Durham gears up for anti-gang grants

Raleigh and the Bull City share $2.5 million for suppression and prevention

DURHAM -- Nonprofit agencies, church groups and other organizations that help youth will soon be able to apply for a piece of the $1.25 million in federal anti-gang grants aimed for Durham.

That money, half of $2.5 million the Bull City is splitting with Raleigh, is for suppression, intervention and prevention efforts. Both cities have to apply for the funds from the Governor's Crime Commission. Applications from both cities are pending.

Tim Henderson, Durham's coordinator of anti-gang programs, wants to hold community presentations within 90 days to instruct local groups on how to apply for the funds.

Henderson hopes to see the introduction of two oversight committees within 90 days as well. A steering committee, required under terms of the grant, will identify gaps in services and effective programs; an oversight committee is to help close those gaps and identify programs that are working. Each group will consist of about 10 people.

"It's that total holistic approach to get your hands around a problem and work at it collectively," Henderson said.

City officials are asking for $1,057,125, most of which will go toward "Operation Bulls Eye," a yearlong campaign in a 2-square-mile area, mostly in East Durham, to saturate police and social services to reduce crime. The effort has shown some results, but there were two recent homicides in the area, and residents have expressed concerns of further trouble. Officials have said the operation is working with limited resources.

Some of the money will go to police, who need better computer software and equipment, training, surveillance equipment and money for a narcotics/gang informant program, according to the city's grant application. Prevention efforts would be geared toward expanding the use of the N.C. Child Response Initiative and faith-based organizations, increasing referrals for troubled youth and establishing a gang hot line.

The rest of the money, $192,875, has been approved for re-entry efforts for gang-involved offenders returning to Durham after prison, which will be handled by the Criminal Justice Resource Center.

Whether the spending has been useful will be determined by N.C. Central University's Juvenile Justice Institute, which beat out other schools for the right to conduct the evaluation. Benchmarks of success will include decreased levels of gang activity and how well former gang members are readjusting to society, said Arnold Dennis, institute director.

"We're hoping that folks utilize these funds favorably so we really do see an impact in gang activity," he said. "You can't legislate things as much as you can treat and provide the services needed to move these young people away from gangs."