Feds offer $2.5 million to fight gangs in Raleigh-Durham

The U.S. Department of Justice today said Raleigh-Durham is one of four metropolitan regions to receive $2.5 million in federal funds to prevent and combat gangs.

The Justice Department made the money available in as part of the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative. The initiative funded six metro regions last year and four this year, including Raleigh-Durham, Rochester, N.Y., Oklahoma City and Indianapolis.

In a press statement, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole said she was pleased that Raleigh-Durham is one of a handful of metropolitan areas to receive the money.

“North Carolina has a dramatically growing gang presence, including MS-13, which is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous gangs in America,” said Dole. "Gangs pose a serious threat to our communities’ safety, and it is imperative that we give local, state and federal law enforcement officials the resources and tools they need to keep our families out of harm's way.”

The Justice Department selected the four areas based on a variety of factors, including the need for additional anti-gang resources, existing infrastructure to handle gang prevention efforts and existing partnerships focused on gang-related problems.

Under the initiative, U.S. attorneys in Raleigh and Durham will coordinate federal, state and local anti-gang efforts.

According to the N.C. Criminal Justice Analysis Center, there were 332 gangs and 5,068 gang members in North Carolina in 1999. Those numbers had swelled to 387 gangs and 8,517 gang members by 2004. Some of the largest concentrations of identified gangs were in the Raleigh-Durham region.

Under the Justice Department’s strategy, the money will pay for gang-prevention programs for youth and prisoners re-entering society, as well as enforcement efforts aimed at combating gang-related crime and violence.

The $2.5 million for the Raleigh-Durham region will include $1 million in grants for prevention efforts, $1 million in grants for law enforcement and $500,000 to create housing, job readiness, substance abuse treatment and mental health programs for prisoners re-entering society.