The North County Comprehensive Gang Initiative Gang Assessment

Transcription

1 bulletin CJ Criminal Justice Research Division, SANDAG The North County Comprehensive Gang Initiative Gang Assessment April 2011 Sandy Keaton M.A. Cynthia Burke Ph.D. Grace Mino M.A. Debbie Correia 401 B Street Suite 800 San Diego, CA (619) A SANDAG CJ BULLETIN

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3 INTRODUCTION Data gathered from the National Youth Gang Survey (NYGS) indicate that after a decrease in the number of gangs starting in the mid- 1990s to 2000, the nation has experienced a steady increase in the past few years. Specifically, according to the NYGS, 32 percent of all jurisdictions experienced gang problems in 2008, a 15 percent increase from Additionally, 774,000 gang members and 27,900 gangs were estimated to have been active in the U.S. in 2008, a 28 percent increase in gangs and 6 percent increase in gang members from 2002 (Eagley, Howell, and Moore, 2010). On a national level, this growth in gangs has sparked responses and action from a range of interested parties, including researchers, law enforcement, community agencies, schools, and policy makers. In 1994, a seminal development in gang reduction programming was introduced by Spergel and his colleagues from the University of Chicago. Termed the Spergel Model, the plan offered a comprehensive approach to addressing gang violence by employing coordinated prevention, intervention, and suppression activities (Arciaga, Dougherty, Moore, Hale, Ray, & Howell, 2009). Shown to be effective, the model has since been adapted by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and is now known as the Comprehensive Gang Model which encompasses the following five core strategies 1 : 1. Community mobilization; 2. Opportunities provision; 3. Social interventions; 4. Suppression; and 5. Organizational change and development. 1 A full description of the core strategies can be found at Model. Gang Assessment Highlights Based on the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model, the North County Comprehensive Gang Initiative Steering Committee was formed to oversee an assessment of the gang issue along the 78 Corridor and the implementation of a regional gang reduction plan. The 78 Corridor is comprised of four cities (Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista) and one unincorporated area (Fallbrook) along Highway 78. There are 22 active gangs in the five target areas, including an estimated 1,764 documented members, as well as approximately 1,300 associates. The majority of gangs are Hispanic, with Oceanside also having Samoan, Black, and mixed race gangs. Most of the gangs along the 78 Corridor include juvenile and adult members, as well as females. Several gangs have been in their identified communities for generations. Feedback from law enforcement, community members, and gang-involved individuals confirmed that gangs commit crimes in other jurisdictions. Analysis of crime data showed that the target areas had a higher proportion of gang-related violent crime than the rest of San Diego County. Gang-related crime was found to be clustered in and around gang injunction areas. Those districts with poorer academic performance were more likely to have staff report gang activity and disruptive student behavior. Community members felt more law enforcement intervention was needed to reduce gangs, whereas community stakeholders felt more prevention efforts were needed, especially at the schools, to combat gangs. Gang Assessment 1

4 Under the umbrella of this model, OJJDP launched three initiatives between 1998 and 2003, including the Rural Gang Initiative (RGI), Gang Free Schools Program, and Gang Reduction Program (GRP). It is this latter initiative that is the focus of this report and provides the guide for the gang reduction activities in the North Region of San Diego County. BACKGROUND As the second largest county in the state, San Diego stretches over 40 square miles and is comprised of five distinct sub-regions, each with its own character and unique features. The North Region of San Diego County includes nine incorporated cities and numerous unincorporated communities with an estimated total population of 851,938 in 2010 (SANDAG, 2010). In the North Region, half of the cities, as well as one unincorporated (i.e., Fallbrook), are located along Highway 78, collectively known as the 78 Corridor. This target area covers over 177 square miles, is home to 558,522 residents, and is policed by three different law enforcement agencies (i.e., Sheriff, Escondido police, and Oceanside police). SOURCE: SANDAG 2011 Since the 1990s, the communities in the 78 Corridor have been impacted by growing gang activity. Additionally, partly because of their close proximity to one another, all of these communities report gang members from other gangs living in their city (Crime Analysts, 2010). In addition, except for Fallbrook, all of the cities have gang injunctions targeting identified members of seven active gangs that include Diablos and Westside (Escondido), Center Street, Vario Pasole Locos, and Vario Mesa Locos (Oceanside), Vario San Marcos (San Marcos), and Vista Home Boys (Vista). One of the greatest strengths of the 78 Corridor is the lengthy history of crossjurisdiction collaboration dating back to the formation of the North County Gang Taskforce originally formed in 1994 by law enforcement to tackle larger gang cases. Since then, smaller gang taskforces and gang units were formed within each of the jurisdictions, along with the North County Gang Prevention and Intervention Committee, which is comprised of service providers and school personnel concerned with the gang problem. It was this group that identified the need to build on the existing level of coordination among the various entities working to reduce gangs and gang violence in the region. As a result, in March 2009, five members of the Committee traveled to Florida to attend OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model Training to learn more about the Gang Reduction Plan. The five-member team included representatives from the San Diego County Office of Education, North County Lifeline, Supervisor Bill Horn s Office, the City of Vista, and the San Diego Sheriff s Department. Building on the momentum generated at this training, the Committee members decided to expand the OJJDP Gang Reduction Plan to target the five communities bordering the 78 Corridor, rather than focus on one 2 Gang Assessment

5 neighborhood. The rationale driving this decision was the concern that gangs do not limit themselves to jurisdictional boundaries and gang violence and activity is a regional issue requiring a coordinated regional approach. Following the guidelines prescribed in the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model, the five representatives who attended the training formed a subcommittee to mobilize the region and invited a potential research partner (i.e., SANDAG). The first step in implementing the OJJDP Model was the formation of the steering committee (The North County Comprehensive Gang Initiative) comprised of local policy/decision makers, law enforcement, schools, District Attorney, Probation, Parole, and those organizations active in the target communities. A complete list of members is located in the appendix. Spearheaded by County Supervisor Horn, invitations were sent to potential members, along with background information on a Gang Reduction Plan. Because of the previously established partnership in the region, attendance and support at the first Steering Committee meeting on May 4, 2010, was extremely high. A second but parallel step was identifying a research partner to conduct a gang assessment of the area. A Gang Reduction Plan values a data driven approach to targeting prevention, intervention, and suppression resources and requires an initial comprehensive assessment of the gang issues affecting the targeted areas. Because of previous and on-going work with several of the partners and the established trust of law enforcement, the Criminal Justice Research Division of SANDAG was invited to fill the research partner s role. The current report is the result of nine months of data collection and collaboration for this regional gang assessment. METHODOLOGY As previously noted, OJJDP s Comprehensive Gang Model served as the guide and structure for this gang assessment. When possible, the steps outlined by OJJDP were followed as were the types of data collected. Multiple sources and methods were employed, including collection from archival data sources, interviews, and surveys. The following section outlines the research process. Assessment Purpose The purpose of the research was to conduct a comprehensive community gang assessment of the communities making up the 78 Corridor (i.e., Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Vista, and Fallbrook) in order to understand the nature and scope of the gang problem in these areas and how they impact each other. The assessment focused on answering the following questions. 1. What are the characteristics of the target areas? 2. What are the characteristics of the schools in the target areas? 3. What are the characteristics of gangactivity in the target areas? 4. How does gang-related crime impact the target areas? 5. What is the community s perception of the gang problem? Data Collection Process To conduct a comprehensive assessment it was essential to gather data from multiple sources. As such, data collection sources described below were utilized. Archival Crime Data: San Diego County is unique in that it has a regional resource to track law enforcement contacts across different jurisdictions and departments Gang Assessment 3

