENT OF KATHLEEN RICE, NASSAU COUNTY
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
Ms. Rice. Thank you. Thank you for your invitation to
address the Committee on Education and for the Subcommittee on
Healthy Families and Communities' interest in preventing gang
proliferation and protecting our community's children.
Like many suburbs around the country, gang proliferation
and gang violence are on the rise in Nassau County. Our
community is feeling the effects of their violence and our
children are becoming prey to their growth. Neighborhood gangs
homegrown and isolated to specific streets within communities
wreak havoc on innocent bystanders and contribute significantly
to an area's crime rate. These gangs destroy the quality of
life and make it nearly impossible for a neighborhood to embark
on redevelopment or attract sustainable jobs for its families.
These gangs recruit local kids and often use incredible
violence to defend their turf of the image of their gang.
The answer to stopping gang proliferation is not a simple
one. Many of the reasons gangs are growing in our community
have regional, if not national, foundations. However, while the
underlying issues may be broader than our jurisdiction, we
believe we have an obligation to address their impact and an
equally important obligation to develop local strategies that
would protect our children.
There are some traditional methods to gang prevention
through enforcement that certainly have an impact on the
results of gang activity. Legislative efforts to toughen
sentencing guidelines for gang related-crimes have had some
impact on gang violence over the years. For instance, we have
supported legislation that would enhance the penalties for
carrying an illegal weapon. We know from experience where their
guns, there are gangs. We are looking forward to support future
efforts that target as fervently the guns coming into our
communities as we have the guns in the hands of children on the
street.
For some gang members, lengthy incarceration is the only
option, especially in the case of a high-ranking member. This
can severely disrupt, at least temporarily, the recruiting
performance of the gang. Lengthy incarceration for the worst of
the worst can also have a deterrent effect on those
contemplating gang life or those contemplating their criminal
involvement in a gang.
In addition to the traditional methods of gang suppression
that I outlined above, my office has advocated for the adoption
of an intelligence-led policing model in Nassau County. This is
relatively new. The key to this modern proactive approach is
developing, analyzing and sharing gang intelligence among law
enforcement. Gangs are sophisticated and generally have a
strict hierarchy that is tough to penetrate for undercover
operatives.
Because of this, the gathering of information, electronic
surveillance and gang debriefings, both after arrest and in
jail or prison, become crucial to understanding and dismantling
the core of a gang or one of its subsets.
Our office was a leader in the push for the newly created
Lead Development Center, a centrally located depository
designed to collect, analyze and share crime data and
intelligence with law enforcement on all levels. The LDC takes
advantage of some of the most advanced technology today to
aggressively target gang activity and proliferation.
Intelligence sharing between local, state and federal
governments is as crucial in the war on gangs as it is in this
country's efforts to protect itself from terrorism. While
traditional enforcement strategies are essential to combating
gang violence and embracing intelligence law enforcement is
critical to developing successful enforcement strategies.
To curb gang proliferation, we must focus on reaching
children before they join a gang. We must think outside the box
and be ready to invest in children and in communities preyed
upon by gang activity.
I believe a local district attorney can have an impact on
gang proliferation and can do things that provide children with
opportunities and alternatives to gangs. We all know that
children join gangs as a last alternative. As a community and
as a law enforcement agency, we have a responsibility to
provide our children with education and with positive
activities while they are out of school. We have a
responsibility to provide them with mentors and with role
models from whom they could learn. We have a responsibility as
a law enforcement agency to redirect them after an initial
contact--often at a very young age--occurs. As a community, we
have an obligation to provide them access to work and the
ability to earn a living separate and apart from a gang
structure.
Finally, I believe law enforcement has a role to play when
to comes to post-jail, re-entry programs for those willing to
abandon the criminal life. A partnership between the
communities, their stakeholders, law enforcement and private
business is essential to our efforts to attack gang
proliferation and to save the lives of at-risk youth in Nassau
County.
My office has embarked on several gang prevention
initiatives. They are aimed at reaching kids before they are
entrenched in a gang and before they have a criminal history.
Through our community outreach team, we have sustained Gang
Abatement Program teams in two of the five corridor towns
suffering from gang and gun-related violence in Nassau County.
The corridor is comprised of the Village of Hempstead, the
Village of Freeport, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Westbury and New
Cassel. These areas are disproportionately impacted by gun
crime and gun violence. The GAP team is composed of a D.A.
office, Nassau County Police Department's Task Force Against
Gangs, local law enforcement, probation, local school,
community and faith-based organizations, county service
providers such as mental health and youth board and business
owners. The idea is for at-risk youth to be identified through
the people in the community. He or she is then connected to a
prosecutor in my office. That attorney guides the youth to the
service providers for evaluation. The hope is that the service
providers determine what the youth needs in terms of education,
job training, socialization skills, housing, counseling and
medication.
We have also partnered with schools in Hempstead and
Westbury to offer summer school programs centered on athletic
activities. These summer camps for children are a safe
alternative to the street and gives our office a glimpse into
the life of a child possibly in need of further proactive
outreach.
Our office provides mentors to at-risk children in middle
school during the school year which is a program that allows a
child to interact with a positive role model on a consistent
basis.
Most, if not all, gang members have had contact with law
enforcement at an early age. What this tells us is that in
addition to our enforcement strategies and our proactive
identification strategies, we must have a plan for those who
have had contact with the criminal justice system.
I know my time is also almost up, but I want to talk about
a program my office is looking to implement in which a youth
facing jail time will have an opportunity to have his or her
charges lowered or sealed if he or she finishes school and
works toward their individual goals. The contracts are
structured around the needs of each individual and rely on law
enforcement asking about each participant. For many kids, this
is the first time they have ever been asked this question and
it goes a long way towards their eventual success. The contract
program has already been launched in one community here in
Nassau County and it is our intention to replicate throughout
the county taking advantage of the services identified by the
GAP teams.
As I've said, we have taken on other projects that help the
youth in the communities including job fairs where we give kids
the opportunity to have work after school as a way of keeping
them occupied and away from joining gangs. Traditional and
increased multi jurisdictional commitment to procuring and
sharing gang intelligence all play a role in disrupting gang
activity and preventing inevitable violence that occurs after
proliferation.
If we are serious about protecting our children from gangs,
we must be willing to embark on unconventional and proactive
strategies. A successful approach must include a comprehensive
plan for diversion for children experiencing their first minor
brush with the system. Finally, we must be willing to implement
bold programs to deal with post-jail re-entry and joblessness
among those young adults convicted of a crime.
As you can see, local prosecutors do have a role to play in
these efforts and my administration will be committed to
pushing the envelope and looking for aggressive strategies that
will save the lives of our children and protect our
neighborhoods.
Thank you very much.
[The statement of Ms. Rice follows:]
Prepared Statement of Kathleen M. Rice, District Attorney,
Nassau County, NY
Thank you for your invitation to address the Committee on Education
and for the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities' interest
in preventing gang proliferation and protecting our community's
children.
Like many suburbs around the country, gang proliferation and gang
violence are on the rise in Nassau County. Our community is feeling the
effects of their violence and our children are becoming prey to their
growth. Neighborhood gangs, homegrown and isolated to specific streets
within communities, wreak havoc on innocent bystanders and contribute
significantly to an area's crime rate. These gangs destroy the quality
of life of their neighbors and make it nearly impossible for a
neighborhood to embark on redevelopment or to attract sustainable jobs
for its families. These gangs recruit local kids and often use
incredible violence to defend their turf or the image of their gang.
Nassau County and Long Island have also seen an influx of national
and international gangs. National gangs, with strongholds in nearby New
York City, recruit young children from all over the county to
participate in their criminal activity and to fuel their enterprise.
These gangs have tentacles in most towns, villages and neighborhoods in
Nassau County. Their web extends throughout the New York City region
and up and down the east coast. Many of their crimes involve state
border crossing and many of their members have been a part of a variety
of their gang chapters since their childhood.
International gang activity has spread across Long Island like
wildfire over the course of the last decade. These gangs have
international origins and are usually nationality-specific. They
migrate to areas of possible recruitment and are destroying our
neighborhoods and ruining the lives of the promising young children
they recruit.
All of these gangs prey on our children. They use children for
their most dangerous and violent acts. They prey on their innocence, on
their education, and on their lack of alternatives.
The answer to stopping gang proliferation is not a simple one. Many
of the reasons gangs are growing in our community have regional, if not
national, foundations. However, while the underlying issues may be
broader than our jurisdiction, we believe we have an obligation to
address their impact and an equally important obligation to develop
local strategies that will protect our children.
There are some traditional methods to gang prevention through
``enforcement'' that certainly have an impact on the results of gang
activity. While these strategies do little to prevent gang growth, they
are important to protecting the quality of life of a neighborhood and
can result in the `worst of the worst' being removed--temporarily or
permanently--from a community.
Legislative efforts to toughen sentencing guidelines for gang-
related crimes have had some impact on gang violence over the years.
For instance, we have supported legislation that would enhance the
penalties for carrying an illegal weapon. We know from experience:
where there are guns, there are gangs. We are looking forward to
supporting future efforts that target as fervently the guns coming into
our communities as we have the guns in the hands of children on the
street.
For some gang members, lengthy incarceration is the only option.
Especially in the case of a high-ranking member, this can severely
disrupt--at least temporarily--the recruiting performance of the gang.
Lengthy incarceration for the `worst of the worst' can also have a
deterrent effect on those contemplating gang life or those
contemplating their criminal involvement in a gang.
Disrupting the recruiting efforts of gangs is the only way to truly
decrease their proliferation. Disrupting their recruiting efforts means
not only incarcerating and infiltrating their command structure, but
limiting their ability to recruit children from our neighborhoods and
families.
In addition to the traditional methods of gang suppression outlined
above, my office has advocated for the adoption of an ``intelligence-
led'' policing model in Nassau County. The key to this modern,
proactive approach is developing, analyzing and sharing gang
intelligence among law enforcement. Gangs are sophisticated and
generally have a strict hierarchy that is tough to penetrate for
undercover operatives. Because of this, the gathering of information,
electronic surveillance, and gang debriefings--both after arrest and in
jail or prison--become crucial to understanding and dismantling the
core of a gang or one of its subsets.
Our office was a leader in the push for the newly-created Lead
Development Center, a centrally located repository designed to collect,
analyze and share crime data and intelligence with law enforcement of
all levels. The LDC takes advantage of some of the most advanced
technology available today to aggressively target gang activity and
proliferation. Intelligence sharing between local, state and federal
governments is as crucial in the war on gangs as it is in this
country's efforts to protect itself from terrorism.
While traditional ``enforcement'' strategies are essential to
combating gang violence, and embracing ``intelligence-led'' law
enforcement is critical to developing successful ``enforcement''
strategies, to curb gang proliferation we must focus on reaching
children before they join a gang. We must think `outside the box' and
be ready to invest in children and in communities preyed upon by gang
activity.
I believe a local district attorney can have an impact on gang
proliferation and can do things that provide children with
opportunities and alternatives to gangs.
Children join gangs as a last alternative. As a community, and as a
law enforcement agency, we have a responsibility to provide our
children with education and with positive activities while they are out
of school. We have a responsibility to provide them with mentors and
with role models from whom they can learn. We have a responsibility as
a law enforcement agency to re-direct them after an initial contact--
often at a very young age--occurs. As a community, we have an
obligation to provide them access to work and the ability to earn a
living separate and apart from a gang structure. Finally, I believe law
enforcement has a role to play when it comes to post-jail, re-entry
programs for those willing to abandon the criminal life.
A partnership between the communities, their stakeholders, law
enforcement and private business, is essential to our efforts to attack
gang proliferation and to save the lives of ``at-risk'' youth in Nassau
County.
My office has embarked on several gang prevention initiatives aimed
at reaching kids before they are entrenched in a gang and before they
have a criminal history.
Through our community outreach team we have established Gang
Abatement Program (GAP) teams in two of the five ``Corridor'' towns
suffering from gang and gun related violence in Nassau County. The
``Corridor'' is comprised of the Village of Hempstead, Village of
Freeport, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Westbury and New Cassel. These areas
are disproportionately impacted by gun crime and gun violence. The GAP
team is composed of the District Attorney's Office, the Nassau County
Police Department's Task Force Against Gangs (TAG), local law
enforcement, probation, local schools, community/faith based
organizations, county service providers such as mental health and the
youth board, and business owners. The idea is for ``at-risk'' youth to
be identified through the people in the community. He or she is then
connected to an assistant district attorney in my office. That attorney
guides the youth to the service providers for evaluation. The hope is
that the service providers determine what the youth needs, i.e.,
education, job training, socialization skills, housing, counseling, and
medication.
It is my hope that we will soon expand the GAP program to
communities outside of the Corridor and that several other programs
identifying ``at-risk'' youth in the community will use GAP to address
the specific needs of each child.
We have partnered with schools in Hempstead and Westbury to offer
summer school programs centered on athletic activities. With the help
of these school districts, and some private and charitable resources,
we've been able to make these programs successful and have had hundreds
of participants during what is usually the most unstructured time of
the year for any child. These summer camps offer children a safe
alternative to the streets and give our office a glimpse into the life
of a child possibly in need of further proactive outreach. Very often
``at-risk'' children will be discovered in these programs and we can
keep in touch with the child, their family and their school to provide
additional assistance well after the summer is over. We anticipate that
these summer camps will grow and that we will be able to expand into
additional communities around Nassau County in the coming years.
Our office provides mentors to ``at-risk'' children in a middle
school during the school year. This program allows a child to interact
with a positive role model on a consistent basis. Assistant district
attorneys and support staff volunteer their valuable time to this
mentorship program and we believe its effects are significant.
Most, if not all gang members, have had contact with law
enforcement at an early age. What this tells us is that in addition to
our ``enforcement'' strategies and our proactive identification
strategies, we must have a plan for those who have had some contact
with the criminal justice system.
These diversion efforts are crucial and require a partnership
between law enforcement, private business, the child's school,
community members and very often, the Department of Social Services.
Our office is looking to implement a new program in which a youth
facing jail time will have the opportunity of having his or her charges
lowered or sealed if he or she finishes school and works toward their
individual goals. The ``contracts'' are structured around the needs of
each individual and rely on law enforcement asking each participant
about their personal interests and goals. For many kids, this is the
first time they have been asked this question and it goes a long way
toward their eventual success. This individualized attention increases
the likelihood of successful diversion and fosters real trust between
law enforcement, community stakeholders and community members. It is
this trust that will allow this program and others to succeed.
The ``contract'' program has already been launched in one community
and it is our intention to replicate it throughout Nassau County,
taking advantage of the services identified by the GAP teams.
While the vast majority of our programs strive to reach kids before
they have a brush with the law or before they have a criminal
conviction, it is incumbent upon us to develop a strategy for those who
may not be hardened criminals and who we may be able to divert from
their short criminal history. The final proactive strategy to
preventing children and young men and women from joining gangs focuses
on re-entry from jail or prison. Our office has launched an
unprecedented effort to identify and target inmates eligible for this
effort. The strategy partners inmates with a support network and a peer
group familiar with their situation and equally eager to give up their
criminal past and live a positive life.
In addition to the ``enforcement'' initiatives, the proactive
identification efforts (GAP), the diversion program, and our re-entry
plan, it is critical for ``at-risk'' youth to be able to find work. It
is equally imperative that those eligible for the re-entry program be
partnered with local employers once they are out of jail.
My office holds two job fairs per year that provide valuable
manpower to local businesses and critical jobs to those looking to make
an honest living and avoid the gang lifestyle. Local businesses are
essential to this partnership and we're looking forward to increasing
the size and the number of employers in the coming year.
As I've said, traditional ``enforcement'' strategies and an
increased multi-jurisdictional commitment to procuring and sharing gang
intelligence all play a role in disrupting gang activity and in
preventing the inevitable violence that occurs after their
proliferation.
But if we are serious about protecting our children from gangs we
must be willing to embark on unconventional and proactive strategies.
We must be willing to aggressively target ``at-risk'' children and
provide them with education and access to a variety of work experiences
and positive role models. A successful approach must include a
comprehensive plan for diversion for children experiencing their first
minor brush with the system. Finally, we must be willing to implement
bold programs to deal with post-jail re-entry and joblessness among
those young adults convicted of a crime.
As you can see, local prosecutors have a role to play in these
efforts and my administration will remain committed to pushing the
envelope and looking for aggressive strategies that will save the lives
of our children and protect our neighborhoods.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you, District Attorney Rice.
Again, all your testimony will be put in so the committee can
read everybody's testimony.
Chief Woodward.
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL WOODWARD, CHIEF OF FREEPORT POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Chief Woodward. Thank you, Congresswoman McCarthy. Thank
you, Ranking Member Platts, Congresswoman Clarke for conducting
this subcommittee hearing.
Initially a West Coast phenomenon, basic street gangs have
migrated throughout the United States. Once they are
established in a major metropolitan area, they spread into the
suburbs. Gang membership is comprised of all race, ethnic,
gender and age groups. Race membership increases through the
following reasons: Recruitment, peer pressure, overwhelmed with
dysfunctional families, cultural differences, economic
disparity, video game influence, a distorted government
approach to dealing with gangs.
Many athletes and entertainers who are affiliated with
gangs, they are ready to observe flashing hand signs while
performing or playing professional sports, thereby offering
support for embracing the gang lifestyle. Gang violence has
been lavishly depicted in movies and mainstream video.
Specialized magazines such as Don Diva, the ritual street
fighter are dedicated to promoting the gangster lifestyle. The
magazine discourages anyone for being a witness for or
cooperating with police. It also is demeaning to females.
Gang members further the existence of their gang through
graffiti, extortion, robbery, prostitution, drug distribution,
weapons possession, assaults and murder. They have a chain of
command, communication votes, dues and a charter describing
their policies and procedures. They are adept at procuring the
use of military weapons. They are potential for aligning
themselves with terrorist organizations is a probable outcome.
The immediate focus of the Freeport Police Department is to
mitigate gang recruitment and operations with a Gang Awareness
Suppression and Prevention Program. The program provides gang-
related information to the community for the focus on working
with parents to protect their children from gangs.
The awareness information provided includes some of the
symbols, colors, tattoos and codes that indicates gang
involvement. Parents are requested to be observant for any
substantial change in the child's behavior, academic
performance or attitude towards women. Suggestions to examine
their child's room, along with any drawings, writings, art, for
gang symbols are all incorporated in the Awareness program.
The Freeport Police Department has its own program, which
is a prevention and suppression program that works with the
gang member's family. The program educates the family about
their child's involvement in a gang and offers assistance or
alternative programs to provide the family a social worker.
