Gang Grant
Salinas to offer jobs to gang members
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Salinas will receive a $357,021 grant to target high-risk gang members and offer them job training, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today as part of $9.2 million in grants to combat gang violence.
Salinas is one of five cities that will implement a "carrot and stick," gang-reduction strategy developed in Boston in 1993. "Gangs are expressly warned by law enforcement leaders that further violence will result in the prosecution of all members of the offending gang or gangs, either for the violence committed or for any other provable crime," according to the state's press release. "At the same time, these gangs are offered an alternative to gang life, particularly job training and jobs."
The city is scheduled to have a press conference about the grant at 2pm today. Second Chance Youth Program in Salinas will also receive $160,000.
In January, the state announced that the Monterey County Workforce Investment Board will receive $500,000 to provide services, including gang counseling, job training and green industry apprenticeships, to at-risk youth aged 14-24. The grants are all part of the California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) initiative.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID