1. The Weed and Seed Program AJS 270 Week Five

2. The Beginning Established by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1991. Established by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1991. Operation Weed and Seed. Operation Weed and Seed. Federally funded through the U.S. Department of Justice. Federally funded through the U.S. Department of Justice. Administered by the Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO), Office of Justice Programs. Administered by the Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO), Office of Justice Programs. Three pilot cities in 1991. Three pilot cities in 1991.

3. What is it? Community-based multi- agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. Community-based multi- agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and neighborhood restoration. Designed to weed out crime and help prevent it from reoccurring by seeding the sites with resources. Designed to weed out crime and help prevent it from reoccurring by seeding the sites with resources. Addresses drugs, violent crime, and social problems. Addresses drugs, violent crime, and social problems. Done through law enforcement and effective community policing. Done through law enforcement and effective community policing. Actively involves citizens to rebuild their own communities. Actively involves citizens to rebuild their own communities.

4. Weed and Seed Strategy A strategy. A strategy. Aims to control violent crime, drug trafficking, drug abuse, drug-related crime, and gang activity. Aims to control violent crime, drug trafficking, drug abuse, drug-related crime, and gang activity. Strategy is administered using a two-prong approach. Strategy is administered using a two-prong approach. Community policing bridges the Weed and Seed strategies. Community policing bridges the Weed and Seed strategies. Brings many areas together under the same goal of weeding out violent crime and gang activity while seeding social services and economic revitalization. Brings many areas together under the same goal of weeding out violent crime and gang activity while seeding social services and economic revitalization. Steering Committee evaluates the overall program. Steering Committee evaluates the overall program.

5. Fundamental Principles Collaboration Collaboration Coordination Coordination Community Participation Community Participation Leveraging Resources Leveraging Resources

6. Elements of the Strategy Law enforcement Law enforcement Community-oriented policing. Community-oriented policing. Prevention, intervention, and treatment. Prevention, intervention, and treatment. Neighborhood restoration. Neighborhood restoration.

7. Safe Havens Every Weed and Seed site is required to establish a Safe Haven. Every Weed and Seed site is required to establish a Safe Haven. A multi-service center often housed in a school or community center. A multi-service center often housed in a school or community center. Many adult and youth- oriented services. Many adult and youth- oriented services. Employment opportunities, counseling, community gardens, graffiti removal. Employment opportunities, counseling, community gardens, graffiti removal. With resources, economic development and physical improvements to the neighborhoods are possible. With resources, economic development and physical improvements to the neighborhoods are possible.

8. How to Become a Weed and Seed Site Must notify the U.S. Attorney’s Office in district of intent to develop a Weed and Seed strategic plan. Must notify the U.S. Attorney’s Office in district of intent to develop a Weed and Seed strategic plan. Community obtains Weed and Seed Implementation Manual and Official Recognition Guidelines and application. Community obtains Weed and Seed Implementation Manual and Official Recognition Guidelines and application. U.S. Attorney can assist the prospective site with organizing a steering committee. U.S. Attorney can assist the prospective site with organizing a steering committee. Apply for Official Recognition (OR) by submitting strategic plan to CCDO for approval. Apply for Official Recognition (OR) by submitting strategic plan to CCDO for approval. With OR, site receives eligibility to apply for funds and priority in participating in federally sponsored training and technical assistance opportunities. With OR, site receives eligibility to apply for funds and priority in participating in federally sponsored training and technical assistance opportunities.

9. Sustainability Long term health and resilience of the community. Long term health and resilience of the community. Maintaining the steering committee as a mechanism for ongoing implementation of the Weed and Seed strategy beyond the term of the grant. Maintaining the steering committee as a mechanism for ongoing implementation of the Weed and Seed strategy beyond the term of the grant. Able to identify and secure existing and new resources and funding sources. Able to identify and secure existing and new resources and funding sources. Must demonstrate a community impact. Must demonstrate a community impact. Arizona Sustainable Safety and Community Enhancement Initiative is a statewide example of an unfunded alternative. Arizona Sustainable Safety and Community Enhancement Initiative is a statewide example of an unfunded alternative.

10. Terms of OR Official Recognition is awarded for five years. Official Recognition is awarded for five years. Graduated site is one that has completed the five years and maintains its strategic plan. Continues to develop, coordinate, and deliver services that enhance the quality of life and improve public safety. Graduated site is one that has completed the five years and maintains its strategic plan. Continues to develop, coordinate, and deliver services that enhance the quality of life and improve public safety. Once graduated, a site may no longer apply for funds through the CCDO. Once graduated, a site may no longer apply for funds through the CCDO.

11. Does it Work? Individual sites track their own progress. Individual sites track their own progress. New Haven: during 1999, no homicides occurred; other violent crimes in the district have been reduced. New Haven: during 1999, no homicides occurred; other violent crimes in the district have been reduced. 34 evaluation studies: 21 cities had positive results on law enforcement’s effect on crime and 13 cities had positive results regarding community safety. 34 evaluation studies: 21 cities had positive results on law enforcement’s effect on crime and 13 cities had positive results regarding community safety. Different studies done on Weed and Seed results, but overall the program has had a tremendous effect on the nation. Different studies done on Weed and Seed results, but overall the program has had a tremendous effect on the nation.

12. Any Questions?