To discourage the spread of gangs, there is an urgent need
for personal and governmental organizations such as the police
department, prosecutor's office and school districts to partner
with communities that specialize in youth outreach and
development. Their resources should be used to promote sense of
gang awareness and educate the public on the signs and presence
of gangs. The temporary absence of gangs throughout any
community does not protect that community or address gang-
related crime.
The Village of Freeport has such a committee. The committee
is the Officials Working Group. This group has the Gang
Awareness Program to warn PTAs to all seven schools in the
Freeport school district.
Our Guide to School and Community Activities; this guide
provides parents with information on broad variety of
supervised and structured activities categorized by their
child's age and grade. The guide also includes a comprehensive
list of community-based organizations along with a description
for services they offer.
The Search Institute Developmental Assets Circular was
conducted of students in all even grades from 4th to 12th as a
means to evaluate a student's strengths and needs. The results
are currently being evaluated for the development of future
programs.
A parent expo was conducted. This is offered through area
businesses and government agencies. The participants offered
employment information and a description of available services.
To prevent the growth of gangs, their recruitment efforts must
be futile.
Workshops and related programs that assist parents with
child development should be funded and developed. This is
especially true of preschool. Social interaction needs to be
based on courtesy and respect.
A common national language should be formalized to pursue a
communication legislature. Many efforts were unsuccessful
because of the failure to communicate. An essential component
of communication that's often overlooked is to listen. As
described by the Search Institute Development Asset survey, it
is suggested to provide an understanding of the challenges
facing the students. Every entity that has an interest in
affording children an opportunity to realize their full
potential free from gangs needs to have an understanding of
where to focus their actions to help children the most. Youth
mentoring or assistance programs sponsored by law enforcement
organizations such as the Freeport Police Department, not-for-
profit programs or Employment Skills Workshops should be
implemented.
Other certified programs should also be created, employed
and sustained. The failure to continue programs that are well-
received by any student beneficiaries leaves them with a sense
of abandonment. Businesses and school districts should consider
holding events such as the Freeport School Advisory Council to
offer its students and fund advanced learning opportunities for
them.
The students of today are our hope for tomorrow. We need to
invest in them now for a prosperous future free from gang
violence. Thank you.
[The statement of Chief Woodward follows:]
Prepared Statement of Michael Woodward, Chief of Freeport Police
Department
I want to thank Chairwoman McCarthy, Ranking Member Platts and
members of the Sub-committee on Healthy Families and Communities for
holding this hearing to explore the gang prevention activities on Long
Island to learn what might be replicated across the country. The
reduction of gang recruitment efforts along with prevention of gang
related crime is essential to the safety of all residents of our
country. The FBI Long Island Office reports that the Mara Salvatrucha,
or MS-13, gang has been deemed to be a ``High Threat'' to the northeast
section of our country due to its involvement in murder, assaults with
weapons, firearms possession, drug distribution, extortion from
businesses, prostitution and robbery.
The immediate focus of the Freeport Police Departments efforts to
mitigate gang recruitment was a Gang Awareness Suppression and
Prevention Program (GASPP). The demographics of the street gang
population encompass a broad spectrum of race, ethnicity, gender and
age and the program provides gang related information to parents,
community members, school staffs, and the work force in an effort to
reduce gang recruitment
The awareness component of GASPP provides a description of various
behaviors, and physical observations, which together or in some cases
independently, are indicative of gang involvement. While the
information provided in the GASPP brochure (attachment # 1) is
representative of gang indicators, it is not all-inclusive. Symbols,
colors, hand signs, clothing and gang codes consistently change due to
Police awareness and fashion trends. The changes in team logos and
colors of professional sports organizations are frequently the impetus
for such changes.
The prevention element of GASPP encompasses many youth-oriented
activities. These include mentoring programs for elementary school
students, along with a guide for parents that advises them of the many
programs available to their child as an alternative to gangs. Community
members and businesses are requested to engage in positive interaction
with adolescents to encourage appropriate social interaction. Business
owners, residents, and team coaches, are all requested to actively
communicate with students who are engaging in inappropriate behavior.
This is done in a manner that is courteous and provides positive
instruction as a means of conveying the necessity of civil behavior and
to further individual achievement. The School District Superintendent,
together with high and middle school administrators, meet monthly with
a Freeport Police Department command staff member to develop strategy
to prevent gang activity in the schools and community based upon recent
gang incidents. Informal sharing occurs between the school staff and
police in close time proximity to any gang involved offense when
students are participants. (Please see attachment #1 for detailed
explanation of the GASPP program.)
The suppression element of GASPP involves various law enforcement
programs that are performed independently or in conjunction with
community resources to discourage gang-related activity. Suppression
efforts include partnerships with federal and state prosecutors, along
with a task force made up of federal, state and local law enforcement
members. Participation in the FBI Gang Task Force has provided
additional law enforcement resources for conducting criminal
investigations of gangs with a focus on their leadership. These
investigations have resulted in the arrest and successful prosecution
of sixty-five members of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. Other gangs that
are prevalent through out Long Island such as the Latin King, Bloods,
and Crips are being investigated for crimes similar to the type
committed by MS-13, by both the FBI Gang Task Force and local law
enforcement. The Federal Court, without a prior conviction of a
predicate felony, may not prosecute individual gang members, who are
seventeen years of age or less. Therefore gang members who have a
defense based on their age are prosecuted locally. The MS 13 members
who were arrested were involved in the commission of various violent
crimes that include dealing drugs, possession of firearms, rape,
robbery and murder.
Another cooperative gang suppression effort is a partnership with
the Nassau County Probation Department that teams Police Officers with
Probation Officers. The Probation Department Officers lead the teams
that visit the residences of probationers who are gang members. These
visits serve to ensure that the probationers are not in violation of
any terms of their probation. This compliance program also verifies
that gang members are not associating with other gang members or in
possession of any firearms or drugs. It also provides a means to
establish that they are abiding by curfew restrictions, thereby
discouraging their participation in crime.
Supplementing traditional gang prevention techniques, the Freeport
Police Department has developed and implemented a Home Visit Program
(HVP). The HVP has been designed to assist the parents of gang members
by helping them recognize their child's association with a gang. This
usually takes place prior to an arrest of their son or daughter. After
a Police Officer has confirmed that an individual is involved with a
gang and the information is passed on to the Commanding Officer of the
Freeport Police Department's Community Response Unit (CRU). Two
Detectives are assigned to conduct a home visit of the gang member's
family to discuss their child's participation in the gang and advise
them of the resources available to the family to help them discourage
their child's further participation in the gang. The initial reaction
to the police visit is denial of their child's involvement. Only after
the detectives present the parents with evidence that includes gang
indicators such as tattoos, limited clothing attire restricted by
color, letters or product initials, observation of hand signing, and
their child or friends, are not hearing challenged, along with
drawings, and gang paraphernalia in their school bags or books do, the
parents realize that their child is involved with gangs. In some
instances, parents have relocated their son or daughter with relatives
in other states or even other countries. Other parents have expressed
frustration and a lack of hope with regard to their child's future. A
small percentage are currently gang members themselves or don't see a
problem with their child's involved gang membership. During testimony
to the Nassau County Legislation Public Safety Committee, a Roosevelt,
N.Y. Community Activist testified that the gang members in her
neighborhood helped her grow up and she saw no problem with them
hanging out with her children. She further stated that the only gang
she was afraid of was the gang dressed in blue that drive white cars
with blue and orange stripes. This was a reference to the Nassau County
Police Department. To make the HVP more effective, a partnership has
been established with the Freeport Pride Youth Outreach organization,
that has resulted in providing the parents with follow up referral
services and involvement by their social workers.
School Based Programs
The Freeport Police Department Adopt-A-Cop Program is another
activity that was developed to discourage youth from entering a gang.
The Adopt A Cop Program was formulated to provide a positive informal
interaction between students and police officers. The program requires
the ``adoption'' of one police officer by each 4th grade class who will
meet with their ``adopted'' Officer at the onset of the program and
monthly thereafter throughout the school year. The officers who are
involved in the Adopt A Cop program are volunteers. Of the ninety-two
Freeport police officers, twenty-eight volunteer as Adopt A Cops.
During the monthly meeting, officers conduct an open exchange of
ideas and discussions with their students that centers around the fore
mentioned goals and objectives. The officers also schedule tours of
Police Headquarters and attend the school trips by their respective
classes. At the completion of each meeting, each student composes a
letter to their police officer including any comments or questions
which pertains to the prior meeting, or other police related concerns.
The officer responds with a general letter to the entire class, which
is read to them by their teacher in between meetings.
At the end of the school year, all of the fourth grade students,
their adopted Police Officers and additional Police resources,
celebrate the end of their school year together with Adopt A Cop Day.
The day is filled with interactive presentations that include tours of
a Police helicopter, Horse Mounted Officer, SCUBA and K-9
demonstrations. Pizza, hot dogs, soda and ice cream are enjoyed by all
of the day's participants. In addition each child is also given an
Adopt a Cop tee shirt.
Goals and Objectives:
The goals and objectives of the Adopt A Cop program are to:
A) Encourage the mutually beneficial exchange of information and
concerns between the Adopted Cop and his/her class.
B) Provide a positive police officer role model, thereby dispelling
negative police stereotypes.
C) Educate children about their safety, and discuss methods which
the children may use to avoid potential hazardous situations, including
gang recruitment efforts.
D) Discuss projects and non-violent forms of entertainment as a
positive alternative to questionable media entertainment.
E) Provide an avenue for children to discuss positive alternate
means to resolve conflict, or express anger or frustration as an
alternative to violence or alcohol/drug use.
F) Provide insight into the function of police officers, and
encourage students to consider law enforcement as a possible career.
G) Contribute to the development of the children who participate in
the Adopt A Cop program.
Each of the officers who participate as Adopt-A-Cop Program
volunteers receive the Freeport Police Department Community Service
Award at the bi-annual award dinner.
This program is currently in its eleventh year of operation.
The Safe Schools Healthy Students grant had funded a similar but
much smaller police mentoring program that was designed for middle
school students, who were recognized to be considered ``at risk'' of
gang involvement. This program had been proposed by the Freeport Police
Department to the Safe Schools Healthy Students Program Committee
Members. The committee included the Freeport School District, Nassau
County BOCES, Operation Pride, Freeport Youth Outreach, and the South
Shore Child Guidance Center. Middle school students were selected as
the program participants due to a conscious belief by the program
membership that this mentoring program would complement the Adopt-A-Cop
program. Due to grant funding limitations, the program was limited with
regard to the number of participants to achieve the greatest impact
with limited resources. It was decided that middle school
administrators and teachers would select those students they believed
to be ``at risk'' of gang involvement for this program.
Ultimately the program would include this group of middle school
students who the committee members believed would benefit the most from
interaction with police officers. The programs six police officers
would interact weekly during a shared school based lunch meeting. On
weekends, students and police officers would jointly participate in
sports, trips, and movie outings. The officers received an hourly rate,
which was substantially less than their police officer salaries as per
diem school district employees. Unfortunately, in spite of its success,
when the grant funding expired, the school district was unable to
continue the program.
Gang prevention efforts must also include educational programs that
assist adolescents in achieving important developmental skills. In
2004, the Freeport Police Department introduced an employment skills
workshop designed to facilitate employment opportunities for middle
school students. The workshop provides these students with insight into
the job application process, interview, preparation and employment
expectations. The information provided affords students the opportunity
to be readily prepared to seek employment opportunities, thereby
offering a counter balance to the limitations imposed by gang
membership. Gangs grant status to members who are violent, possess an
active and lengthy criminal record and embrace a disregard of societies
value on life, individual responsibility and achievement. These traits
are counterproductive to being successful in seeking employment. The
aforementioned gang tenets preclude a chance for a successful job
interview in contrast to the Employment Skills Workshop. (Please see
attachment #2, Employment Skills Workshop).
Community Partnership
The aforementioned police initiatives were presented as initial
efforts to address the proliferation of gangs and related crime issues.
Continuing in this vein in 2002, Mayor Glacken and the Board of
Trustees with the Freeport Police Department, in conjunction with the
Freeport school district, formed a consortium of various organizations
and institutions that are associated with the Freeport community. The
organization was formed and named the Officials Working Group (OWG) for
the purpose of preventing gang related crime through the concerted
utilization of new and existing resources. The main committee meets
monthly, while the sub-committees meet during the month and report on
their progress at the main monthly meeting.
Representation on the committee rapidly expanded to include the
Nassau County District Attorney's Office, Nassau County Youth Board,
Freeport Parent Teachers Association (PTA), Hofstra University Liberty
Partnership, Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Junior
Achievement, Nassau County Equal Opportunity Commission, Freeport
Recreation Department, Freeport Pride, Education Tutorial Services,
Struggling To Reunite Our New Generation (STRONG), along with
representatives of various religious clergy and community advocates.
The School Superintendent chairs the committee.
In the beginning, the committee decided to focus on reducing crime
by addressing street gang violence and related anti-social behavior in
the schools and community. Committee members determined that the first
objective would be to discourage gang recruitment efforts through
community and parental awareness presentations. A revised gang
awareness program was developed from the pre-existing Freeport Police
Department Gang Awareness, Suppression & Prevention (GASP) program. The
expanded Gang Awareness Program (GAP) is designed to inform community
members, with an emphasis on parents of students, about how to
determine if a person is involved in a gang through the identification
of specific characteristics unique to street gang members. In addition,
the presentation list the reasons people join gangs, along with a
description of their rites of initiation and explanation of the types
of crimes they are associated with.
The most powerful allure of a gang is the sense of power and
respect that is perceived to come with membership; the power of
numbers, control of a neighborhood, and fear of their potential for
committing random acts of violence, that is mistaken for respect. These
misplaced beliefs, in conjunction with a sense of being family or
brothers or sisters against other gangs and those who they perceive as
being different, creates a sense of unity. In reality, the love, power,
respect, and unity of gang membership is a path to arrest,
imprisonment, injury, hospitalization, and death. A community
involvement component of GAP lists the various resources available to
discourage gang recruitment efforts. This includes involvement in
alternative structural school activities, increased parental
involvement in the education process, and access to professional
counseling in schools via accredited private social outreach services.
These prevention efforts, to be effective, must be in place to assist
students as early as third grade.
One OWG sub-committee has developed a bilingual ``Guide to School
and Community Activities for School Age Children.'' The guide provides
parents with a broad variety of supervised and structured activities as
an alternate to idle time. The activities are listed according to a
child's age and grade. (Please see attachment #3 for the current
guide).
A member of the OWG who was partnered with an officer from the
Freeport Police Department Community Response Unit (cru) gave each GAP
presentation, and by February 2004, every school PTA in the Freeport
School District had a GAP presentation. Additional presentations are
currently offered to any religious congregation or civic association
willing to host the program. Unfortunately, most of the presentations
that have taken place were poorly attended.
The expansion of Police Department school-based mentoring programs,
interagency collaboration and interactive resident/police
communications respective to street crime or related activity,
supplement the many initiatives described above. In conjunction with
these efforts, the Police Department provides an assessment of the gang
issues facing village residents along with insight into existing
police-sponsored programs and enforcement operations. Group dynamics of
the OWG participants have afforded the members an opportunity to
enhance existing programs. As discussed prior, the Freeport Police
Department ``Home Visit Program'' (HVP) has been changed to provide an
additional resource. Now when CRU officers visit the homes of known
gang members to offer assistance to the gang member's parent(s), an
additional service is provided. Freeport Pride, a private youth
outreach program, is working with CRU officers to include their social
workers in the HVP to offer their assistance and alternate program
awareness to the gang members family.
Another sub-committee is tasked with researching new programs for
students as a deterrent to gang recruitment. The committee members also
arrange for former gang members or other motivational speakers to
address student groups. One sub-committee has the responsibility for
researching new law proposals that are designed to deter gang related
crime. Other members are assigned to pursue the development of new
initiatives and partnerships with like organizations outside Freeport.
These include the; Hispanic Counseling Center, Family and Children
Associations, Nassau County Youth Board, Nassau County Department of
Social Services, and the Salvation Army.
One of the new initiatives that have been implemented is a student
survey. The survey was conducted in anticipation that the results would
assist the committee with identifying areas of need that the committee
would focus on to better assist students with meeting today's
challenges. The framework of the Search Institute survey evaluates a
student's sense of possessing skills or ``Developmental Assets'' in the
following five categories.
1) On going relationships with caring adults.
2) Safe places and structured activities during non-school hours.
3) A healthy start for a healthy future.
4) Marketable skills through effective education.
5) Opportunities to serve.
Currently the OWG is evaluating the results of a Developmental
Asset Survey that was given to even grade students from 4 to 12 grades.
The Search Institute vision is to ``Have a world where all young people
are valued and thrive''.
While Freeport School students offered responses that are
comparable to national average results, the specific asset deficiencies
were disheartening. This is especially true with regard to the
following;
1) Positive family communications-only 16% locally and 28%
nationally have this asset
2) Have high expectations for themselves-56% locally and 48%
nationally have this asset
3) A sense of bonding to the school-38% locally and 52% nationally
have this asset
4) The ability to initiate peaceful conflict resolution-21% locally
and 40% nationally
5) A sense of feeling safe-42% locally and 51% nationally
6) Have and understand family boundaries-36% locally and 46%
nationally
7) Experience positive peer influence-54% locally and 63%
nationally
8) Use time at home constructively-43% locally and 51% nationally
9) Feel capable of exercising restraint-30% locally and 45%
nationally
The above survey results, while not specific enticements to gang
involvement, help explain the allure of a gang as a surrogate family.
The unity, love and respect that is perceived to be, or is missing in
the family, creates a void that gang membership purports to fill.
Family values once taken for granted as the foundation for child
development have been seriously eroded. Inappropriate societal
influences including entertainment media, video games, and magazines,
such as ``Don Diva'', glorify violence and misogynistic views. These
sources, combined with a news media, that sensationalizes horrific acts
of violence, become difficult influences for parents and schools to
overcome. In addition, a confused sense as to what constitutes
traditional cultural values contributes to minimizing the reservations
a person may have with regard to joining a gang.
Multi-culturalism without support for the established cultural
values & beliefs contributes to national confusion on how to address
many of the problems facing society. A ``melting pot'' without a common
language will become a ``Tower of Babble''. The ability to engage in
effective communication is an essential element of any successful gang
eradication effort. Confused or misunderstood communications frequently
result in unattended and sometimes deadly consequences. I have
witnessed native-born gang members openly discuss their distrust of
non-English speaking members of opposing gangs during school gang
prevention workshops.
The allure of gang membership in some cases originates from a
family member. In many cases either the father or sibling is the
pathway to gang membership. The family legacy road to gang membership
is more common within Hispanic gangs, where two or more generations who
belong to the same gang may live together. Even families without a gang
member within it are experiencing difficulty with raising their
children due to the outside influences.
In a recent disturbing trend, the Freeport Police Department has
experienced an increase in domestic incident calls that involve parents
who state that they are overwhelmed and feels incapable of dealing with
the behavioral issues of their child. Most of these parents are looking
for help and guidance. Others have stated that they don't care about
their child and want the Police to take them and place them in jail or
any place, just away from them. These children have been abandoned in
place and will be at risk absent meaningful intervention by
reinvigorated and accomplished government services.
The effectiveness of the programs described herein is difficult to
weigh. In spite of the efforts expended, gangs proliferate in
surrounding communities, while their membership numbers remain
relatively constant within Freeport. The gang recruiting that has been
thwarted is due to the collective labors of the Freeport Police
Department and its many partners. The total magnitude of the gang
activity that has been prevented is an intangible. The obvious and
consensus view is that more needs to be done on the federal, state and
local levels.
The most important next step is changing the culture to restore
values that incorporate and encourage a sense of unity, respect, and
devotion to guarantee the rights of others to be free from threats,
intimidation or harm. Free speech issues must be weighed in the context
of offense it was intended to cause. Restrictions on profanity do not
restrict a person's ability to communicate. Conversely, our ability to
communicate would be enhanced by the expansion of vocabulary for the
purpose of engaging in persuasive communication without vulgarity.
The family must plant courtesy and the skills of positive social
interaction during infancy. Overwhelmingly, television has become the
primary babysitter of youth. The social skills developed through this
medium bare little resemblance to ``Sesame Street'' and are more
representative of the ``Jerry Springer Show.'' Parenting skill programs
and related educational programs must find a way into our early child
development efforts. The subsequent benefit to focusing on early
development skills and communication programs will achieve benefits in
reducing domestic violence, providing academic, and skills learning,
all of which are measurable outcomes. They also support a cohesive
family unit as the primary deterrent to gang involvement. Furthermore
we must work to ensure that all people are embraced and afforded
opportunity as true equals. This is a daunting task that must be
implemented as soon as possible. Anything less than the timely
implementation of these principles will guarantee that our gang
prevention efforts will be as successful as the current ``war on
drugs''.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you.
Mr. Hayes.
STATEMENT OF EDWARD HAYES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, CAYUGA HOME
FOR CHILDREN
Mr. Hayes. Thank you for inviting me.
Cayuga Home for Children is a New York State provider of
services for at-risk youth and families.
As part of our commitment to be accountable to both those
we serve and those who fund services, in 2001 we began
providing evidence-based services. My written statement
outlines these.
Our world has changed. In the past, providers of services
for children and families only had faith and anecdotes to
support the effectiveness of their work. Today, research such
as the University of Colorado at Boulder's Blueprints for the
Prevention of Violence can show if a program is effective or
not; not only effective when we work with the youth and family,
but effective after we finish working with the youth,
effectively achieving outcomes such as avoiding out-of-home
placement, avoiding arrest, avoiding gang involvement and the
attending and graduating from school.
Programs such as Functional Family Therapy and
Multisystemic Therapy have proven effectiveness in working with
youth headed for out-of-home placement and keeping them safely
living with their families in the community. In Monroe County
in Rochester, New York, we work with youth who have not
succeeded in prevention programs and are mired in gangs and
violence. Over 60 percent of them complete these programs and
in the month afterwards stayed successfully in the community.
We operate Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care in both
Central New York and in New York City. The youth we work with
come to us as an alternative to being incarcerated in state
facilities and failed a multiple, congregate care placement. 75
percent of these youth complete the program. Our limited
tracking has at least two-thirds avoiding replacement, a stark
contrast to the 50 percent of congregate care youth who studies
show recidivate within a year of discharge.
I am not going to tell stories of youth and families, even
though I could because too often providers tell stories as
opposed to talking about post-end-of-intervention outcomes. The
next time a provider tells you a story, ask them where the
youth was one year after the provider worked with them and ask
them the same question about the other youth who were in the
program that they're not telling the stories about. If the
youth is not living successfully in the community, what good
has been accomplished?
Our need to get past stories is particularly important
because, despite proven success of these programs, funders and
providers have been slow to embrace them continuing with
treatment as usual, even if treatment as usual is not proven
effective or even proven ineffective.
In addition, all the programs promoted by the Blueprint
Study are wonderful programs. They do not cover many of the
issues in populations we face every day. We must find ways to
increase research to increase our knowledge of what works and
what doesn't work, particularly in the area of helping youth
avoid gang involvement and not becoming re-involved with gangs.
And we must create a culture where providers are accountable
for providing programs of proving effectiveness.
To help this occur, I offer these suggestions. First,
juvenile justice, child welfare, youth development, substance
abuse, all of these issues are working with the same youth.
Let's break down the walls or silos between these categories
with hamper our work.
Second, what we are doing should be an investment, not a
mere transfer of funds. As with any investment, we need to
expect a return. Let's spend money on programs that research
shows can produce that return, not on programs that cannot show
effectiveness.
Third, give the states categorical eligibility and
flexibility in using federal IV-E dollars. Currently
eligibility is determined individually, dollars are tied to the
1996 definition of poverty and dollars are tied to out-of-home
care. Particularly working with kids in the community that are
involved in gangs, we need money that can work with these kids
in the community. And let's also look at continuing funding
past the age of 18. After all, you and I have supported our
kids past 18. I have a 29-year-old I'm still paying.
As part of this shift, require that states use evidence-
based or promising practices when they exist or programs that
are working to research their effectiveness when the former
does not exist. Insist all funded programs track post-
discharge, real-life outcomes.
As evidence-based practice lessens of need for out-of-home
care, this will save both federal and state tax dollars, will
better serve our youth and families.
Finally, increase federal spending in research on child
welfare and juvenile justice programs to establish whether or
not these programs are effective. Look to find programs being
incubated in the field to address populations and issues where
there are currently no evidence-based programs.
Thank you for this opportunity and a chance to talk about
this work. We have to understand doing is important but only if
what we do is effective. If we could determine if what we're
doing is effective, let's work effectively. Thank you.
[The statement of Mr. Hayes follows:]
Prepared Statement of Edward Hayes, Chief Executive Officer, Cayuga
Home for Children
My name is Edward Myers Hayes. I am Chief Executive Officer of
Cayuga Home for Children, a New York State provider of services for at-
risk youth and families.
As part of our commitment to be accountable to both those we serve
and those who fund services, in 2001, we began providing evidence-based
services. In 2001, we became the first New York State agency certified
to provide Functional Family Therapy (FFT). In 2003, we became the
first New York State agency to provide Multi-Dimensional Treatment
Foster Care (MTFC). In 2005, we began to provide Multisystemic Therapy
(MST)--becoming one of the first and only agencies to provide all of
these Blueprint services for youth and their families.
Our world has changed. In the past, providers of services for
children and families only had faith and anecdotes to support the
effectiveness of their work. Today, research--such as the University of
Colorado at Boulder's Blueprints for the Prevention of Violence--can
show if a program is effective or not. And I don't only mean effective
while we work with a youth or family but truly effective--if the
program helps the youth live more effectively and achieve outcomes that
matter--such as avoiding out-of-home placement or replacement, avoiding
arrest, and attending and graduating from school.
Programs such as Functional Family Therapy (FFT) and Multisystemic
Therapy (MST) have proven effectiveness in working with youth headed
for out-of-home placement and keeping them safely living with their
families in the community. We operate FFT in five Central New York
counties and operate MST in three CNY counties. In Monroe County--where
Rochester is--we operate both programs and work with youth who have not
succeeded in other prevention programs. Many of these youth are mired
in gangs and violence. Over sixty per cent of them complete these
programs and--in the months afterwards--stay successfully in the
community.
We operate Multi-Dimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) in both
Central New York and in New York City. In New York City, the youth we
work with come to us as an alternative to being incarcerated in state
facilities. Upstate, we are working with youth with multiple, failed
congregate care placements. 75% of these youth complete the program.
While our ability to follow youth's post-discharge progress is limited
due to a lack of resources for doing this, our limited tracking has
two-thirds avoiding replacement--a contrast to the 50% of congregate
care youth who studies show recidivate within a year of discharge.
I am not going to tell stories of youth and families even though I
could because too often providers tell stories, as opposed to talking
about post-end-of-intervention outcomes. The next time a provider tells
you a story, ask where the youth was one year after the provider worked
with them. And ask the same question about the other youth in the
program. If the youth is not living successfully in the community, what
good was accomplished?
Our need to get past stories is particularly important because
despite the proven success of these programs, funders and providers
have been slow to embrace them--continuing with treatment as usual--
even if treatment as usual is not proven effective or even proven
ineffective. Indeed, evidence-based is becoming increasingly watered
down by providers stuck in the old and funders who accept program
statistics as evidence of effectiveness.
In addition, while the programs promoted by the Blueprint study are
great, they do not cover many of the issues and populations we face
every day--in child welfare, in substance abuse treatment, in assisting
homeless youth, in independent living, and more. We must find ways to
increase research into the work being done with our children and our
families to increase our knowledge of what works and what doesn't work.
And we must create a culture where providers are accountable for
providing programs of proven effectiveness.
To help this occur, I offer these suggestions:
Juvenile justice, child welfare, youth development, and
substance abuse are all working with the same youth. Break down the
silos or walls between these categories.
What we are doing should be an investment--not a mere
transfer of funds. As with any investment, we need to expect a return.
Let's spend on programs that research shows can produce that return--
not on programs that cannot show effectiveness.
Give the states categorical eligibility and flexibility in
using Federal IV-E dollars. Currently eligibility is determined
individually, dollars are tied to the 1996 definition of poverty, and
dollars are tied to out-of-home care. And maybe even continue funding
past age 18. After all, you and I kept supporting our kids past 18--
didn't we?
As part of this shift, require that states use evidence-based or
promising practices when they exist or programs that are working to
research their effectiveness when the former does not exist. Insist all
funded programs track post-discharge, real-life outcomes.
As evidence-based practice lessens the need for out-of-home care,
this will both save federal and state tax dollar while better serving
youth and families.
Increase Federal spending on researching social welfare
and juvenile justice programs to establish whether programs are
effective. Look past the Blueprint programs to find the programs being
incubated in the field to address populations and issues where there
are currently no evidence-based programs.
As my staff and Board know, I can talk forever. Talking only five
minutes is hard.
Thank you for this opportunity. I would welcome the chance to talk
more about serving at-risk children and families. Thank you for your
stewardship of them.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you.
Mr. Argueta?
STATEMENT OF SERGIO ARGUETA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF S.T.R.O.N.G.
YOUTH, INCORPORATED
Mr. Argueta. Good morning.
I have to tell you, it's truthfully a pleasure being here
this morning. Although it's cloudy outside and it's raining and
I'm not very religious, I have to finally say alleluia. The
reason is because if 7 years ago someone were to tell me
members of Congress were to be coming to a local municipality
to discuss the P word--that word prevention--I would have said
it will never happen. The reason why is because way to many
villages and municipalities and members of our government and
school boards and local leaders were ashamed of this word
gangs, and they felt it was okay so long as we never addressed
it, as it was okay so long as it was only affecting or not
affecting a particular segment of our community.
Nonetheless, now we know it's not only in urban settings
but it's in rural areas, not just huge municipalities but also
small rural areas where it's affecting anyone and everyone, as
you stated.
I'm here this morning representing not only myself and my
organization, but most importantly, millions of parents that
cry themselves to sleep because they lost their child. I'm here
representing those grandparents that actually had to deal with
the horrible feelings of burying their grandchild or great-
grandparents burying their great--grandchildren. It's something
that really shouldn't happen. I'm also here representing the
gang-involved youth who are on the streets currently because
there is a serious lack of opportunity.
Today, focusing on this particular theme, thousands of kids
are thirsty, thirsty for opportunity, thirsty for someone to
give them a hand and guide them in the right direction. As the
Congresswoman stated in her opening statement, whenever you ask
a kid what do they want to be when they grow up, regardless of
Hempstead, Roosevelt, or uptown, or communities with a lot of
affluence, you always hear the same responses. I want to be a
lawyer, I want to be a doctor, nurse, fireman, police officer.
You never hear, ``I want to be dead by the time I'm 14 years of
age.'' you never hear, ``I want to be incarcerated.''
So why is it we're losing so many people to this plague? We
know we're losing the majority in the junior high school years.
Therefore, why aren't we addressing their needs at an earlier
age? Why are we not working with them in the 4th, 5th, 6th
grades, bringing them closer to the realities?
Everyone wants to point the finger at hip hop. Everyone
wants to point out particular magazines. This isn't something
new. The modern day 50 Cent was looked at with as much disdain
as Elvis Presley was in the '60s and that outlaw image of James
Dean. So it's not new.
We need to understand this isn't affecting just one
community. Whenever we look at the word gangs and any
immigration issue, now people are quick to point to
immigration. You know it what it was, it is an immigration
issues. But it started back in the 1800s when these poor Irish
youths were getting off these boats that arrived and then those
when who arrived a little earlier and felt this was theirs.
If we know we were dealing with this plague over 200 years,
why haven't we come up with some real effective strategies?
That's where S.T.R.O.N.G. comes in.
I started this organization 7 years ago. The reason I
started this organization is because after the death of a young
lady, after the death of a relative and personally losing two
friends, and a third going to prison for life I finally woke
up.
It was an epiphany that happened in front of other people,
dozens of television cameras and our elective speakers and
elected community leaders stood up in front of these cameras,
and you know what they did? They declared a war on gangs. They
said we need more law enforcement, we will not be held
accountable. And at that particular moment, I realized our
elected officials didn't have a clue. The bars and criminal
justice system had not been working. If it was effective,
believe you me that the amount of money and time we have been
investing in that system, we wouldn't have a problem.
So we decided to develop a counterculture to actually start
addressing the needs of these youth, focus on the things
previously mentioned. The family. One of the things I was able
to get out of the gang life was going to a school.
I went to Nassau County Community College and I'll never
forget my first experience of going to Albany for a conference.
While up there, I saw something that really blew my mind. Here
I was trying to escape gang life, and I see these young
brothers and sisters wearing distinct colors, throwing up hand
signs and it was guys and girls and at the end of the night
there was a big fight and these two different groups got into
it, people were running. On my way back to the hotel one of my
friends comes up to me and says, ``Sergio, what's wrong with
you.''
I said, ``I can't believe there's gangs in college.''
someone takes a look at me and laughs. They told me those
aren't gangs, those are fraternities and sororities. I say,
``Wow.''
So if you want to be a part of something, you go through an
initiation, if you want friends in a particular place where you
feel all alone. But you do it in the streets, you're considered
a gang member. But if you do it in colleges and universities
across this country, it's okay.
What if we provided that? What if we actually reached out
to our kids and said, ``Listen, we love you, care about you,
want you to succeed.''
Beyond the moving of lips, actions speak louder than words.
People have the ability to put things down on paper when they
have the resources. But actions speak louder than words. The
fact of the matter is our kids are not hearing this. Why?
Because we're not acting the way we speak.
S.T.R.O.N.G. developed a chapter and we're going to schools
and we want to work with the most ``high-risk'' population. We
want to work with gang members because we find that prevention
programs are those that work with the honor students. Well,
guess what? They don't really need us. There is a reason why
those youth are already honor students. They have a system.
We need to work with those kids on the top of that list of,
``I want you out of my building'' because that kid that gets
kicked out of school is not acting as bad as they are in the
community, they are staying there. I want to work with that
youth that's coming out of these correctional institutions and
placing them in a facility with juveniles and that's what we
need to work with.
This idea that working, you know, preventing these kids
from further getting involved in the criminal justice system
but only working with the elite, cream of the crop has not been
effective.
So that's what we do. We've implemented a program where we
noticed, we've traveled throughout the state, northeast region
for that matter, and I can tell you that these kids learned so
much and are sending us letters saying how a simple 45 minutes
or an hour of assembly truly changed their lives.
Guess what? If you join a gang there are three options.
Either you'll end up in prison, end up in the hospital or end
up in a cemetery. And these are the realities of that
lifestyle.
We bring victims, one being 19 years of age who was shot
and is now confined to a wheelchair. We work with mothers who
lose their children and they come and express their sorrow to
these young kids who think what they see in a rap video is
reality. No. It's not real.
We also have a counseling component where we actually hired
a full-time therapist to work with the most at-risk kids and
actually complement these same counselors that we have in the
school buildings.
The best way to address these issues is a therapeutic
approach. We know this. But it has to be more than just
philosophy and, you know, particular specialist that comes up
with it. I can take a textbook and diagnose someone but guess
what? You can't diagnose the emptiness inside of a heart. No
literature will tell you that. That's what we're missing in so
many of these programs.
We have a girls component similar to what Ms. Isaacs does.
She is one of the most amazing workers in this field. It has to
do with the fact that the fastest growing prison population at
this time are females, particularly African-Americans, Latinos.
And we need to address their issues as gender-specific, the way
they deal with those particular issues.
So we started a girls group. And we've also started
S.T.R.O.N.G. University, where we've taken gang-involved
individuals who served time that have been shot, that have been
stabbed, that didn't get million-dollar record deals and
actually know to come out and share with the same youth about
the realities of that lifestyle. So there you have emerging
issues of intervention and prevention.
Guess what? The real specialist on gangs are not sitting at
this table. The real gang specialists are still on those street
corners. That particular kid standing on that corner has the
ability to pull together 30, 40, 50 individuals and get them to
go do drive-by shootings and convict crimes, for that
particular gang has leadership ability. How do I know? That was
me.
Two years ago I lost two friends and felt I had nowhere to
go. Now I have an associate's degree, I have a bachelor's
degree, I have a master's degree. Now I'm a homeowner, I am the
executive director of one of the leading gang-prevention
agencies in this region. And I can honestly tell you, I mean,
the question is where do you think I would have benefited my
country or my part of the region most? Locked up in prison or
actually doing what I do.
We have so much to do and although Mr. Hayes and Chief
Woodward yielded their time to me, I'm going to stop just shy
of Congresswoman McCarthy banging that gavel.
I will tell you this if we have so many kids we've lost to
this criminal justice system, if we have so many youth who are
losing to the street plague, what are we doing? We need to ask
ourselves what are we doing?
