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| Operation Weed and Seed:
A strategywithin the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs thatincorporates community-based initiatives.  It is an innovative andcomprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention,and community revitalization. moreImage from GrandRapids Weed and Seed! The Weed and Seed StrategyOperation Weed and Seed is foremosta strategy--rather than a grant program-- which aims to prevent, control,and reduceviolent crime,drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods acrossthe country. Weed and Seed sites range in size from several neighborhoodblocks to 15 square miles.
The strategy involves a two-prongedapproach: law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weedingout"criminals who participatein violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return tothe targeted area; and"seeding"brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention,treatment, and neighborhoodrevitalization.
A community-orientated policing componentbridges weeding and seeding strategies. Officers obtain helpful informationfrom area residents for weeding efforts while they aid residents in obtaininginformation about communityrevitalizationand seeding resources.Elementsof the Weed and Seed Strategy Law EnforcementCommunity PolicingPrevention,Intervention, and TreatmentNeighborhoodRestoration
Steps to OfficialRecognition(Before planning, the US Attorney'sOffice must be contacted in your district.  Notify LEC contact inthat officeof your intent to coordinate a Weedand Seed Strategy)
1)  Organizeand Convene a Steering Committee. Once a Steering Committee commits to      meeting regularly in the interest of the strategy.  For several months,they work on Implementation steps:-    Selecting theTarget Neighborhood
-    Conduct NeedsAssessment for the Target Neighborhood
-    Select ExistingResources and Develop New Ones
-    Developing ImplementationActivities
-    Developing theImplementation Schedule
The Steering Committee can meet inany space convenient to all parties.  Sites have reported to EOWSthat meetings commenced in the eveningswithin or near the target area are most productive and well-attended.2)  Requestfrom EOWS an Implementation Manual - the resource walksthe Steering Committee through the Strategy Implementation procedure.
3)  Convene regular Steering Committee meetings- include the US Attorney or US Attorney's Office designatedliaison. Contact the EOWS Program Manager for your state with any questionsconcerning the development of your strategy.  Program managers canassist with Steering Committee development, as well.
4)  Request in late Spring an Application forOfficial Recognition - be sure to take note of deadline!
5)  Submit complete application by late NovemberCommunities that develop a Weed andSeed strategy in coordination with their U.S. Attorneys Office may submitan application for Official Recognition (OR) to EOWS (made available tothe public each year in early summer) for review and approval (applicationdates for OR Applications are typically in late November).
If the site is designated as OfficiallyRecognized, it may receive preference in discretionary funding from participatingfederal agencies; priority for participating in federally sponsored trainingand technical assistance; use of the Weed and Seed logo; eligibility toattend national EOWS training conferences, and eligibility to apply forDepartment of Justice Weed and Seed funds, pending the availability offunds.  Funding Applications for OR sites are received and processedin the late winter and into the early Spring.   In FY l999, 70sites applied for Official Recognition and to date, 31 have been granted. EOWS now manages some 230 Officially Recognized Weed and Seed sites nationally.
Given the rapid growth of interestin the program, the provision of DOJ funding to additional sites may belimited based on a consideration of factors such as the seriousness ofthe crime problem in a site, the site's capacity to implement the program,coordination with related federal initiatives and other related factors.**Organizinga Steering Committee** Role of the U.S. Attorney:- Provides leadership to communityleaders coordinating the strategy locally;- convenes core group of communityofficials in a "working committee," then assists the local site in selectingand convening a Steering Committee;- serves on the Steering Committee(often Chairs this committee);- initiates the planning activities.  Role of the Steering Committee:- Complete initial development steps;- provide direct oversight and managementof program goals and objectives;- coordinate the activities of Weedand Seed sub-committees;- implementing a coordinated lawenforcement and neighborhood restoration plan;- approve changes to the program;- document program activity;- and evaluate the overall program.The U.S. Attorney must work closelywith city, State, and Federal officials, as well as members of the communityand the private sector, to accomplish the program's goals. The responsibilityfor developing the strategy rests with the steering committee. At itsdiscretion, the steering committee may designate a local or State agencyor official such as a city manager to be in charge of the program's dailyoperations.
