Eradicating 78 gangs in Denver isn’t going to happen simply by locking people up and throwing away the key.
Gang prevention, intervention and suppression must work together to keep the problem under control and move people out of the criminal lifestyle, said Deputy U.S. Attorney General James Cole, who was visiting the city Tuesday.
“You can’t just fight it by arresting people and throwing them in jail,” he said during remarks at CMS Community School in southwest Denver.
Cole came from Washington in support of a U.S. Department of Justice-funded program aimed at reducing gangs in Denver.
The Gang Reduction Initiative of Denver was started by city officials four years ago and particularly targets youth and families with multiple generations affiliated with gangs.
City and state officials from police to probation to parole have met with leaders of parks and recreation, mental-health agencies and schools to find creative ways to fight the gang problem.
Paul Callanan, GRID’s program director, said the group began studying anti-gang programs throughout the country to put together a model that fit Denver’s needs.
GRID was intended to implement the programs with the idea that no money was available, but last year the Department of Justice kicked in a $2.2 million grant to help fund it through 2013.
So far, GRID has implemented a program for fifth-graders at CMS Community School that emphasizes an anti-gang and anti-violence curriculum that follows the students through middle school. They learn how to respect one another’s space and differences and often role-play how to reject criminal activity and make good choices.
GRID’s next target is fighting the problem with gangs in Denver’s Westwood, Mar Lee, Athmar Park, Harvey Park and Ruby Hill neighborhoods. Gangs in Five Points, Cole and North Park Hill also are on the agenda.
Callanan intends to try to help offenders who are coming back into the community from prison to get jobs and housing.
“If we are going to push them away from gangs, we have to give them avenues to get involved in something else,” he said.
GRID also aims to help gang members who are suffering from trauma.
“Even if violent-crime rates are down, gangs impact the quality of life,” Callanan said. “You have a little girl who says, ‘I live near a park, but I have to go home at 4 o’clock because it’s not safe.’ “
Starting in January, data on the effectiveness of the programs will be collected by researchers at Temple University and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Callanan said.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