Thank you.
[The statement of Mr. Argueta follows:]
Prepared Statement of Sergio Argueta, Executive Director of
S.T.R.O.N.G. Youth, Inc.
Dear Honorable Congresswoman McCarthy and Members of Congress: I
begin by thanking you for taking the time out to address this very
important issue. The issue of gangs is one that has been devastating
many of households across America, and the suburbs of Long Island are
no exception.
I come to you this morning representing the countless youth lost to
the plague of gang violence throughout Long Island and the United
States of America. I represent the millions of mothers and fathers that
cry themselves to sleep at night because they have either lost their
children to the senseless gang violence or the criminal justice system
as a result of gang involvement. I am here representing the countless
grandparents that have had to deal with the unnatural results of
burying a grandchild due to the unprecedented accessibility to guns on
the streets, while having limited accessibility to employment and
alternatives to gang life. Most importantly I represent the millions of
youth that are crying out, hoping to be saved from this epidemic.
I have been to hundreds of schools throughout the North East
region, and no matter how hard the living conditions in that community
might be, whenever a child is asked what they would like to be when
they grow up, the answers are almost always synonymous. ``I want to be
a lawyer * * * a doctor * * * an athlete * * * a nurse * * * a fireman
* * * a police officer.'' Some of these kids have the audacity to go as
far and say, ``I want to be President of the United States of America
someday.'' The audacity of these young people to think they can achieve
whatever they desire is something that leaves adults wishing they still
had the ability to dream.
Regardless of their race, their socio-economic background, their
religious background, or any other socially structured categorical
framework we can place human beings under, these answers are always the
same. I have never heard a child say I want to be a killer, a drug
dealer, a murderer, a gang member. If this is the case, why are we
losing so many children to gang involvement?
It is true that popular culture is currently glamorizing this
lifestyle at unprecedented levels, but it is also true that this is not
new. Although people like to point the finger at the Hip-Hop industry
as the root cause for the increase in youth/gang violence and the
increase in gang membership, this is not the only genre of music or
entertainment that commercializes the criminal lifestyle. American pop
culture as has always glamorized outlaws and that imagery as something
cool. The modern day 50 Cent and Rap music is looked down upon by an
older audience or those that don't listen to this genre of music with
as much disdain as the parents of the 60's looked down upon Rock & Roll
and Elvis Presley. The violence in our media is desensitizing to the
young mind. Whether it be video games where you get more points for
killing and robbing people, or popular TV Shows such as the Sopranos
where a murderous mafia crime boss is often portrayed as someone with a
lot of money, power, ``respect'', influence, who is a ladies man, we
must look at all forms of entertainment.
We must realize the fact that this generation is seeing more
violence on television, hearing more violence on the radio waves, and
playing more violent video games than any previous generation in
history. If you add to that the fact that more kids are being raised in
single parent homes and the accessibility to guns is on the rise, in
conjunction with limited accessibility to youth employment and programs
that actually challenge our youth culture, we are left with a recipe
for disaster.
When I decided to disengage from gang life, I decided to try the
road less traveled in my neighborhood. I decided to try and further my
education by enrolling at Nassau Community College. I remember
attending my first collegiate state wide conference. I was dumbfounded
with what I saw. I remember seeing these groups of young men and women
wearing distinct colors, insignias, and throwing up hand signs. They
had choreographed handshakes, and at the end of the night these two
different groups got into a violent altercation. Police had to be
called, and people were injured. I remember looking in awe as someone
asked me what was wrong and I stated that I could not believe that
there were gangs in college. The person I was talking to laughed at me
and said ``those aren't gangs, they are fraternities and sororities.''
That's when it all came into focus. If a young person joins a group
by which they have to go through an initiation, and they have common
colors, throw up hand signs, and do so because they want to be a part
of a group or for ``networking'' purposes, and they attend a college or
university, it is called a fraternity or a sorority. Yet, if youth do
the same thing in the community because they don't have access to
higher learning or because they come from a community with failing
schools and limited resources, or broken homes looking to be a part of
something, it is called a gang.
S.T.R.O.N.G.'s sole purpose is to provide alternatives to gang life
in an effort to save our youth. We are not ``anti-gang,'' we are anti
gang and youth violence. We are anti drugs; we are anti illegal
activity that is destroying our community. We do not have anything
against the gang involved youth, but seek to address the behavior in an
effort to redirect young people.
We have established STRONG Chapters in the Uniondale & Roosevelt
School District. The concept aims to build a counter culture to gang
life. In order to deter gang membership it is necessary to provide a
positive peer groups to replace gangs. It is mandated that all youth
involved in our program are identified as either gang involved or
affiliated by school administrators, self identification, law
enforcement, or other source of referral, or be siblings of gang
involved youth. Our goal is to provide them with an alternative to the
street gang.
This program focuses on discouraging gang involvement by helping to
develop positive life skills and peer groups, as well as providing them
with a forecast of what the future holds for them should they choose a
negative lifestyle over a positive one. We currently have over 130
youth enrolled in our chapters, and many school districts are
interested in implementing our program. As a result of our data
collection, this program will be evidence based by the end of the year.
This program has enabled us to further develop other initiatives and
strategies aimed specifically at reducing gang involvement and violent
gang/gun crime. Below is a synopsis of some of our other programs.
STRONG TALK: STRONG provides workshops reaching thousands of youth,
adults, and service providers throughout the North East on contemporary
issues related to youth violence and gangs. We are speaking in
elementary school classrooms with a focus on educating the young people
on the dangers of being gang involved and following the destructive
path.
STRONGIRLZ: Is an all-girls group where participants discuss gang
issues and other contemporary issues as they pertain to females and
violence. Females are the fastest growing prison population at this
time and they have often been overlooked. The concept is to empower
gang involved females with the tools, competencies and options
necessary to avoid further gang involvement.
BUILDING STRONG YOUTH: Many youth find themselves feeling like
there is no way out of gang life. This is an employment placement and
career development program focused on intervening with youth involved
in gangs. Upon intake, a psychosocial and employment assessment is
implemented to determine youth needs, goals, and career and employment
aspirations.
Services Provided: Job Placement & Sheltered Employment-youth are
matched to employment opportunities congruent to their career interest
and capacity. Some youth find it difficult to adhere to the demands of
a job. Therefore sheltered employment is provided to selected
participants as a bridge to other employment opportunities. Worksites
are chosen to cultivate basic work ethics and skills.
S.T.R.O.N.G. University is a program that was created for the most
entrenched gang involved youth who are unemployed, not enrolled in any
educational or vocational program, served time in a correctional
institution, and have a history of gang involvement. After undergoing a
rigorous training process they design and implement presentations on
youth violence and gang prevention in schools and communities
throughout New York State. Participants also help STRONG develop and
organize other gang prevention and intervention initiatives. Our goals
it to take these current gang members that are trying to redirect their
lives and use them as our ambassadors for peace and an end to violence
in the community. These young people whom have been shot, stabbed,
incarcerated, kicked out of their homes, etc. serve as real life
examples of what happens if you remain involved in a gang. Most
importantly however, they serve as an example that change, no matter
how impossible it might seem, is very much a possibility should they
choose to change.
S.T.R.O.N.G. is currently looking to replicate an effective
intervention model from Los Angeles California. We will be hopefully
launching a STRONG SCREEN Program before the end of the summer. The
introduction of the STRONG SCREEN Program will provide gang involved
youth with an entrepreneurial experience that will allow them to learn
tangible/marketable employment skills, expose them to a competitive
vocation and viable career option, as well as provide sustainability in
funding for S.T.R.O.NG. Youth, Inc.
The efficacy of this model and promotion of this type of industry
cannot be overstated. HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES was developed through a screen
printing business and thrives because of their Youth Enterprise Model
which successfully provides gang members with the work ethic and
competencies dictated by the corporate world! Founder and Executive
Director Father Greg Boyle, exemplifies the type of ingenuity it will
take to create programs that are effective at reducing crime and gang
involvement while engaging a hard to reach population. We have hosted
Father Boyle and his staff on many occasions, and have visited with
them in Los Angeles. It has been a great experience to not have to
recreate the wheel and have the guidance of someone who has a model
that works.
As stated by OJJDP: ``The most effective intervention programs use
employment, training, school-to-work, access to higher educational
opportunities, use of community-based organizations and consistent
contact.'' In keeping with this framework, this initiative recognizes
youth have inherent strengths to be cultivated given the appropriate
approach, venue and opportunity. Integral to the services is access to
support services, educational/vocational opportunities, life skills
education, and career awareness. Another critical challenge factored
into this model is the development of programs that prepare youth for
jobs while also meeting their developmental needs.
As you can see, in an effort to truly be effective and save
America's youth and communities from the devastating effects of gang
involvement we need to come up with innovative ideas that merge
prevention and intervention strategies. It is vital to provide youth
with alternatives to gang involvement if we want to be effective in
reducing gang involvement and activity.
In closing, I must emphasize the fact that it is easier to get a
young person to never join a gang, than it is to leave a gang once they
are already entrenched in the criminal lifestyle. Although intervention
is extremely important to the success of any gang reduction program,
more of our energy needs to be channeled on developing innovative gang
reduction curriculums and activities aimed at educating youth in
elementary schools. The days of extra home work help and sport programs
are simply not addressing the needs of these youth, and as a result it
is vital that we adopt new tools focused on gang prevention.
Whenever gang members tell me there gang is a family, I tell them
they are right. They often look at me in shock and I continue to tell
them that they are an abusive family. They are the kind of family that
beats you down from the moment you join. You are abused physically,
mentally, you are stripped of hope and a future, and you are raped
emotionally and transformed into someone you are not meant to be.
Gangs cannot provide lawful employment, vocational programs,
educational degrees, and counseling. They could never nurture and care
for young people in an effort to get them to live productive lives. We
on the other hand, can. Yet currently we are sending our youth to new
prisons and old schools. We are providing higher salaries for law
enforcement officers without bachelor's degrees, than for teachers and
social workers in our schools with graduate degrees. We are expanding
local county jails, but have no community centers that can keep our
kids occupied in productive programs. What does it say about us as a
nation, when we make accessibility to corrections so much easier than
learning institutions at a higher cost?
We declared a war on poverty. That didn't work out too well. We
declared a war on drugs. We have yet to win that war. Let's not declare
a war on gangs. Instead, let us declare peace on our youth. After all,
they are our children and they need us now more than ever.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you.
Ms. Grant?
STATEMENT OF ISIS SAPP-GRANT, DIRECTOR OF YOUTH & EMPOWERMENT
MISSION, INC.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. What can I say? He said it all. Seriously.
This is the first time I've been speechless, and blessed. It's
payback. Right?
Thank you for having me here today. And I come representing
Brooklyn, New York, but also representing the United States of
America.
I told a group of kids the other day on Friday in Brooklyn
at South Shore High School that I am the American dream. When I
looked at them at South Shore High School, I realized how many
of us don't feel that way. They're not feeling that. They're
not feeling as though this United States of America, this
country represents them.
And like you said so well, Sergio, the fact is that when
they're grown up and when they come to this country because
everyone comes as immigrants, there's always been gangs. Gun
violence was borne out of this. Every immigrant group that came
to America had their gang problems. The only way they've been
able to solve that problem is by becoming a part of the greater
society and by being accepted into the greater society.
So even people who are not currently immigrants who have
not been accepted in that greater society are still trying to
find that culture and creating cultures of their own. So you do
have gang members that, young African-Americans, young
Hispanic-Americans who have been here.
But as long as you take this power that you guys really
have and just say, ``You know what? We're going to put it into
law enforcement and make it a youth problem and fight against
these youths to save our community,'' we're always going to
have a problem. You have to include young people in the process
because they are hurting.
At this event I went to last week, again, the biggest
issues for them are snitching. You know, we can't talk about
gang violence without talking about all these other underlying
issues. The fact is most young girls, for example, who are gang
members, at least 75 to 80 percent of them have been sexually
or physically abused. So how do we begin to talk about or lock
them up for their problems when these are the issues that
they're facing?
You know, what keeps coming to mind that makes me so angry,
if only we gave the type of attention and saw these young
people in the same way and gave the type of energy that we give
to freaking Paris Hilton, we would be in a totally different
situation right now. This young girl and her group of people
would do whatever they want. They still find a way to treat her
illness. If only looked at these issues the same way we look at
anorexia, we would be dealing with a whole different--we
wouldn't be sitting here right now.
You know, I was in a setting like this 5, 6 years ago and
it was with one of your colleagues. Was it Roy Goodman, Senator
Roy Goodman? Right? Again, very saddened at the outcome because
the only thing the man could say to me after putting out these
same issues was, ``Wow, you're very articulate.'' that's where
he left it.
Because, again, it's sad when we talk and we see the
leadership and we have to combine the leadership and we have to
connect with you guys to make sure these things are put in law
and that there's money coming down to these programs as
service. But if you see kids as violent and that's it and if
you see them as, you know, this is the end of their rope anyway
or you don't see them as your children, then the conversations
stop right when the door closes and we all go home and continue
business as usual and I'll continue to do programs around the
city and make my programs national and do it on a smaller
scale. But kids will continue to die because we're not all on
the same page.
So I have this whole speech written out but you guys could
read it. I don't want to waste your time. But all I'm saying
is, please, there has to be a way to make sure that programs
that are in the community are getting some of this funding
that's out there.
Millions--it breaks my heart that after doing this work for
half my life we still--money is still--I look at my husband who
is getting tired of supporting my organization. The money that
really needs to go into these programs are going to building
more jails. Everything but the right thing.
These kids are smart, they have strong hearts. They are
resilient. But all they see are people who don't see them. The
biggest problems are poverty and we have to deal with it by all
means necessary. And it's young people who feel hopeless,
powerless and invisible. Until we begin to really see these
young people we will continue to have these problems.
I'm the type of person who gets on the train and when I see
things that are not right I say something. If I see kids acting
up on the train and say, ``I know your mama didn't raise you
that way.''
People get upset, even if they're picking on somebody. I'm
not going to ask everybody to do that. That's my style. But we
have to continue to see young people not live on the street,
carry on like crazy people and not say because they're kids.
When we act scared they will become. They're kids. Plain and
simple. Half the time they're looking for someone to say
something.
I remember the young girl I did say something to on the
train the other day and she said, ``Nobody cares.'' she turned
around and all the people on the train, yes. Well, why didn't
you say something? That's what our kid are saying. ``why didn't
you do something, why didn't you say something?''
We have to challenge the people on the Hill to do
something, take some of that money being spent for other
violence and put it back into our cities where we really need
it and to support the organizations on the ground.
We talked about the community-based programs, support the
community-based programs. We talk about neighborhood, support
them. The largest organizations, I think some of them are doing
fine jobs, but kids are getting lost in these programs. They're
not addressing many of the very comprehensive needs that these
young people need.
The reality is that the young people need jobs, yes. The
young people need to have better schooling and to be put back
in school. Because by the time we get to them, they're not in
school, they're truant or failing school. So a lot of our time
goes to getting people back into school. They need therapy
because, like I said, most of them are dealing with sexual
abuse, physical abuse. They need therapy because most of them
are dealing with abuse--if they're not using drugs they come
from families that are abusing drugs.
We all know that if you come from a family abusing drugs
you have your own set of issues that you have to deal with.
Some of these are that things that, as Americans, we are
all dealing with. But other people choose to find their own way
out, whether drug abuse or gang violence. They're all the same,
they're all going to end in violence. So we have to address
them in that way.
Thank you.
[The statement of Ms. Sapp-Grant follows:]
Prepared Statement of Isis Sapp-Grant, LMSW, Director of Youth &
Empowerment Mission, Inc.
Good Morning Mr. Chairman and distinguished Members of the
committee, thank you for the invitation to appear before you today.
My name is Isis Sapp-Grant and I am the Executive Director and
founder of the Youth Empowerment Mission Inc. an organization based in
Bedford-Stuyvesant Brooklyn New York. YEM was founded in 1995 to meet
the critical needs of young people affected by gangs, violence and
delinquency. We approach this through integrated initiatives that
engaged youth, their families, community-based organizations, schools
law enforcement agencies and city officials. Over the years YEM has
helped human service professionals and community members learn how to
work more effectively with in crisis and at-risk associated with street
gangs. YEM is dedicated to providing long term solutions that give
young people in high risk environments real alternatives to violence
and delinquency, while addressing the conditions that create these
environments. We facilitate this by providing core early intervention
programs like the Blossom Program for Girls (``Blossom''), the Be the
Change Advocacy and Leadership Project and the Girls in Business
program, these programs incorporate: educational support services and
advocacy, counseling, leadership development, life skill development,
mentoring, job readiness skills, and community involvement.
In 2000, YEM launched the Blossom Program for Girls (``Blossom'')
to address the needs of girl's ages 11-21 that are at high-risk or
involved in gangs, violence or other self-destructive behaviors. In its
five-year history, Blossom has successfully reached hundreds of girls.
The Blossom Program currently serves over 70 pre-teen and teen girls.
Over 90 percent of the girls we serve are African-American and 95
percent of the girls that come to Blossom are living in poverty. 90
percent come from single-mother led households. Blossom's core
components prepare girls to move from crisis to competency by equipping
them with skills and information that support their healthy
development. Participants also gain an appreciation for the power they
possess to advocate for changes in their lives and in their community.
Participants are referred to the program by schools, detention centers,
parents and other community-based organizations. In addition we offer
workshops and other youth development services to schools and agencies.
Our organization is community based with national influence. We
receive calls and support communities and young people around the
country in the effort to aid and empower youth facing severe socie-
economic difficulties, academic challenges and engagement with the
juvenile justice system.
I am here this morning because the crisis facing our youth produces
long term damage our communities socially, economically and morally. To
many of our youth are joining gangs and in the process losing their
lives to violence, losing their freedom to jails and losing their
future to bad choices. Our youth can be saved The same energy and
commitment that they give to their peers in the gangs can with the
right strategies be refocused on changing their own lives and their
communities for the better.
I have worked with gang involved and delinquent youth for nearly
two decades. I have seen success in young people who were referred to
me because they were designated ``delinquent'' or ``beyond help'' and I
have witnessed these same youth change their lives for the better when
given access to needed resources, skills and opportunities for
empowerment . This is our work.
I have a vested interest in the success of these young people , I
live in Bedford Stuyvesant with many of the youth I work with but more
important I use to be one of them and sadly the factors governing the
growth of gangs has not changed;
Powerlessness, hopelessness, and feeling invisible are at the
underlying feelings of most gang members. Cyclical family poverty, poor
education, lack of resources, are at the root of the problem.