The U.S. Attorney should initiallyconvene the core group of local officials - a working committee of criminaljustice and other local government officials and service providers, aswell as representatives of the private sector who will agree to participatein a Weed and Seed program. The committee members should be consideredthe founders of and future participants in the business of the steeringcommittee.        The steering committee may include, but is not limited to: U.S. AttorneyPrivate Business OwnersUnion RepresentativesCity MayorResidents (including youth and elderly)Corporations operating in TargetAreaChief of PoliceFaith-based RepresentativesSchool Administrators, teachers,SuperintendentNon-Profit LeaderDistrict ProsecutorLaw Enforcement Coordinator fromUSAORegional Leaders of Federal Departmentsand agencies (HUD, HHS, Small Business Admin, etc.)Representative(s) from city agencies(housing, code enforcement, Dept of Recreation, etc.)Military community outreach staff

Elementsof the Weed and Seed Strategy**"Weed" =Law Enforcement**(Narcoticstraffickers and violent criminals, once arrested, are often immediatelyreturned to the streets to continue distributing drugs and terrorizinglocal residents. This environment of violence makes potential witnessesfear for their lives. Despite the best efforts of State and local prosecutors,often there is a lengthy delay between arrest and disposition of narcoticscases prosecuted at the local level. Moreover, even when such cases areresolved through a guilty plea of conviction, the criminal may serve little,if any, time in a county or State correctional facility. **The Weed andSeed initiative is designed to break this cycle of arrest, delay, and mildor no punishment that breeds frustration and despair in the community.)**
The law enforcementelement consists primarily of suppression activities. These activitiesinclude enforcement, adjudication, prosecution, and supervision effortsdesigned to target, apprehend, and incapacitate violent street criminalswho terrorize neighborhoods and account for a disproportionate percentageof criminal activity. One example of an effective law enforcement strategyis Operation Triggerlock, a Department of Justice initiative that targetsviolent offenders for prosecution in Federal court to take advantage oftough Federal firearms laws.
Some of thesuppression activities will focus on special enforcement operations suchas repeat or violent offender removal programs, intensified narcotics investigations,targeted prosecutions, victim-witness protection, and elimination of narcoticstrafficking organizations operating in these areas.**CommunityPolicing**Community Policingserves as the bridge between the �weeding" (law enforcement) and "seeding"(neighborhood restoration) components. The community policing element operatesin support of intensive law enforcement suppression and containment activitiesand provides a bridge to the prevention, intervention, and treatment componentas well as the neighborhood reclamation and restoration components. Localpolice departments should implement community policing strategies in eachof the targeted sites. Under community policing, law enforcement worksclosely with community residents to develop solutions to violent and drug-relatedcrime. In addition, community policing should help foster a sense of responsibilitywithin the community and serve as a stimulus for community mobilization.
Community Policingactivities will focus on increasing police visibility and developing cooperativerelationships between the police and citizenry in the target areas. Techniquessuch as foot patrols, problem solving, victim referrals to support services,and community relations activities will increase positive interaction betweenthe police and the community. Special emphasis should be placed on addressingthe needs of crime victims and minority communities that are disproportionatelyvictimized by crime.
The objectiveis to raise the level of citizen and community involvement in crime preventionand intervention activities to solve drug-related problems in neighborhoodsto enhance the level of community security. Community policing might includepolice mini stations, foot patrols, and nuisance abatement.
Community mobilizationis also important to community policing in crime prevention. Programs thatencourage community participation and help prevent crime include neighborhoodwatches, citizen marches and rallies, prayer services, drug-free zones,and graffiti removal.**"Seed" =Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment**The prevention,intervention, and treatment element could begin with the near completionof the intensive "Weed" activities. However, depending on the needs, interests,and most importantly, the safety of the targeted neighborhood, this aspectof the strategy could be initiated concurrently with the weeding effort.This element should help prevent crime and violence from recurring in targetneighborhoods. The coordinated efforts of law enforcement and social serviceagencies, the private sector, and the community will help prevent crimefrom recurring. This can be accomplished by concentrating a broad arrayof human services on the target areas to create an environment where crimecannot thrive.
Prevention,intervention, and treatment should include youth services, school programs,community and social programs, and support groups designed to develop positivecommunity attitudes toward combating narcotics use and trafficking. TheSafe Haven, for example, is a mechanism to organize and deliver an arrayof youth-and adult-oriented human services in a multiservice center settingsuch as a school.**"Seed" =Neighborhood Restoration**Neighborhoodrestoration can be achieved only through the coordinated use of Federal,State, local, and private sector resources. This element of the Weed andSeed program is designed to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and improvethe quality of life in the target communities. The neighborhood restorationelement will focus on economic development activities designed to strengthenlegitimate community institutions. Resources should be dedicated to economicdevelopment activities designed to strengthen legitimate community institutions.Resources should be dedicated to economic development, provision of economicopportunities for residents, improved public services in the target areas.
Programs willbe developed to improve living conditions; enhance home security; allowfor low-cost physical improvements; develop long-term efforts to renovateand maintain housing; and to provide educational, economic, social, recreational,and other virtual opportunities. A key feature of this element will bethe fostering of self-worth and individual responsibility among communitymembers.Executive Office for Weed and Seed810 7th Street, NWWashington, DC 20531202-616-1152
**To: OJPEOWSTop**
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This documentwas last update on September 29, 2000This document was last update on November 24, 2000   |
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