Thursday, November 10, 2005 Van Hollen Joins With Others to Secure Funding for Anti-Gang Initiatives in the Washington-Metropolitan Area Washington, D.C. - In an ongoing effort to help law enforcement officials deal with the growing level of gang violence in the Washington metropolitan region, United States Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) announced today that the federal government will provide $2,375,000 for the Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties Joint Gang Suppression and Prevention Initiative (also known as the Maryland Regional Gang Initiative).  The funding was included in the FY 2006 Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations bill (H.R. 2862), which passed the House yesterday on a vote of  397 to 19.  Van Hollen worked with Congressman Frank R. Wolf (R-VA), Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and others in the regional Congressional delegation to ensure that this important funding was included in the legislation.   Earlier this year, Van Hollen organized a meeting with Congressman Frank Wolf’s office and key officials from Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties to discuss federal support for Maryland’s Regional Gang Initiative.  The meeting was attended by senior officials from both counties including Tom Manger, Montgomery County Police Chief; Carolyn Colvin, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services; James Dula, Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Health and Human Services; and Michael Herman, Chief of Staff to Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson. “This is great news for our area,” said Van Hollen.  “I am proud to have fought for this funding, which will help the people of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties fight the growing problem of gang violence and teach young people that gang life is not the road to success, but rather the path to prison.  It is important that we provide our law enforcement officials, our teachers, and our community leaders with the support they need as they work to keep our youth safe from gangs and teach them the long-term consequences of joining a gang.  I thank Senator Mikulski, Congressman Wolf, and others in the regional delegation for their leadership on confronting the issue of gang violence throughout the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.” This anti-gang violence initiative is the product of a Joint County Gang Prevention Task Force established last year.  Centralized anti-gang units will be established within each county’s police force, pursuing a zero-tolerance policy for gang violence.  A cross jurisdictional community-based program, serving youth and families, would be created to provide gang prevention education, mentoring, outreach services, as well as a full placement.  Critical after-school programs would be funded for areas where there is a high incidence of gang activity.      Summary of the $2,375,000 Prince George’s/Montgomery Joint County Gang Suppression and Prevention Initiative   I.  Suppression Component = $1,050,000  ($525,000 per county) Both Counties are currently in the process of forming centralized gang units and investigative teams within their police forces.  This would be a dedicated funding stream for what is now a temporary program.  II.  Prevention Component = $925,000  ($462,500 per county) Federal funding is requested to establish gang prevention programs, including: $375,000 for The Crossroads Youth and Community Opportunities Center (Crossroads Center), a cross jurisdictional community-based effort aimed at reducing and eliminating gang activity and gang violence in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.  $550,000 for other Gang Prevention Programs, including: Expansion of during- and after-school programs in gang hot-spot areas. Mentoring and technical assistance programs in gang hot-spot areas. III.  Intervention Component = $400,000  ($200,000 per county)   For Prince George’s County: $150,000 “Safe Havens” Program is to provide shelter to youths who desire to leave gangs.   $25,000 to support expansion of mental health assessment and treatment services to gang involved youth and/or youth at-risk for gang involvement. $25,000 for Domestic Violence development and public awareness campaigns will be designed to educate area residents and the community. For Montgomery County: $100,000 for employment, training and diversion assistance to provide active gang members with alternatives to gang activity.  $50,000 for a Gang Correctional Officer who will work in concert with probation, parole and the intervention services to more successfully identify and respond to those who are actively involved in gang activity and to respond to trends and develop more effective reintegration strategies. $50,000 for informational/communication tools that will assist parents and community members to be more informed and involved in efforts to combat gang activity.