In the late 1990s many of the youth involved in gangs were from
families and communities devastated by crack and HIV/AIDS. Many are
young people who were raised by teen mothers or grandparents. I grew up
a generation before them in the 1980's my neighborhood was ravaged by
crack cocaine and the AIDS epidemic. There were no role models. The
only people who weren't living in poverty were drug dealers and the
gangsters who we respected out of fear. That was my world. So, as a 15
year old entering high school, the way I saw it, I had one choice--``Am
I going to be the predator or the prey?''
I didn't set out to join, let alone start one of the most fearsome
girl gangs in the city. At first we didn't call ourselves a gang. But
our hopelessness and our need to survive the violence both on the
streets and at home became the foundation of our bond. We protected
each other and became the family that most of us didn't have. People
knew that if you messed with us, we would fight back. And that's how it
started. How does it happen? What happens to young boys and girls to
make them think it's okay to knock someone out or rob them? There are a
number of things but it starts out with kids in poverty feeling
invisible. Kids like my friend Lisa who was born in jail and shuttled
between an abusive home and foster care. If you messed with Lisa, she
would hurt you without blinking. Her thought process was very simple:
``I've been hurt. I won't get hurt anymore. I'll get you first.'' )
When you feel this vulnerable you become the most dangerous person in
the world.
Some kids do it for protection Like Nelsa, whose parents were
heroin addicts. She took care of her siblings from the time she was 13
by working as a stripper on her lunch break during school. And the gang
protected her. We kept Nelsa safe so she could do what she had to do to
take care of her little brothers and sisters.
In Bed Stuy, where our program is located crime has increased by as
much as 28 percent at a time when crime rates dropped in other parts of
the city. And a rising number of these crimes are committed by young
women who now make up 30 percent of youth gang members in New York. In
most cases, these young women are perpetuating a cycle of violence that
started with their own abuse--an appalling 85% of the girls who enter
the prison system have been sexually or physically abused. Once
entrenched in a gang, these young women have little hope for a future.
Of those that survive, over 75 percent will become pregnant or drop out
of school before they're 18.
Today, All Youth are at-risk for gangs and violence, because the
threat of violence is so wide spread. Those who attend school or live
in a neighborhood with gangs are forced to choose membership. It is a
with us or against us mentality.
The situation for girls involved in gangs and delinquency is
different now. Not only have girls become more violent, they have also
become more victimized. They have accepted rape as a way of showing
loyalty to the gang. One girl I recently met shared her experience of
being ``blessed''. She told me that she wasn't in the gang, only a gang
affiliate. But she was protected because she had been forced to have
sex with all the gang members. And that's what it means to be blessed.
Right now, there are girls out there, just like I was, who are
counting on someone to see past the bravado. Girls who are looking for
someone to listen, girls who don't know there is an alternative to
pimping their bodies, who have no role models--who feel invisible. And
that's where YEM comes in. We work with the young people, most of who
are in crisis when they reach our doors. If you came to Blossom you
would see girls in a small groups being tutored in math, a group of six
girls in a sexual abuse survivors group, you would hear Jessica
boasting about working at her mentors consulting firm on the weekends,
you would see Girlz in Business participants creating designer pillows
under their Cozy Comforts pillow business, you would see a group of ten
parents in a parent support group , you will find a girl in crisis
crying but coming to one of our counselors for assistance, you will
hear African drums beating as 75 young women dance across the floor.
You will see girls writing and performing their poetry at our Poetry
cafe and if you came today you would see girls organizing for their
march and speaking out against the negative impact of the media on
girls and young women of color. You will see first hand what happens
when we invest in our young people. YEM is genuine community
empowerment.
YEM is youth empowerment. We have to stop talking about gangs it
only gives it power, instead we have to address all of the bigger
issues that gang involvement covers; Poverty, poor education, racism,
classism, and violence. As we point the judging finger at youth we also
need to look in the mirror and at our leadership for the glorified
violence that our children are exposed to on the street, on television
and on the radio. We live in a very violent society that forces youth
to become desensitized and hardened. We send mixed messages to our
children and are shocked when they express their pain and confusion by
engaging in violence, promiscuity and drug abuse.
Our young people are smart and resilient if given the right
academic and moral nourishment and support they need, they will succeed
but if we continue to attack symptoms rather than the historical
diseases of poverty, prejudice, sexism, and classism and look at the
surface issue of ``gangs'' as the enemy as opposed to the real
underlying factors that almost force young people to run toward gang
involvement, our young people will continue to become statistics,
inmates, teen parents, victims and perpetrators of violence.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you. Chris.
STATEMENT OF CHRIS MADDOX, ASSISTANT OUTREACH WORKER, H.E.V.N
Mr. Maddox. Good morning. Thanks for having me.
I, too, at the age of 15 joined a gang and I had an
attitude like nobody ever really cared whether or not I went to
prison or whether or not I succeeded in life. And when I look
back at that lifestyle, now I think a lot of things like
criminal activities out of misdirected anger. I didn't know how
to handle the things that I was going through.
So at the age of 17, November 30, 2000, I went to prison. I
did five years in prison. Then all throughout my years that I
did in prison, I don't think I learned anything. I was able to
read, able to sit down and get in touch with myself. But I was
still bullied without substance.
I knew I wanted to be a success in life. I knew that I
wanted to be, like, known by government officials. I knew I
wanted to be successful. But I didn't know how to do it. I
didn't know what actions to take. I was scared to sit in front
of people with suits on and I was intimidated by the world.
I was intimidated and I surrounded myself around people
that were just like me, that accepted poverty and we just
didn't respect law enforcement. We didn't have any respect for
no one other than ourselves or people that was like us.
It wasn't until 2005, March 7, 2005, that's when I came
home from prison and I was talking to a friend. And I told
him--and I was able to really express myself to him and tell
him, like, I don't want this lifestyle no more, man. I need to
get a job.
But in my heart, I knew if I got a job that that's all it
was going to be, was a job. I needed somebody to help me
redirect my thoughts, change my pattern, my way of thinking.
And he took me to the Bishop J. Raymond Mackey and upon talking
to the Bishop, he sat down and he asked me, ``Son, what do you
really want to do with your life? You said you want a job. I
can get you a job but you have to change the way you think in
order to keep that job.''
And from that point I looked at him and I knew, I saw the
sincerity that was in his heart and he let me realize that--he
let me see that it was unconditional love out there other than
my family. And it was a process. It was a long process that we
had to go through. And I was still out there doing the things
that wasn't morally--wasn't the way I was brought up.
But through consistency and through him being consistent in
my life and constantly standing over me like a father--like my
second father, because I did have my father, but like a second
father--taught me, helped me realize that it's people out there
that love you.
And this organization H.E.V.N. taught me how to be an
example to others. It taught me hurt people, hurt people and
heal people, heal people. I was hurt all those years. So that's
all I knew, taking my anger out on others, hurting people, that
I didn't have no other way to do it.
So with the Bishop, he taught me how to be a man of
integrity, how to be a man of your word and how to be an asset
to others and now that we have a close relationship, close bond
like he's my father, I feel like I can be an asset to others.
Now, H.E.V.N., we got this program that we adopted 100
families and I have this young boy that's 13 years old and he
was having a lot of problems in school. And I felt his pain. I
know he was reacting because he didn't know no other way to
control his anger. And he was adopted, he had a lot of issues
in his life, with his mother. And I felt his pain and I'm able
to be an access to his life and he's able to change his life
around because somebody outside of his family showed him that
they cared for him.
So we could sit here behind this desk and talk and do all
these things. But the real problem is out there on the street
corners. All we're seeing is consequences. Now, if we show we
could go out there and reach out to somebody and adopt a
family, adopt a person and let them know that you are there for
them no matter what, through the good, bad and ugly, that's a
major, major piece in our community.
And through the Bishop we go out there on the streets and
we're involved in these gang activities. We're out there
reaching out to them personally.
We can't sit back as a community and talk about it. We have
to come together as components in our community and go back
there and check out our streets.
So I want to end with hurt people, hurt people and heal
people, heal people.
Thank you.
[The statement of Mr. Maddox follows:]
Prepared Statement of Chris Maddox, Assistant Outreach Worker, H.E.V.N.
Unlike most children in my community, I grew up with both parents
in my life. My mom and dad divorced when I was about eight years old.
It seemed as though it did not have an affect on me, but it did. I
continued, however, to be an honor student for the next two years.
When I used to walk to school, I would go pass this block where
there always seemed to be excitement. I was curious about what used to
go on there. One day on my way home from school, my friends and I
decided to walk down that block. While walking through, we saw people
standing on corner, talking loud, rolling dice, selling drugs, talking
to women, drinking alcohol, and countless other things. This lifestyle
seemed exciting to us. We wanted to be just like them.
I held my first gun when I was in the sixth grade. I smoked my
first blunt of marijuana around the same age. Slowly I was inheriting
this street lifestyle that I thought was so fun. On Friday nights a
group of us used to go to the train station to look for Latino men to
jump and rob them. We used to steal bikes and started getting deeper
and deeper into the lifestyle. But after a while, we were no longer
satisfied with riding stolen bikes * * * now we were driving stolen
cars.
At this point I was knee-deep in the street lifestyle. I was
hanging out late nights drinking and smoking. I was basically void and
without substance. I would fight in school on a daily basis, cutting
classes, and leaving school when I wanted. Then in 1998, my lifestyle
went to a whole different level. I was initiated as an Outlaw and went
from doing petty crimes to gang banging.
There were 53 Outlaws in Hempstead. We had dreams of taking over
the neighborhood. By 1999 we were recognized by all street gangs,
police, and government officials. On Friday nights we use to have
meetings at a local park to initiate new members and discuss things we
thought need improvement within our set. We were organized criminals.
On Nov. 30, 2000 my life took another major turn. I got arrested
for an armed robbery and sentenced to 5 years. This was my first time
ever going to prison. There I met up with my Outlaw brothers. It seemed
almost like a disease that we all were catching and it opened my eyes.
It let me see who my true friends were.
I was not really upset that I was in prison because I knew what I
did was wrong. I had to handle my time. But I still was angry because
the people who I thought were my friends didn't come through like I
felt they should've. So I spent my whole time in prison reading and
working out. I prayed at night here and there. Then when it was time
for me to come home, I thought I had all the answers. I thought I knew
what I wanted out of life, but something about me was still empty.
When I came home spoke to a friend and I told him that I needed a
job. He took me to meet Bishop J. Raymond Mackey. From the start I saw
his love and passion for saving lives. I knew it wasn't just another
job for him. While talking to the Bishop, he challenged my thought
process. When I strayed away, he consistently called me and did
whatever it took to get me back on track. His vision for H.E.V.N.
became my vision. I wanted to help save people and be a mentor to
others as well. I no longer wanted to be recognized by gang bangers and
street hustlers. I wanted people to see the good work I was doing in
the community. Today, I sit before all as a Program Assistant Outreach
Worker for H.E.V.N.
Lord Knows!
______
[Additional materials submitted by Mr. Maddox follow:]
H.E.V.N. COALITION
Helping End Violence Now
``Our Youth Are Our Most Valued Resource''
Mission Statement: H.E.V.N. is a coalition of Faith Based
Organizations/Agencies, Individuals and families.
Our goal is to preserve the quality of life for all by preventing
the growth and reversing the negative influence of gang and youth
violence upon communities.
What are gangs?: ``An ongoing organization, association, or group
of three or more persons that have a common interest and/or activity
characterized by the commission of or involvement in a pattern of
criminal or delinquent conduct.''
h.e.v.n. coalition & council for unity partnership and
h.e.v.n. hempstead community cluster--a call for peace!
Requesting All Of Hempstead CORE Gangs Members To Attend
``PROJECT PEACE TREATY''
(LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO STOP THE VIOLENCE)
Friday, December 8, 2006 10:00 AM--1:00 PM
held at
All Saints Temple Church Of God In Christ
102 Laurel Avenue * Hempstead, New York
Resources will be available to address all needs!
Rev. Eliezer Reyes, H.E.V.N. Executive Board President
Bishop J. Raymond Mackey I, H.E.V.N. Executive Director
Rev. Lynnwood Deans, Director H.E.V.N. Hempstead Community Cluster
Mr. Robert Desona, President/Founder Council For Unity
______
H.E.V.N. COALITION
Helping End Violence Now
``Our Youth Are Our Most Valued Resource''
Mission Statement: H.E.V.N. is a coalition of Faith Based
Organizations/Agencies, Individuals and families.
Our goal is to preserve the quality of life for all by preventing
the growth and reversing the negative influence of gang and youth
violence upon communities.
What are gangs?: ``An ongoing organization, association, or group
of three or more persons that have a common interest and/or activity
characterized by the commission of or involvement in a pattern of
criminal or delinquent conduct.''
Tuesday, August 8, 2006.
Mr. George M. Sandas Office: 516-478-6247 Fax: 516-489-3015,
Superintendent of Parks & Recreation, Inc. Village of Hempstead,
Kennedy Memorial Park, 335 Greenwich Street, Hempstead, NY
11550.
Dear Mr. Sandas: Greetings! I appreciate your assistance in regards
to 3rd Annual HEVN Hempstead Community Cluster Community Awareness Get
Help Now Day.
We would like to have this event on Saturday, October 6, 2007 at
Mirchelle Park from 10:00 AM--4:00 PM. We are requesting the use of the
village's show mobile without a fee if possible. HEVN has limited
resources for this event. Last year over 250 Hempstead residents
attended. They received information from our resource tables and were
given free food. It was a great success!
Looking forward to hearing from you as soon as possible. You may
reach me at 516-644-7801. Your continued support is greatly
appreciated. Have a blessed and Wonder-FILL Day!
Yours truly,
Bishop J. Raymond Mackey Sr.,
Executive Director.
______
H.E.V.N. COALITION
Helping End Violence Now
``Our Youth Are Our Most Valued Resource''
Mission Statement: H.E.V.N. is a coalition of Faith Based
Organizations/Agencies, Individuals and families.
Our goal is to preserve the quality of life for all by preventing
the growth and reversing the negative influence of gang and youth
violence upon communities.
HEVN COALTION & COUNCIL FOR UNITY PARTNERS & HEVN HEMPSTEAD COMMUNITY
CLUSTER PROJECT PEACE TREATY PEACE AGREEMENT FOR THE YOUTH OF HEMSTEAD
This agreement has been drawn by the Council Of Unity and HE.V.N.,
with the hope that a cycle of conflict will be replaced by a climate of
peace and possibility for the youth of Hempstead, H.E.V.N. and Council
for Unity will commit their resources and assets to support this
initiative.
The Parties who sign this peace treaty agree to the following:
1. All acts of violence by opposing gangs must stop immediately.
2. Leaders from opposing gangs agree to form a H.E.V.N./Council for
Unity governing body to arbitrate all disputes and settle all beefs in
a fair, just and non-violent manner.
3. All individuals who appear before this group will abide by its
decisions. In cases where an agreement cannot be reached, all parties
can appeal to the adult H.E.V.N. and Council for Unity, Inc. for
arbitration.
4. The newly formed H.E.VN./Council for Unity, governing body will
plan, cultural and recreational projects for the purpose of uniting all
elements of community into constructive on going relationships where a
culture of conflict will be replaced by a culture of cooperation and
hope.
5. The newly formed H.E.V.N./Council for Unity governing body
agrees to work closely with community groups/resources and associations
to further the educational career possibilities of the youth of
Hempstead.
By signing this agreement, I agree to accept the conditions set
forth in this document and to take advantage of the second chance this
arrangement provides:
(please print)
Name: ____________ Date or Year Of Birth ____________
Address: ______________________________
(optional)
______________________________________
signature contact phone number
date
______
H.E.V.N. COALITION
Helping End Violence Now
``Our Youth Are Our Most Valued Resource''
Mission Statement: H.E.V.N. is a coalition of Faith Based
Ministries, Law Enforcement Agencies, School Districts/Educational
Institutions, Government Officials, Community Organizations/Agencies,
Individuals and families.
H.EV.N. COALITION PARTNERS
H.E.V.N. Hempstead Community Cluster
Rev. Lynnwood Deans, Hempstead Cluster Director, Saturday, October 14,
2006 * 11:00 AM--4:00 PM
Place: Mirchell Park * 90 Atlantic Ave * Hempstead, NY
Official Program 11:00 AM-12:15 PM
Opening Prayer
Greetings Rev. Lynnwood Deans
Welcome
Introductions
Solo
Statement Of Purpose/H.E.V.N. VISION, Bishop J. Raymond Mackey I
Testimony/Hykiem Coney, Former Gang Leader/Member
Greetings Government Officials
Closing Prayer
Entertainment 12:30 PM--3:30 PM
The Psalms Gospel Arts Center Inc. Elder Kevin McKoy, Founder & CEO
/ Tabernacle Of Joy Music Ministry
Basketball Contest 12:30 PM--3:30 PM
______
H.E.V.N. COALITION
Helping End Violence Now
``Our Youth Are Our Most Valued Resource''
HEVN COALITION STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Mission Statement--HEVN is a coalition of Faith Based
Ministries, Law Enforcement Agencies, School Districts / Educational
Institutions, Government Officials, Businesses, Community Organizations
/ Agencies, Individuals and Families.
Our goal is to preserve the quality of life for all by preventing
the growth and reversing the negative influence of gang and youth
violence upon communities.
Plan Of Action--``A House Divided Against Itself Cannot
Stand'' -- ``A City Divided Against Itself Is Brought To Desolation''
In order to effectively address the issue of gang/youth violence
there must be collaboration among the entire component of the
community. Addressing not only the gang/youth violence but holistically
addressing the family / community problems that are present in our
communities. The gang/youth violence are the symptoms while the core of
this issue traces to the problems / needs of the families of our
communities which affect the community as a whole. HEVN seeks to
address the social and economic issues affecting the families in order
to reverse the negative influences within the community.
In order to accomplish this, HEVN is developing community clusters
with a Board Of Directors and Community Cluster Partners, representing
the components of the community listed above. The Board Members will be
persons from the community of the cluster and as well as the partners.
To identify the problems, needs, and present resources available to
address the problems and network in solving them by meeting the total
needs of the community. HEVN COALITION will assist in establishing the
necessary assistance in addressing areas of missing gaps and links in
the community in areas where services are not available. Without
effective uniting, collaboration, and networking to address the
concerns of the community, the greater success will not be realized.
