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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/18/2006~ C %~.. a a Kern County Michael Rubio, Supervisor - Co-Chair Ray Watson, Supervisor Staff: Adel Klein City of Bakersfield Irma Carson, Councilmember - Co-Chair Mike Maggard, Vice Mayor Jacquie Sullivan, Councilmember Staff: John W. Stinson SPECIAL MEETING OF THE JOINT CITY/COUNTY STANDING COMMITTEE TO COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE November 18, 2006 Kern County Administrative Center Kern County Board of Supervisors Chambers SUMMARY OF COMMENTS On November 18, 2006, Kern County Supervisor Michael Rubio and the Joint City /County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence hosted ahalf-day Special Meeting in the Board of Supervisors Chambers. At this meeting, the Standing Committee solicited input from all members of the community, particularly residents and anti-gang advocates that are on the front lines of the war against gangs. Full-group discussions, as well as break-out sessions, attempted to identify both existing gaps and resources that specifically address the gang problem in Kern County. Furthermore, goals and strategies to fill those gaps were discussed and prioritized in the prevention, intervention and suppression of gang activity. Finally, individuals /groups were tasked with accomplishing specific action items, while simultaneously developing an actionable Strategic Plan. During the first Full Group Discussion, the Standing Committee sought to identify what the attendees perceived as the top root causes of gang violence: Top Root Causes of Gang Violence (in descending order of priority): • Family Instability /Improper Parenting • Intergenerational Dynamics • Hopelessness /Spiritual Disconnect /Moral Code Breakdown • Poverty • Lack of Education /Poor Experience with Education • Need for Social Acceptance /Social Marginalization of Youth /Self-Identity • Limited Positive Role Models /Media Images • Lack of Effective or Engaging Community Programs • Unemployment • Prisons ("Gang Training Camps") • Overwhelmed and Ineffective Justice System • Racism During the second Full Group Discussion, the Standing Committee sought to identify what the attendees perceived as the top strategies or needs in the community necessary to effectively combat the gang problem in Kern County: Top Prioritized Strategies /Needs (in descending order of priority): • Increase Family and Community Involvement for At-Risk Kids • Enhance Resources and Officers Assigned to Gang Unit • Augment Capacity in Jails • Expand Drug Treatment Opportunities for Youth • Increase Information to Community and Improve Service Access (2-1-1 System) • Further Develop Leadership and Mentoring Programs • Reevaluate PC 186.22 (California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act) • Establish Hotline to Dispatch Gang Tips from the Community to Law Enforcement • Evaluate Existing Continuum of Vocational and Alternative Education for At-Risk Youth • Consider Earlier Intervention in Domestic Violence Over the course of the morning, the attendees split up into three (3) break-ouf groups that specifically discussed the necessary prevention, intervention and suppression components essential to any comprehensive anti-gang strategy in Kern County. Also, responsible individuals /groups were identified (noted by "LEAD" designation, where applicable.) Prevention Expand Drug Treatment Opportunities for At-Risk Youth - Diane Koditek (KC Mental Health) -LEAD - Evaluate what programs currently exist - Expansion options - Conduct needs assessment Evaluate Best Practices in Preventing Gang Involvement - Increase resources and available programs - Implement 2-1-1 System - Expand services to all communities /income levels Improve Communication between Agencies and Parents - Marketing (i.e. commercials, PSA's, directories) Better Access Parents /Families - At-risk youth - Gang members - "A" students Intervention Early Intervention in Domestic Violence - Nada Yorke (KC Probation /Domestic Violence Advisory Council) -LEAD - Identify key indicators and patterns of domestic violence - Alliance Against Family Violence - Cindy London -(Law Enforcement -Bakersfield Police Department) /Neighborhood Watch Identify Mentoring and Leadership Programs in the Community - KC Network for Children -LEAD - KC Probation Department - Develop coordination plan Evaluate Existing Continuum of Vocational and Alternative Education for At-Risk Youth - KC Superintendent of Schools -LEAD - Involve CSUB and BC - Build plan for increased continuum Increase Family Involvement in Existing Programs for those identified with At-Risk Behaviors - KC Network for Children -LEAD - Identify programs aimed at goal - Provide safe meeting locations - Schools to re-evaluate outreach to parents - Overlay with community data - Develop measurable outcomes Suppression Immediate Gang Tips - Bakersfield Police Department /Chief Rector -LEAD - Evaluate prioritization of calls - Possible grant funding - Crime analysis /data collection - Training for dispatch - PSA's /Media Additional Resources to Gang Units - Increase number of officers in high-crime areas - Increase training budget - Create KC Regional Gang Task Force - Ensure gang units have proper equipment Reevaluate PC 186.22 (California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act) - KC Prosecutors Association -LEAD - Streamline gang member identification process - Limit elements needed to prove - Institute mandatory lifetime registration (web-based) - Asset forfeiture - Local law enforcement notification when gang member is released from custody - Gang injunctions /Mandatory sentences (SB 155) Increase Capacity in Jails - KC Sheriff's Department -LEAD - Fill vacant positions /Increase funding - Rehabilitation of facilities - Misdemeanor arrest (exception for gang members) Employ Technology - GPS monitoring - CCTV - Gunshot sensors