IRJ utilizes strategic social science research methodologies to assist government agencies, educational institutions, and members of the community in the development of policy changes that advanced the cause of social justice.
Northeastern University
360 Huntington Avenue
400 Churchill Hall
Boston, MA 02115
617.373.4678
irj@neu.edu
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has published "Best Practices To Address Community Gang Problems: OJJDP's Comprehensive Gang Model."
The report provides communities responding to a present or potential youth gang problem with guidance in implementing OJJDP's Comprehensive Gang Model. It describes the research informing the model, notes findings from evaluations of several programs demonstrating the model, and outlines best practices derived from practitioners with experience in planning and implementing the model in their communities. To access this report on our Shannon CSI website please go to the news,reports and archives section of the site.In the spring of 2008 Northeastern University, in consultation with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security completed the first annual report on the Shannon Community Safety Initiative activities and progress. The report can be found at: Shannon Community Safety Initiative Annaul Report
New Bedford H.O.P.E. Collaborative
During the first year of Shannon funding, the city of New Bedford engaged in extensive community organization through the establishment of a large collaborative group of law enforcement agencies, service providers, faith-based groups, and arts-based organizations—18 different groups. Despite the fact that many organizations had similar missions, most had never before worked together. Each had worked within its own capacity to address high risk populations, however, the Shannon CSI provided the impetus to identify a more coordinated partnership. Shortly after its inception, the group named itself the H.O.P.E. Collaborative (Healthy Opportunities for Peaceful Engagement). H.O.P.E. went on to establish an executive committee and several subcommittees comprised of members from the full collaborative on prevention, intervention, suppression, reentry, and youth. Although occasional disagreement among members is a challenge for all such partnerships, many positive changes have emerged from this new innovative partnership. One development in particular was the establishment of a productive relationship between the police and street outreach workers. Historically suspicious of each other’s mission, both organizations began to recognize the value of the other and created new channels of communication. Now the police and outreach providers are in contact to prevent violence as well as to reduce the consequences when violent incidents occur. Moreover, after dealing with many of the issues facing a new collaborative body, the relationships formed amongst the members of the H.O.P.E. Collaborative made it possible in the second year of funding to organize a case management system for youth being served by the collaborative. Meeting monthly, members of H.O.P.E. service providers identify youth involved in any member program who could benefit from the services of another organization in the group and coordinate the provision of those services. The project director also forwards community and partner agency events to those on H.O.P.E.’s email list, another way that the collaborative helps to enhance community awareness and involvement.
Developed by the