HEVN's Coalition Partners are national, state, local, faith-
alliances, government officials, law enforcement agencies, school
districts, education departments, corporations / businesses, community-
based organizations / agencies and personalities who will provide
services in assisting HEVN's mission, vision / plan of action. The
Coalition Partners will work directly with HEVN's Executive Board,
Executive Director and staff. Each partner will provide HEVN a
statement of services / resources they are committed to render to the
Coalition.
The components of the Community Clusters and Coalition Partners
will not lose their own identity, nor their present resources and or
funding. HEVN is a mutual vehicle designed to organize the strongest
collaboration, and networking that can exist within a community. Only
together, united can we make the difference for the good of our
communities.
``For United We Stand And Divided We Will Fall'' * ``Let's UNITE!"
______
H.E.V.N. COALITION
Helping End Violence Now
``Our Youth Are Our Most Valued Resource''
Mission Statement: H.E.V.N. is a coalition of Faith Based
Organizations/Agencies, Individuals and families.
Our goal is to preserve the quality of life for all by preventing
the growth and reversing the negative influence of gang and youth
violence upon communities.
What are gangs?: ``An ongoing organization, association, or group
of three or more persons that have a common interest and/or activity
characterized by the commission of or involvement in a pattern of
criminal or delinquent conduct.''
H.E.V.N. ACCOMPLISHMENTS/Major Events
* This is not a complete list *
1. June 1999 meeting with Nassau County Detective Corey Alleyne and
Wilson Marrero and Bishop J. Raymond Mackey Sr. concerning the issues
of gang/youth violence and the need for Community Awareness
presentations in our local Church. June 1999-September 1999 local
churches were scheduled for presentations following morning service.
2. October 1999 1st Community Leaders/Organization meeting held at
Tabernacle Of Joy Church, Uniondale, NY. Gang Awareness and Planning
Session to Host 1st Community Gang Awareness Workshop, over 70 persons
present representing, Faith Based Ministries, Law Enforcement Agencies,
School Districts, Government Officials, Community Organizations/
Agencies and families.
3. December 4, 1999 1st Community Gang/Youth Violence Awareness
Meeting held at Fountain Of Life Church, Uniondale, NY
4. July 1999 Hosted Boston Ten Point Executive Director, Reba
Danostrog, Gang Awareness Workshop
5. January 2000 Pastors/Clergy Community Gang Awareness Breakfast
held at Fountain Of Life Church, Uniondale, NY. Over 70 clergy persons
in attendance.
6. March 2000 2nd Community Gang Awareness Meeting held at Grace
Cathedral Uniondale, New York
7. April 2000 12 persons visited Boston Ten Point Coalition to hear
their story and adopt their program as model to be brought back to Long
Island and tailored to fit Long Island. A day and a half was spent in
Boston as we listened and learned from each component of the Ten Point
Coalition. We were told that at one time Boston Ten Point Coalition
reduced their criminal gang activities from eighty six percent down to
two percent. We felt that this was the model for us.
8. April 2000-August 2001 Foundational Work to Officially Establish
and Incorporate H.E.V.N. Coalition
9. August 2001 H.E.V.N. Coalition Inc.
10. November 2001 501C3 status received.
11. April 2000-November 2002 Continued to host monthly Community
Gang Awareness Presentations.
12. May 2000 Held anti-gang rally/march in Uniondale, NY
13. June 2000 Held a prayer vigil for Eric Rivera (who was killed
by gang members coming home from Puerto Rican Parade.
14. December 2, 2000 1st Nassau/Suffolk Counties Community Gang
Awareness Meeting held at Amityville Full Gospel Church, Amityville .NY
15. November 2002 Enter into a partnership with Nassau County
Executive Tom Suozzi and Nassau County Task Force Against Gangs
16. October 31, 2003 Ribbon cutting ceremony of the grand opening
of H.E.V.N. Executive Office 40 Main Street Lower Level, Hempstead, NY.
This was a result of our partnership with Nassau County. Funding was
provided for the Administrative Office. Rev. William Watson became
President of Executive Board, Bishop J. Raymond Mackey Sr., Executive
Director, and Elder Kevin McKoy, Program Coordinator.
17. November 2003 H.E.V.N. Hempstead Community Cluster Board of
Directors was formed, with the assistance of Mayor James Gardner.
18. October 2003 H.E.VN. Roosevelt Community Cluster Board of
Directors was formed.
19. January 2004 H.E.V.N. Hempstead Community Cluster held its 1st
Community Partners Meeting
20. August 2004 Conducted the Funeral Service of Teddy Rainford,
ninety persons attending the service came forth to give their lives to
Christ and want to redirect their lives, they became clients of
H.E.V.N.
21. September 2004 H.E.V.N. Hempstead Community Cluster 1st Back To
School Rally,400 Back-Packs with school supplies were given out to
Hempstead School District
22. September 2005 H.E.V.N. Hempstead Community Cluster 2nd Back To
School Rally, 395 Back-Packs with school supplies
23. November 2004 Hykiem Coney former gang leader of Hempstead Out-
Laws became H.E.V.N's Program Assistant Out Reach Worker.
24. June 2005 H.E.V.N. Westbury/New Cassel Community Cluster Board
of Directors was formed with the assistance of Mayor Ernest Strada,
Village Of Westbury
25. December 2005 H.E.V.N. Roosevelt Community Cluster gave one
hundred and thirty eight books as Christmas gifts the Roosevelt
District Pre-K School Students.
26. H.E.V.N. Community Cluster since January 2004 has been hosting
Community Awareness Get Help Now Meetings. At these meetings H.E.V.N.
Plan Of Action and Mission is explained, the work of the community
clusters, and coalition/community partners resource tables are set up
for families in need. These meetings have been held in community
centers, churches, Roosevelt Centennial Park, Hempstead Mirshel Park,
(at the park free food was given out cook on the grill), 100 Terance
Avenue, Hempstead, NY. Mr. Hykiem Coney and other former gang members
have shared their personal testimonies at these meetings.
27. March 2006: New additional coalition partners Nassau Council Of
Chambers Of Commerce, Nassau County CSEA Nassau Local 830, Council For
Unity Inc.
H.E.V.N. has held several presentations concerning its vision, plan
of action, and reaching youth through preventative and re-direction of
the gang life style. Mr. Hykiem Coney has been a main speaking at these
events. We have held these presentations at Roosevelt, Hempstead,
Freeport, Far-Rockaway, Brooklyn Schools, Molly College, Rockville
Centre, NY, The Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center of Nassau
County, Glen Cove, NY
H.EV.N. as of April 4, 2006 has 227 clients representing 227
families. Clients needs and family need have been addressed. Housing,
Clothing, Counseling, Drug and Alcohol programs, Social Service
Assistance, Job Readiness programs, GED programs, assistance in
enrollment in Nassau Community College, Hempstead Franklin Career
Institute, Garden City Career Institute Of Health and Technology, and
other areas has been addressed.
H.E.V.N. presently has two Basketball Teams ages 11-12 and 13-16.
Both teams are Hempstead Cluster Teams. The age 11-12 team February
2006 came in second place in the Hempstead P.A.L. league. It is
H.E.V.N. goal to establish a Basketball League and Step Teams
representing teams from each Community Cluster.
H.E.V.N. Established Project Restoration 100 Terrace Ave, Hempstead
NY June 2006 Goal is to bring support and restoration to the 417 family
units addressing there needs.
H.E.V.N. Roosevelt Cluster July 8, 2006 2nd Annual Community
Awareness Get Help Now Day Held at Roosevelt Centennial Park. Over 200
persons were in attendance. Resources tables were set up to assist
families, basketball torment for youth, barbecue cook out, free food.
H.E.V.N. Hempstead Cluster September 9, 2006 ``Festival Day'' Held
at Judea United Baptist Church 83 Greenwick St Hempstead NY. Live
Entertainment, Free Clothing and Food. Several hundreds attended.
Last Radio Broadcast Of Hykiem Coney with Radio Station in Chapel
Hill, NC
H.E.V.N. Hempstead Cluster October 14, 2006 2nd Annual Community
Awareness Get Help Now Day. Held at Hempstead Mirshell Park (Atlantic/
Terrace Avenues) Over 300 persons attend, Live Entertainment,
Basketball torment, Free Food given out, Resource tables to assist
families in need.
H.E.V.N. Increase The Peace Rally at Hempstead School Wednesday,
October 18, & Thursday, October 19, 2006
Two days presentation at Hempstead High. Last Presentation that
Hykiem Coney was a part of.
Wednesday, October 25 2006, Minister In Training, Hykiem Coney ,
H.E.V.N. Program Assistant Out Reach Worker passed.
Thursday, November 2, 2006 Funeral Service held for Hykiem Coney,
Union Baptist Church, Hempstead, NY Over 3000 persons attended.
Federal, State, Local Governmental Officials were present. This was the
largest Funeral Service held in the Village Of Hempstead.
Monday, November 27, 2006 H.E.V.N. School Assembly Presentation PS
183 School, Far-Rockaway, NY 5th-8th Graders.
______
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you all for your testimony.
You know, I have a set of the testimony that we've read,
and we set questions up. But after listening to all of you, I
guess the questions that I have is now I am legislator. I am
the one that has to back up Washington with my colleagues, with
the committee and come up with how do we best help all of you
to help those that we're trying to reach.
You know, we're going to have limited resources. That's
always the problem. Always limited resources.
You talked about intervention and prevention, which I
believe that intervention comes with the police, the Attorney
General, because that means something has already gone wrong.
Prevention means how are we going to reach out to our young
people that we already see at risk?
You talked about groups out there to get the money. That's
what I always see as the problem. You give the money to the
state and then it's up to the state to decide where does the
money go.
Obviously, you know, sometimes that money goes to those who
have better connections than those through the programs that
are actually working on the streets. And that's a shame. But I
guess the question to all of you is if I take a small amount of
time to answer that, how do we really resource it to make sure
it gets to the groups that need it the most to reach the
children? At what age? I've always said high school is too
late.
Why aren't we looking at a program grade school through
junior high through high school for those children at risk? For
11 years in Congress, the gang problem has gotten worse instead
of better, in my opinion. You're seeing more violence on the
streets than ever before, in my opinion. And we need to have a
solution. We're not going to have all the winners. We're not.
But again, we have to start somewhere to show these kids
they are kids, that people do care about them even if we don't
know them. We want to see each and every one of our children
succeed.
So, Chief, if you could start off?
Chief Woodward. Thank you.
First and foremost, I think we have to take control. I
think for too long we've tried to be all things to all people.
In doing that, I think what we've done is spread ourselves too
thin. Instead of concentrating on what works--and really,
that's questionable itself--I agree with you, a preschool
program I think should be our main focus.
I think that every child should have the same level to
start at. I believe that these preschool programs in some cases
you have parents who have a tremendous amount of money. We have
to put their kids in programs where they get the foundation you
need to grow. Other children, because of economic disparity,
fail to have that.
As you said, Congresswoman McCarthy, the initial step is
preschool. It is really revitalizing the family, give the
family strong foundations and strong roots in support of the
government. There are so many ways to do this.
Obviously, economical is always first and foremost and it
helps. But there are other ways. Faith-based organizations.
These are important.
One of the things I have mentioned is communications. We
have gangs from all walks of life. We have Asian gangs, Russian
gangs, so many different gangs. We have to go back to our
foundation that we could work with each other and understand
each other.
I'll tell you, just dealing with everything in English,
which is our main language, putting this report together--and
obviously there's rewrites, there's grammatical errors--putting
this in different languages, how to make sure we're clear, all
of these things become an integral part of any successful
program.
But I agree, child development first and foremost.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Mr. Hayes?
Mr. Hayes. I think we need to fund programs that work and
stop funding programs that don't work. I think resources are
taken up when we continue to put money in programs that don't
work. A great example for a program that's gotten all the
support but has a track record is D.A.R.E., yet D.A.R.E.
Continues to be popular.
Chairwoman McCarthy. How do we weed that out? I know what
you're saying and I agree with you, a lot of times I think
that's one of the reasons we have the hearings because we have
to recommend to the full committee what's working, what's not
working.
Mr. Hayes. I think one of the ways you weed it out is by
putting in strings that programs that are funded have to report
outcomes. Programs that are funded have to have research
connected with them to show results. Some of it--and as I was
preparing for testimony someone was saying that's ways and
means and that's this committee--the problem is we've chopped
everything up so much.
I'm asking the committee to take a wide look at things. But
let's influence research. There is a lot of federal dollars
that go into research. How many federal dollars are going to
researching gangs? Let's redirect things to needs, determine
what works and put penalties where states pay back money if
they're funding programs that don't work.
Change IV-E. So much of that is geared towards out-of-home
placement. It's geared to help the child stay in the home, stay
in the community. If a child is involved in a gang and gets
moved to a facility, first of all, they're going to be with a
lot of other gang members in the facility and then the facility
is not going to change the way they're going and then they're
going to go and come back.
Help them work through the issues while staying in the
community. If you take them out of the community, use proven
programs which is a non-affiliation program which is going to
go and separate them and establish more positive influences on
their lives.
And with agencies like Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, they do a lot of work on the national
level. I've probably started more programs than any other
entity in the country and we're a small provider. Every time I
call OJJPD they say, ``It's wonderful what you're doing. But we
only help on the national level.''
Change dollars so that you help people in the trenches
doing the work.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you.
Mr. Argueta. One of the ways you can give assistance to us
is sort of balancing that funding formula. You know, not that
we're sort of at different views with law enforcement. But when
we're providing billions of dollars to law enforcement and
peanuts to those working in prevention and intervention, it
makes it difficult to do the work that really needs to be done.
You know, I don't understand how we can invest over $60,000
a year to a correctional institution and up to a $120,000 a
year for juvenile detention center and as soon as they get
released they're going back to those broken neighborhoods and
dilapidated communities to deal with those same exact issues.
We need to look at those national programs that are
actually working. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. Theres
what's called Homeboy Industries and what they've done is it
started by Father Greg Boyle, Jesuit priest, and his whole
motto is nothing stops a bullet like a job. It actually helps
get kids the employability skills needed and provides for a
nonprofit sector.
So we're in the process of trying to start a screen
printing T-shirt business where we could actually hire our own
youth with artistic talents to put that creativity into a
positive and at the same time fulfill a funding. That's
something we need to start looking at.
Again, it needs to be a local effort. We're not looking to
take on the issue nationally. Because guess what? It's
impossible to do so. The issues that we have here in this part
of the region are not going to be identical to those being
faced by others in the state.
So we need to really make this a localized issue and start
working effectively with the collaborations. There has to be
more collaboration between the organizations and it's more than
just, you know, saying we're going to work together and share
information. It's actually doing the work.
You know, I focus on one thing, Freeport does something
else, Uniondale community counsel focuses on something else.
Let's share those resources and work together. That's what
we're doing. But those are a couple of things where you could
be of assistance to us.
I need not tell you, but one is we have a problem to the
accessibility of guns in our community. There's a problem where
Nassau County and Suffolk County, our local county legislators
have said we're not going to allow you to buy cigarettes until
you're 19 years of age but any 18-year-old could walk into a
sporting goods store and buy a gun. That is a serious issue and
we need assistance.
Those are just a couple of ways.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Okay. Ms. Grant?
Ms. Sapp-Grant. You know, we've had a lot of issues with
getting support and I think, again, it really is about
organizations that have been around forever who have--basically
it's been monopolized by them. And I've had the experience of
having, you know, people from our agencies, our city and
government agencies say, ``You know what? That was the best
proposal I ever read. But, you know, my hands are tied.'' heart
sank.
It doesn't help the kids. But at least they're truthful and
this is many years in the working. You know, when I see Ms.
Clarke up there, I think about, you know, a phone call that we
had some time back where she reached out and said, ``How could
I help you?'' you don't hear that very often. You know, it was
the first time--it gave me like a light at the end of the
tunnel.
You don't have to give me a lot of money. But I am saying
recognize. The same vision or the same way young people are
looking at society or government and saying you know what we're
here or we're trying to find a way to be. Organization is
saying the same thing. So if we can't get the support, then
really, young people, like, well, if you can't help us then
really who will? You know, so it's really about just partner.
One of the greatest conversations I had was sitting with
this woman and looking at the schools and how gang violence is
affecting the schools in New York City and the fact that the
biggest issue for us is the fact that nobody wants to say
anything. It is the biggest secret. And going to schools around
regions in the Bronx, for example, and hearing the leadership
say, ``You know what? We have a big problem.'' because it's not
just about the gang violence in that sort of violent way. It's
about girls being raped in bathrooms in schools and we will
never hear that public schools are letting this happen because
everything is hush-hush and it's happening more and more.
Chairwoman McCarthy. I'm working on that, by the way.
That's going to be in the No Child Left Behind.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. Again, no snitching. This is not new.
Again, I'm a 1980's kid in public school from the '80s and I
sat and spoke from school to school to school, from leadership
to police officers to anybody who would hear me, saying this is
a problem now. I'm telling you what my experience is and I'm
telling you who is coming from California right now and who is
in the jails and it was, like, ``Shh.'' seriously. To young
people.
It's frightening. But what you can do is make it a shame to
ignore it. You know, bring it up and talk about it. I think the
best thing, most empowering thing for people in leadership is
to say something. When you say something, there's nothing for
us to be fearful of. Then a lot of people could get the support
that they need. And our girls don't have to walk around this
shame.
The thing that hurts me the most is a young girl, 14 years
old, came up to me in a school and said, ``I'm okay, nobody is
going to hurt me.''
I said, ``What happened.''
She said, ``I've been blessed.''
I'm like, ``What do you mean?''
To be blessed is when you let boys gang rape you for
protection. This is happening in the schools. The security knew
about it and the principals know about it and nobody is saying
anything about it.
You know, I don't understand. But we have to talk about it
and hold these schools accountable. And we have to let them
know that we know so we can solve the problem as though acting
as though there's no problem.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Chris?
Mr. Maddox. Like Ms. Sapp-Grant previously said, this money
is being monopolized by these well-known organizations and the
core problem is the failure in--we have an outreach center
where we just not reach out to the gang member or a person
that's in the gang, it's about the families. It's about
restoring a home, bringing God back into the family and making
the man head of the household, which is, like, you--it's about
bringing restoration back into your household and you not--and
attacking the core of the problem.
The core of the problem is the family and this person is
just not going out in the streets and acting because he's just
angry about his community. It's about his house. It's basically
the household, basically.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Mr. Platts?
Mr. Platts. Thank you, Madam Chair and my sincere thanks
for all of you, again, for your written and passionate oral
testimonies here today.
Is it Argueta?
Mr. Argueta. Yes.
Mr. Platts. I appreciate what you shared today. And one of
the things I think that hit home is the issue of prevention.
And kind of what's setting this backward is talking about
building bigger prisons.
I think one of the challenges we need to address as a
nation is can we spend money on the immediate issues and
problems--I'm talking about preschool or earlier intervention
programs--the results, the dollar spent on those, we won't see
for years. But we know they will be effective dollars spent, if
we do.
And so we spend more money on what's the problem that we'll
try to see it resolved instantly. And that's law enforcement
dealing with it, instead of diminishing law enforcement.
One of the things I was hoping, Ms. Sapp-Grant, is your two
programs, could you walk me through how you are funded, public
versus private? And on the public side, from a percentage or
rough share federal, state and local dollars; how do you fund
your programs?
Ms. Sapp-Grant. Private. Most of our funding is private
funding. It's foundations. Our first foundation would be New
York Woman Foundation. We were supported by my husband for many
years, thank God. He's a lawyer so he totally understood there
was a need there.
Mr. Platts. His personal funds?
Ms. Sapp-Grant. Yes. We're still there.
Our board does a lot of fund-raising but most of our money
is--we still have never received--besides from the Woman's
Group--no funding.
Mr. Platts. So on an annual basis, public dollars are
minimal or not at all to you?
Ms. Sapp-Grant. Not really, unfortunately.
The other part to talk about is the fact we have to sit
down and eat. Our young people are not used to that. They're
used to eating, but sitting at a table and really
fellowshipping around the table in the evening time before they
go home. And they could eat when they go home. But we say a
prayer, meditate and have a good time and eat.
So we get that through the youth program and that's about
$20,000 a year. That is well used, that's part of the therapy
we were all talking about at this table and it means a lot.
But most of it is private funding and we are constantly
putting out, you know. And I know our proposals are great
proposals, well written, and our program is also supported.
We did a lot of research through Columbia University which
tracked our program over a three-year period to see what the
heck are you doing and are your outcomes measured in the work
that you're doing, and the fact is that we do track our young
people up to two, three years afterwards.
Most of our young people now, since our organization has
been around for a while, we have our older people who are now
alumni coming back as mentors or who are now in college. So
they're doing very well.
You have young people who even have not gone the straight
and narrow who may have had young children or got into drug
problems. They still come back for support. So the success is
not only people that did super good, but young people learn how
to reach out and help when they do stray.
So there's a difference in there.
Mr. Platts. Thank you.
Mr. Argueta. From June of 2000 to about the middle of 2004,
our organization sustained--and I was running it out of my
house, out of my room and we counted on volunteers. Our T-
shirts is a major sort of income. For just 10 dollars, you too
can be wearing one of these.
Mr. Platts. Do you have an extra one with you?
Mr. Argueta. We appreciate it. We appreciate it.
So, you know, that's basically how we were doing it.
In the last two years, we've seen a lot of growth. We had
those two agencies which I previously mentioned, Uniondale
Community Council and Freeport Pride served as partners where
they showed up, signed on as collaborators and helped us
overcome the things that I was foreseeing.
Originally, it was the Long Island Community Foundation and
small foundations donating to our cause. We started a
beautification project, really getting the word out on the
streets, spreading the idea that we're not anti-gang, anti-gang
violence. It's quite different. We're trying to rid these young
people of negative behaviors.
So in the last few years, we've seen a lot of growth in
regards to being able to compete for grants at the local level.
We also got a little bit from republicans in the Senate and at
the state level. Small $5,000 grants that really helped us that
don't tie our hands to the recipe of which government--the
government came up with this idea that, ``We'll tell you what
we need,'' where, in reality, they don't know.
We have to tailor our programs to their recipe, where, in
reality, they should propose and allow us to come up with our
own recipe.
So thanks to the local level, state level and Congresswoman
McCarthy was instrumental in assisting the youth board with
gains and funds for employment. And so we did get a small
$70,000 grant to assist in hiring a full-time job developer
that also assisted these young people with counseling. That was
very effective.
But, again, with what we're seeing in the nonprofit sector,
there is a decrease in availability in funds. So we're looking
for innovative ideas to develop funds.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. You know what? Sergio said--one of the
things that was very important was the fact when you diversify
it, begin to look at the underlying issues under gang violence,
I remember Ms. Clarke saying, ``Well, we need to look at monies
that would support job development or therapeutic
development,'' you know, getting people through counseling or
through the schools.
Even if we got the support to say we will help you to find
additional spaces or help you to expand the program to people
who need it the most, you know, that's the access that you guys
can provide that is priceless. Because a lot of times we have
these programs that are phenomenal and we get calls all week
from all over the country. We need Blossom here, we need
Blossom there, people, individuals as well as agencies, as well
as communities that are asking for it.
But if we talk to you and we're able to reach out to you
and you're able to get it to the communities most in need and
partner with us on that level, that will get it out there.
So it's not just single areas benefiting from it. We need
to get it out to the people that really need it.
Mr. Platts. Thank you.
Mr. Hayes, I guess to wrap up, what I take is when we look
at federal funding, the more we do on or part on a local level,
where money comes down into our various not-for-profit agencies
and law enforcement working together rather than us saying that
we'll go for this specifically is really kind of a good focus.
I want to try to get--I've got way too long a list of
questions.
Chairwoman McCarthy. We all do.
Mr. Platts. Mr. Hayes, you talked about a number of the
programs and therapies that you were doing and criteria. I
guess one of the questions I'm going to ask is what is the
right criteria to determine the program is successful?
I'll use an example. Growing up--I'm the 4th of 5 kids. My
mom and dad are my heroes. The upbringing they gave us--my mom
was a stay-at-home mom but worked a lot of part-time jobs that
involved kids. Park director, rec center, and in that park
there were a lot of kids that were, you know, on that verge of
being in the juvenile detention center, right on the
borderline. And my mom--I was a huge blessing to her because
she was treating them as her own children. Everyone in that
park was one of her children. And so she expected to discipline
them the same way she disciplined us, which is, you know, to
this day, 40 years later, they're individuals who will stop,
visit my mom from that park who didn't go on to get a college
degree, didn't maybe become a huge success in society's eyes,
but they didn't go to prison and they stayed out of trouble
with the law in an official capacity, and maybe did some things
that they shouldn't have.
But overall, that leadership that she gave that park, I
don't know how you judge that in a scientific way. So how would
you say that the established criteria--one of your statements
was the federal funds should be very much an outcome basis,
either you're succeeding or you're not. If you're not you don't
get the money. How do we know well enough.
Mr. Hayes. I think we need to look at--S.T.R.O.N.G.
determines that. I think the case of your mom, and lots of good
things happened while she was working with them, but she also
changed the way people led their lives after she stopped
working with them. And a program should work while they're in
progress. The proof of the pudding is what happens afterwards?
Mr. Platts. What would be that criteria? That they're
gainfully employed a year later, not in prison?
Mr. Hayes. Not in prison, not removed from the home, in
school, finishing school, avoiding arrest, avoiding gang
involvement.
Part of it, as we go in and fund things, we have to put
enough money in there and also work with the universities and
the likes where the universities feel a responsibility to
track--just as did with Ms. Grant's program--to be able to
track things and say is this a sustained determined effect.
I think if there is a sustained determined effect--the
saddest thing I heard today was Ms. Grant still living with
private funding. There's something wrong about that.
The other thing I want to say--and block grants are
simplified--but let's avoid the problem of block grants in the
past. Usually when we put together block grants in the past, we
looked at federal funding and cut it.
The block grants only make sense if we do it in a way where
it becomes a tool to produce results. If you want to look at
some of the Washington Policy Institute studies, dollars spent
on effective prevention today save many tax dollars in the
future. We're talking about $60,000 a year to keep somebody in
prison, 120,000 to keep youth in youth detention.
Having the cost of domestic violence, cost of substance
abuse, if we look at all those costs, we have to see that we're
making an investment and let's make an investment to reduce
those future costs.
Mr. Platts. Thank you, Mr. Hayes.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairwoman McCarthy. From Brooklyn, Ms. Clarke?
Ms. Clarke. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you to all our
witnesses here today as well.
This has been a very informative, reaffirming, quite
frankly, to me, type of hearing because I think this is an
issue that we must confront and give life. It's just time,
Madam Chair.
This subcommittee, I'm so glad I was able to come on it.
I'm one of the newest members. So I am glad I am able to get on
Healthy Families and Communities because that's what many
municipalities are seeking right now.
We've heard conversations here from the law enforcement and
the intervention provider end. What I see, what happens over
time is the misdiagnoses have been very costly to us. Costly
not only in the tax dollars that we have put into the system,
which is multifaceted, but also costly to the lives of the
people who we live with. These are our neighbors.
We are manufacturing a lot of this behavior in our
community right before our very eyes. Until we put the
resources into community-based prevention strategies and look
at the formulas and re-engineer them, because as Mr. Hayes
stated, I see this as a local official, when you get a block
grant there are these giant organizations that need to be
maintained. That is their main focus and purpose at a certain
point in time. They have to be maintained. So right away their
application is re-supported.
That doesn't leave any room for any new innovation in
support, particularly when we're cutting a lot of grants.
Either we're going to look at new methodology for addressing
these organizations, which means that some of the organizations
that traditionally been funded will have to lose some funding,
or we continue as business as usual.
And I think this is really a very critical time for us to
really re-engineer how we're going to address the methods that
are really dealing with and managing this issue properly.
The criminal justice system, the law enforcement that takes
place in communities, in urban areas and other places are
heavily vested with regard to funding. On the other end, our
children are being exposed to the criminal justice system and
law enforcement a lot earlier in life than they have ever
before.
When you think about the fact that in most of the public
high schools in New York City you already have police officers
stationed there. Behaviors that should get you in the
principal's office can now land you in central booking. And so
that begins a process of exposure, of alienation, that when we
start stalking about families--you know, everyone has a vision
of family in their heads. I heard the chief say family and then
I heard the folks on the other side of the table say family.
The problem is that we're not talking about the same types of
families. Families range.
Some families are very high functioning and produce some
crazy kids. Some families are poorly functioning and produce
crazy kids. Grandparents are raising very young children;
foster care is raising children.
So all of these nuances, Madam Chair, have to be addressed
if we're going to get to why we can get alienated so quickly in
our society in gang-related violence, in gang related
activities.
I want to ask a couple of questions. All of this is wrapped
up in my brain and I want to get to the root of what has to be
focused on in our nation with real, practical solutions and not
in a one-size-fits-all type of way. We have to change that
mindset as well.
We talked about the criminal justice system and kind of
brushed it over. I wanted to get to juvenile detention and what
happens in terms of interventions to address that whole
juvenile detention piece. I'm aware of the alternative to
incarceration and alternatives to detention, but what kind of
discharge planning are we talking about here?
We have young people that are incarcerated, they become
professional gang members. Now that they're locked up and we
say, ``Okay, you've done your time, go back to your
neighborhood,'' we're sending back professional gang members
back to the neighborhood. There's been nothing in between that
time they've been incarcerated and when they end up back in the
hood. And I'm saying, what types of things are we seeing or
hearing about discharge planning for young people? That's my
first question. And I'll stop there for right now because I've
said a lot.
Chief Woodward. Congresswoman, I would speak to the D.A.,
she's not here.
They have a program in Nassau County called Rising Star.
Rising Star, when an individual is incarcerated with a charge
through the system, it's alternative sentencing. And she had
mentioned that briefly. The individual in that case does not
get a criminal record, they are screened by the District
Attorney's office to determine what the offense is.
Obviously, different levels of offenses are going to be
handled in a disparate manner. You will have a situation,
relatively minor type of offense, once the individual crosses
over into the area of a violent felony, the Rising Star program
is no longer available. And that would probably indicate, for
all intents and purposes, a lengthy detention, sentence.
The lesser offenses, through Rising Star there's actually a
program, an educational component where the person has to fill
that component to successfully complete the Rising Star
program, complete the program where they obtain no criminal
record, there is criminal disservice. This is a chance for the
child to return to the community without being involved.
But if I may, also, one of the more disturbing trends that
we're seeing now is where a police officer is called quite
commonly to intervene in domestic situations involving young
children and their parents. And, again, we're bringing law
enforcement into the family household. It's not really our
role, but we--unfortunately, society has given us that role
because Child Protective Services is inaccurately funded, other
social programs that are available are minimal, at best.
So we need to intervene in that case and it's important for
us to assist the family. And more than that, give referrals to
organizations such as Pride, other outreach organizations to
get the family the help and assistance necessary so it does not
become a reoccurring problem to both law enforcement and the
family.
I also believe that we're very serious about crime
prevention, that the way is not the traditional law enforcement
approach. To make the houses fortresses, talk to people how to
be safe every time to go out publicly, it's to start to
intervene at earlier ages, as said earlier by Congresswoman
McCarthy and others on this committee. That is the true step,
true direction we have to take because that's the only way
we'll make a better tomorrow.
Ms. Clarke. Thank you, Chief.
Mr. Argueta. Congresswoman Clarke, here in Nassau County, I
can honestly tell you we have not been serious about re-entry
and it's not a priority whatsoever. What we're finding is that
the discharge planning is non-existent and it consists of
actually referring those same kids to these same small not-for-
profit organizations and that's the discharge plan.
We've been looking at it as something that we would like to
focus on. We've partnered with the Uniondale agency who just
submitted an application in regards to seeing if we could fund,
get the funding with those individuals who are already working
in this particular arena to see if we could further develop
these plans.
You know, a lot of these kids unfortunately, or even
adults, have it better while incarcerated than they do out in
the world. They're able to excel so much in regards to the
programs and institutions because all of their needs are being
met. Yet, upon discharge plan there is no plan there. So that's
why we have a 70, 80 percent resistance rate throughout the
entire country. So that's definitely something that needs, you
know, much more attention. To tell you the truth, it's minimal
at best in many municipalities.
Ms. Clarke. Mr. Hayes?
Mr. Hayes. In the Bronx we're operating a multidimensional
treatment foster care program. And it's one of the programs
that has been studied by the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Instead of going to upstate juvenile jail facilities, youth are
placed without program, we place them in community homes with
trained people in the community that live in the community home
for 6 to 12 months.
The host parents, as we call them, are particularly trained
in a behavioral approach. They're supported by 24 hours on-call
by our program staff. Each of the youth has an individual
therapist that works with the youth weekly. Each of the youth
have a family therapist that works with the family and bio-
family to help the bio-family learn to be stronger parents.
There is also a skills trainer involved in the model, we have a
nurse.
So we're updating medical needs. It is a different kind of
program. A lot of times we feel more comfortable with youth
being away in jail. Our youth stumble, get into problems. While
in the program, we review problems as an opportunity to build
skills and to learn.
We recognize that we could help kids succeed in the
community. As they go back to their families, there is a
greater chance succeeding than if they're sent away upstate.
In Monroe County, the state operates industry, a large
facility of the Office of Children and Family Services where
youth are traditionally placed through the year. We use
Functional Family Therapy.
Another blueprint program, to begin working with families a
month to six weeks before discharge to bring the youth and
family together, working on relationships, working on family
assistance and improving that so that as the family goes back,
we just can't take youth away and leave families in the same
shape.
Also in Monroe County youth are arrested and they're placed
in detention while awaiting disposition. We have introduced
Multi Systemic Therapy. The third blueprint program is aimed at
adolescence and their families.
And our workers have four families that they're working
with in the home every day. And if we look at many of the
problems is the influence circle. Ideally the influence circle
should be the family. In a lot of these cases the family
circles get broken down. What we're doing is working to rebuild
the family, working to bring in community organizations, like
the church that the youth belongs to and the like, to rebuild
the circles of support around the youth to give them a chance
to go and to learn and to practice more normal behavior.
Ms. Clarke. Mr. Hayes, what is the average cost per child
that would come into your program?
Mr. Hayes. Well, if you look at our residential program,
the multi dimensional treatment foster care costs about $70,000
a year, still less than prison. If you look at, you know,
Functional Family Therapy, probably costs about $5,000 for the
intervention, Multisystemic Therapy about $7,000 with the
intervention.
FFT is lasting three months roughly to 4 months; Multi
Systemic Therapy group would be 4 to 6 months for the family
and youth.
Ms. Clarke. That says something right there when we start
looking, Madam Chair, at how we're going to approach this in
the reorganization of No Child Left Behind.
Thank you.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you, Mr. Hayes.
One of the things from listening to all of you--if you
don't mind, I don't know the time constraints you may have. But
some of us have one or two more question, if you can stay with
us.
In July, I believe it was you that brought up that we were
going to be talking about, you know, sometimes there's a cross
in jurisdictions. We're going to have a hearing with the
judiciary committee in July, because they have jurisdictional
programs, whether it's incarceration or some of the other
programs. So we're going to work together on that.
We have done that also with our--we were trying to do it
but it didn't work out this year--on the agricultural
committee, mainly because one of my other subcommittees that
we're on, we're looking at children and obesity. So we're
trying to convince people that we could still make money but
you can put an apple in the machine instead of having some of
these other particular foods that they put in there.
But I guess the question that I would like to ask,
especially with you, Chris, being that you came out of prison.
I hear from correctional officers all the time, services that--
especially young people in prison--that they need.
But, you know, in this country some complain that if you
try to help those in prison, you were soft on crime. You are
going to be out of prison one day. There has to be jobs out
there, there has to be a way of coming back into society. There
has to be educational opportunities as well as in prison.
That's something that I happen to think that if you really
talked about it instead of having a ten-second sound byte,
you're actually trying to improve the communities that they're
going back to. It has nothing to do with being soft on crime.
I do believe that when we have those that are incarcerated,
whether it's in juvenile detention center or prison, we have
the opportunity that particular time to give the services.
Let's face it. If somebody doesn't want to take them, you
can't do anything about them. You have these people that need
help. Some can't be helped but I do believe if we try, they can
be. This is one of our chances.
So I was wondering, did you receive services? And also,
what kinds of services are needed when somebody is
incarcerated, when they come back out.
Mr. Maddox. Well, some of these services go inside prisons
and talk, instill in their heads that this lifestyle is like a
dead end. And the process is renewing your mind.
We need things that's going to challenge the way we look at
things. We're going to have organizations out there to get you
a job. But if you don't know how to keep that job, you will not
succeed in life.
We need organizations that will judge the way you think. We
need organizations that's not afraid to come into these
prisons, that are not afraid to make contact.
We need organizations that's right there in the core of the
problems. And H.E.V.N. is right there at the core of the
problems and on the streets. Right there.
We need organizations that's going to challenge the way we
live.
Mr. Argueta. Like I said, we're been working a lot with
these organizations out on the West Coast. One of the most
effective programs that they have institutionalized within the
prison walls is called Criminal and Gang Members Anonymous.
Basically a 12-step approach, same way you would to a drug, to
alcohol.
The criminal lifestyle and gang life is a serious
addiction. And what these individuals came up with is a
curriculum, a 12-step program developed by an inmate who is
serving a lifetime sentence alongside his own child. And it's
basically looking at the law, the look of the streets, and it's
a self-help initiative.
In other words, I always say S.T.R.O.N.G. does not get kids
out of gangs. All we do is provide assistance. If a gang member
has not hit rock bottom and says, ``I want to change my life,''
there is no program or religion in the world that can get you
out of a gang. This program has been very effective.
One of the things we're doing in the same process, the re-
entry application, developed this self-help model to put out in
the street.
Individuals from the Nassau County Probation Department are
actually looking to implement this program themselves and
unfortunately, the funding just isn't there.
That's where you have an excellent opportunity for
collaboration between law enforcement and organizations to
attack an issue.
Just my view on what you previously stated. What you're
doing is being tougher than anyone else on crime, by talking
about prevention and intervention, because you're going beyond
the barrel of a gun and a handcuff in a prison cell. You're
actually saying, ``I am really going to be tough on crime and
make sure that we nurture you and take care of you to realize
how that how special and unique each one of my community is.''
So I just wanted to share that with you.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Thank you.
Chief, I was wondering, because obviously, you've been in
the Village for a long time, you've worked on this issue for a
long time. You've seen some that have gone to Nassau County
jail, prison.
When you see them come back to the community, where is
their stance? Do they go back to the gangs because of the
services we're not providing? What happens when they do come
back into the community.
Chief Woodward. More often than not, resume where they left
off. One of the things we've seen is when you are a gang
member, the gang membership solidifies your position in the
jail system. Our prison system is actually a gang incubator.
If fact, if we look at the Mexican Mafia, which was one of
the primary gangs that really started to spread in this system
of embracing a gang presence within the penal system, we look
at the fact that our own system of justice allowed it to spread
nationally.
When the Mexican Mafia was first in the California federal
prison system, they felt that by moving them and separating
them throughout the country, they would alienate their
influence. Instead, what we did was facilitate growth. Because
what we permitted is we permitted that when you want to process
an appeal, you haven't had the record of assistance in the way
of witnesses and we actually then flew all of them together and
allowed them to perpetuate the system.
Only now, we've actually supported these gatherings that
allowed the Mexican Mafia to become one of the most powerful
prison gangs in this country.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Mr. Platts, do you have any more
questions.
Mr. Platts. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Hayes, in your written testimony you mention and we
talked about those who have participated in various therapy
programs and that 60 percent complete the programs and show the
results about the program.
Is there a single or acute factor that you identify as the
biggest difference between those who do complete the programs
and are successful and those who don't? Is there a family
issue, is it drug related; anything that jumps out and
distinguishes the groups?
Mr. Hayes. I think that what would distinguish would be
evidence-based and non-evidence based treatment. I can talk
about that. Those who succeed and those who don't succeed.
We're still looking for more common denominators.
Sometimes it looks if the factors are there, you can expect
success and you don't see it and other times you don't.
I think that one of the things we have to understand is
while these approaches are better approaches, there's no silver
bullet. That a lot of the people we've worked with have been
trapped into negative behavior, poverty, there's been a
tremendous amount of trauma for a long period of time.
And I think the encouraging thing is we could work with
about 60, 70 percent of the people who have failed in other
programs, we can go and turn around. We still need more effort
to see how we reach the others and turn them around.
I do want to support what everyone here has talked about,
about poverty being one of the underlying issues. And if people
are in bad housing and bad jobs, we're going to keep people
like me in business because there's going to be lots of social
problems, lots of victims of society who are going to be
damaged.
We have Chris Maddox before who talked about hurt and heal.
We have to do things that are going to lessen the hurt and
promote more healing.
Mr. Platts. Thank you.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. One of the things that we have to look at
is post traumatic stress syndrome. This is something that
affects most people.
I remember, you know, just thinking as a younger person,
dad, ``Why doesn't everybody see this? Why isn't this quite
obvious to people.''
But having a young gentleman talk about the fact that even
after he got out of the gang, he still can't sleep with his
little daughter because he's not used to being out of the
violence because it's so real.
But if you live in a community where people are being shot,
and if you even watch television for too long or even the news,
you get those same feelings. I imagine if you're around that
24/7 every day, you're dealing with it and you need a
counselor, you need a therapist in order to deal with it. And
in most cases you need medication.
So these are very real issues, they are medical issues that
a lot of our young people are dealing with. So we have to end
depression.
Again, they can deal with alcohol or there are so many
cases. But in this case we're talking about gang violence.
Mr. Platts. I think it goes to the complexity and issue of
challenge. There's no simple solution, it's going to take a
very coordinated, organized effort.
We talked about prevention. Our colleagues Dan Davis from
Illinois, he and I are sponsors of the organization called
Home, and it's not trying to reinvent the wheel. But it's
taking effective programs that help mostly low-income families,
single-parent families to be a better parent for children to
help them get on track in the beginning.
I count my blessings because I say, ``Hey, I'm a product of
my mom and dad.'' that example that I had, I had that benefit
and I seem to give that to now my children. It's societal
changes today, both parents are working because of economic
necessity. No matter how loving or devoted a parent you are
you're working two jobs just to put food on the table or pay
bills.
The preschool studies that are now 30 years strong show
that every dollar we invest today down the road, the return is
many, many more dollars, more productive workers.
So I hope that as we move forward from this hearing what
each of you brought to us is an important piece to this puzzle
of what we need to do in prevention, in intervention, in law
enforcement. We certainly need to protect or citizens as well.
But at least we're confident in that approach.
I want to thank you again, Madam Chair, for supporting this
and having diverse testimony. Actually, that made me think of
one last question actually.
Ms. Grant, you mentioned about one of the challenges of
immigration, we seem to have more individual groups, and that
language issue the Chief mentioned about common language of the
past, do you think that the issue of more promotion of funding,
as it relates to No Child Left Behind, in schools as English as
a second language where more and more students of which English
is not their first language, maybe we're not doing enough to
help the child learn to break out of that community, their own
community and better assimilate it to the broader community.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. I don't think that's it. It's classes. It's
still property. It's still a different color, unfortunately,
trying to become part of the mainstream.
Mr. Platts. My question is, is that one of the barriers,
the language barrier.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. Language is a part of it but it's also
acceptance. You know, when I think about it, I don't want to
stigmatize or point out a group of people, but in order to give
an example, when you talk about Mexicans and all of the Mexican
people who have come here and built this country and brought
such a piece of the American--we've separated, we've stigmatize
them, labeled them, then we wonder why gangs then separate and
take over their children. We give them the ammunition to say,
``You know what? Look at the way they treat you. Be a part of
this, we will build a culture.''
It's the same with any other people. You are going to be a
part of your people. But there are people that are just evil.
But if we give them the energy and the tools to do that, to do
those things, then we're part of the problem. We have to
embrace them in the same way we embrace Italians, Irish, we
have to embrace all people and we haven't done a very good job
at that.
Mr. Argueta. Congressman, one of the things we need to do
is develop inclusion programs. By that, I mean when you walk in
a school and speak a different language you're placed in an ESL
classroom and receiving services is like a breeding ground for
this because ESL students are treated differently, they're made
fun of. Because you dress a certain way, you're not part of the
popular culture. You get bullied a lot. As a result, these
students are joining gangs as means of protection.
The minute you come in as an ESL student, you have the head
of the cheerleading squad, head of the chess club or math club
welcome you, embrace you and introduce you to an entire group
of friends, positive peers, I can honestly tell you that we are
light years behind in regards to addressing the gang epidemic.
And if you really look at the ESL population, we're twice
that behind, scraping the services of the means of that
population. I'm not talking about the undocumented population.
I'm talking about those that are legally here. We need to get
to the core of that.
Here on Long Island we're regarded as the most segregated
suburb of the entire country. So our belief, and we've talked
about it even through our own chapter, starting this year we'll
provide counselors and start an ESL S.T.R.O.N.G. chapter to
address the needs of those kids in their own native language.
So for us, it's inclusion in making them feel they're part of
us.
Gang members often say gang life is a family. We agree with
that. But the fact is it's an abusive family. It's one that
beats you from the moment you get in. It rapes you physically,
emotionally and destroys you. That's your community, those are
your parents, you know, your religious leaders, that's what we
want to focus on, inclusion.
Mr. Platts. Your testimony really makes the point as one of
the challenges. Thank you, again.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Ms. Clarke, would you like to ask one
question?
Ms. Clarke. I am very conscious of the time. I'll make it
very short. But I wanted to respond to the last statement.
I think one of the things that America has to realize is
that human beings are human beings. The issues are in the
values that we share. If we don't have shared values, and there
are some in our society who value themselves less than others,
and we reinforce that and everything else, then we helped
create that climate. If we begin to share our values in a way
that people recognize that they can be, as you would say, Mr.
Platts, assimilated and they're not giving up anything of
themselves in doing that, but they're enhancing and enriching
who we are as a nation, we would be going a very long way.
I want to focus on gender specificity here and put that on
the record, Madam Chair, because I think what is more shocking
to me is the level of participation we see of girls now in gang
activity. I'm sure it existed for quite some time. But I'm
noticing having visited many facilities who house women that
are incarcerated, that they're growing, children are actually
having children while incarcerated in the facilities with them.
And I think we need to put on the record some of what could be
done to address that.
So I want to put my question out there for everyone, but in
particular Ms. Sapp-Grant.
There seems to be a significant increase of girl gangs. It
is my understanding that your program is one that develops a
sense of self-worth and will to make positive changes in their
lives in the communities. Can you describe what your program
does, just a synopsis because we're short on time.
Ms. Sapp-Grant. What we're seeing--and throughout my career
I used to work in locker facilities in group homes and juvenile
justice facilities and these facilities that took our young
people off the street--people who needed supervision and we get
young people who come in as gang members or, you know, who are
at risk of becoming gang members, when they come to our program
we have an assessment that's done, yet we do the piece that Mr.
Hayes is talking about where you really set up those goals.
Those goals are not developed by us saying, ``These are the
things we need to accomplish.'' it is about creating a system
with that young person and finding out what they want to do in
their lives. Our goals for a young person may not be the same
as yours. ``I don't want to argue so much with my parent. I
know I don't want to be with this group of people but I don't
know how.''
You know, they're not going to come with the same things.
So we're learning also not to push all our ideas on that young
person. In order to keep them out of trouble, they're going to
develop over a period of time.
Our program is three tiered. The first part is getting them
to a place of safety, getting to know that person. The second
phase involves getting them involved with a mentor, making sure
they're in school, making sure they get the clinical support
that they need. The program is very comprehensive.
So it's a clinical piece where, you know, each person does
have a therapist. There's an educational piece. Each person is
back in school or getting their GED. Because, again, everybody
is not going to college. Everybody is not interested in that.
If you come to us and say, ``You know what? I want to go
here.'' then we'll do our best to help you, support you in
getting to your dream. Not our dream but your dream. It's about
advocacy and leadership.
A lot of these youth are smart, brilliant. Getting them to
talk to the people, to learn how to access the services that
they need, because part of it is just the fact that we're not
addressing our needs.
So if you're saying, ``You know what? I'm hurting.'' and
nobody, your teacher is not listening to you, or your guidance
counselor is not listening to you, you're going to turn to
something else.
A lot of time it's just frustration. It's about getting
them back into the school or changing schools, or special ed if
they need it. Because a lot of times they're not getting what
they need in schools. Sometimes people need a different school
setting.
The other part is the mentoring. We make sure every one of
our girls has a one-on-one mentor based on what they want to do
in their lives. One who wants to go into law, which a lot do,
we have school lawyers we find, constantly recruiting mentors
to make sure our girls have access to mentors.
The advocacy and leadership is crucial because these are
girls that go out and march against--again, they all develop
their other political minds. It's letting them understand they
have the power to speak and they begin to use that, which,
again, alleviates the anger. Because now we're learning how to
talk.
We do anger management, we do family counseling which is
crucial because we have a lot of girls that come to us because
their parents say, ``Fix her. She's broken. And it has nothing
to do with me.''
So I would think, no, we will help your family. We won't
fix her so she could go back into your house. So let's work
together as a family. It's about bringing the whole family to
the table.
And sexual abuse, which is, again, a critical issue. 75, 85
percent of our girls. You just can't change it. It keeps coming
over and over again. We have to address those issues and help
them to address it in a meaningful way.
The last piece is jobs. We have a program called Girls in
Business. So they create their own things. It's not about
waiting for employment to roll around because a lot of them
don't get. Cozy Comfort pillows, they create pillows, they
create stabs, carbon stabs that are very decorative. And then
whatever it is they want to do, because that's what it is
about, being an American child, that we as adults are out there
to help them realize their dream and to realize how important
they are to society.
So as an organization, we help the community understand,
again, how important it is to help support our young children
in realizing their dream.
It's not brain science or anything like that. It's about
being human, being a community. If we do those basic things it
doesn't cost $170,000, as it does to lock up a young person for
a year. It costs very minimal to just be involved in a child's
life and teach other people how to do it in a meaningful way.
Chairwoman McCarthy. Ms. Clarke.
Ms. Clarke. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairwoman McCarthy. You're welcome.
I'm going to do my closing statement. I want to thank each
and every one of you. You really have given us an awful lot of
information.
We have probably gone over a little bit in our time. But
we, as members, I'll be very honest with you, when we do a
hearing down in Washington there are probably about 30 or 40 of
us sitting there. So we'll give an opportunity to ask a second
round of questions or even allow to take the time to get
questions out and then have you come back without, you know--in
five minutes, let's face it, five minutes is not much time
really but we have a luxury to be able to be here a few more
minutes.
The complexities that you all brought out, those are things
that we will go over. Everything has been taken down so we
could go over it and see how to integrate that with other
programs that we have out there.
You're absolutely right. It was brought up a number of
times. We have to figure out how to make sure that money is
available for those programs, to go back to the communities on
a community level.
One of the things I found is there's a lot of repeating on
programs even here in my own district when we fight to get
grants back into our district. And you might have 5 or 6
programs in the district doing what they say they're going to
be doing as far as working with gangs and other issues.
There's only one goal that we're all looking for. How are
we going to help our young people? How are we going to make
sure they have a productive life, to live their dreams? I think
that's what we all feel strongly about.
Again, I thank you all for your testimony. At this time, we
have to go through the formality of closing the hearing.
As previously ordered, members will have 14 days to submit
additional materials for the hearing record. Any member who
wishes to submit follow-up questions in writing to the
witnesses should coordinate with the majority staff with a
request of time.
Without objection, this hearing is adjourned.
[The prepared statement of Jane Bender follows:]
Prepared Statement of Jane Bender, Committee Chair, Gang Prevention/
Intervention Programs
Background
The City of Santa Rosa, California (pop. 157,983) is located 50
miles north of San Francisco in the heart of the Sonoma Wine Country.
Our median income is over $75,000. The average home price is over
$500,000. It seems like an unlikely place for gangs to breed and grow,
but they have. For the past several years, the gang violence in our
community has continued to escalate to a point where the community
finally said...enough!
In 2004, the citizens passed a quarter-cent sales tax measure that
would provide funding for fire stations, gang prevention/intervention,
and gang enforcement. We receive $7 million annually which is used to
address these important community issues.
After researching successful models in cities throughout California
we took the best of San Jose and Fresno and formed the Mayor's Gang
Prevention Task Force (MGPTF) and the Mayor's Advisory Board. From the
beginning, there was an understanding that we could not ``arrest'' our
way out of this critical problem. Gangs are a community-wide issue and
need to be addressed with a community-wide response.
The MGPTF is divided into two major sections:
A policy team that represents probation, the courts,
schools, business, and law enforcement. The highest officials of these
agencies sit at the table and get updates on the gang issues facing our
community. They hear first hand what is going on in our city. They are
the policy makers that can help reshape the way we respond to the
crisis. It is working. The group has developed a sense of trust with
each other and is finding ways to work effectively to change the way we
work. They set the goals for our community to reduce the number of gang
related violent crimes and the level of gang members; provide
opportunities that assist young people in making healthy lifestyle
decisions; and create and maintain safer schools and neighborhoods.
An operational team is composed of Police, Probation,
Recreation and Parks, the District Attorney, non-profit community
group, neighborhood associations, and individuals who are directly
involved with youth. They are representatives who bring the knowledge,
expertise, and resources to the table. They work in a confidential
manner to help focus on specific areas of prevention and intervention.
Recreation and Parks took the leadership role in developing the
prevention and intervention programs. They receive about $1.4 million
per year that provides critical after-school programs at school and
community sites. Over $800,000 has been awarded to non-profits that
work with gang-affiliated or at-risk of being involved youth through
our Community Helping Our Indispensable Children Excel (CHOICE)
program. The CHOICE program includes targeted funding for at-risk
youth; outpatient counseling for youth and their families that are
exhibiting pre-gang or gang lifestyles; parent and family support
programs to help develop parenting skills; and job readiness training
for gang involved youth.
After-School Programs
We believe that a critical component to any gang prevention program
is having a place where young people can be safe after school and where
they can get tutoring and mentoring to help them be successful in
school. Our Recreation and Parks Department, with the help of the tax
money described above now offers after-school programs in almost 20,
out of 34 elementary schools throughout the city. We hire people from
the neighborhood that have an investment in the youth in the area and
individualize the programs, depending on the needs of the students at
the program. Because the program is still so new, it is difficult to
measure how successful the Task Force is; however, we have found with
the survey information that young people love the programs and are
taking advantage of the opportunities they present and feel better
about them, based on the Asset Model. We expect more definitive results
within the next month that we would be happy to share with the
committee.
Summary
We believe that Santa Rosa has served as a model that could be used
by other (small and mid-sized) communities to help young people succeed
and stay out of gangs. The keys to the model are:
1) Commitment from the policy makers that things will change
2) Commitment from organizations and individuals that they will
work together to develop programs that address a specific gang issue
3) Ongoing funding source that is supported by the community.
4) A commitment to evaluate and measure success and make the
necessary adjustments
We are happy to provide further details to the committee or address
any questions that you might have about this program.
______
[Whereupon, at 12:38 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]