6 through the Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS). While there is a means to identify potential gang-related crime incidents, not all jurisdictions were utilizing this resource or interpreting what constitutes gang-related in a uniform manner. In 2010, in an effort to improve the reliability of reporting gang crimes regionwide, a new code was added in ARJIS identifying potential gang member involved and the existing code was revised to capture potential gang motivated crimes (rather than gang-related ) 2. All crime incidents that occurred between January to December 2009 and January through June 2010 that were coded in ARJIS as gangrelated were gathered for this assessment. Both level and type of crime were recorded, as well as day, time, and location of incident. Probation Case Management: To help target service delivery, residential addresses of individuals on probation who had a gang condition were gathered and mapped. The data were collected for the same time period as crime data. Probationers addresses reflected where the individual lived at the time of being placed on probation, not at the time of the instant offense. Therefore, they may not have lived in the same neighborhood when they committed a crime. Census Data: To understand the characteristics of the target communities, 2009 estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS) and 2010 estimates from the SANDAG profile warehouse were utilized to gather demographic and descriptive information about each of the communities. School Data: School data were gathered from three official sources: the California 2 Because officers at the time of the incident do not have all the facts about the crime, the codes are only an indication of a possible gang connection and further investigation at the jurisdictional level is required to confirm these initial suspicions. Department of Education ( ), the 2009 California School Climate Survey, and each city s district Web site. This School Climate Data is based on surveys of school staff on a variety of topics including student learning preparedness and behavior, school atmosphere, and safety issues. Because of the number of schools in the target areas, data are presented at the district level rather than by individual school. Archival Jurisdictional Gang-Related Crime Data: Because not all the information on a case is available at the time data are entered into ARJIS, a secondary source was used to provide a comprehensive view of gang activity in the target areas. To strengthen the validity and reliability of the information, crime data were collected directly from the gang units of each of the five jurisdictions. A crime analyst or gang unit officer compiled a list of all gang-related crimes during the period of January 2009 to June This secondary source was valuable because ARJIS data are based on first responders, whereas the gang units have the benefit of additional investigation to determine if a crime was gang-related. However, there are no uniformed protocols for the level or type of crime each unit codes as gang-related, and therefore there is variation in what is coded among the different agencies. Other Gang-Related Data: Interviews were conducted with 15 youth who were current/former gang members or hung out with gangs in Oceanside. Research staff modified the example interview provided by OJJDP and had former gang members and social service staff review and provide feedback on it. To increase the likelihood of participation, because of issues of trust and the sensitive nature of the questions, research staff trained former gang members who were working for a North County community-based organization (CBO) to conduct the interviews. Two interviewers were trained and each 4 Gang Assessment

7 utilized their current outreach methods to gang-involved youth to obtain potential interviewees. Interviewees were asked if they wanted to participate in the anonymous interview and were given a $10.00 gift card for their efforts. Participation was voluntary and did not impact their participation in any of the CBOs programs. Interviewees were asked questions regarding the gang lifestyle, types of gang crimes committed, and why they hang out with the gang. Because the number of interviewees is so small and is a convenience sample, the data is not generalizable toward all gang members but rather provides insight and perspective to when and why individuals join/hang out with gangs and the types of crimes committed that will help guide the implementation phase of the OJJDP model. THE COMMUNITIES What are the characteristics of the target areas? Demographic Characteristics A review of demographic data shows that, overall, the target areas are culturally diverse, are younger, and have a population with a slightly lower socioeconomic status than the county as a whole. In addition, the target areas had a larger proportion of family households and also female-headed households than the county (Table 1). Escondido The second largest in land mass and population (population 144,831) of the five target areas, Escondido was established in 1888 and lies 30 miles north of the city of San Diego and 18 miles inland. Home to avocado and citrus groves, it is a mixture of urban and rural communities. While there is an equal proportion of White and Hispanic (45% each) residents, there is almost a generation between the two, with White residents older on average (42.8 median age) than Hispanics (26.1 median age). In general, Escondido is a young community (median age 32) with about one-third (32%) of the population being 19 years or younger. Fallbrook Fallbrook is an unincorporated agriculturallybased community and is the smallest of the five target areas, with its population of 44,824 representing only 8 percent of the total population of the targeted areas. Historically, Fallbrook has been known for its production of olives, started by settlers from Pennsylvania in the 1800s. It has remained an agriculturally driven community over the decades, specializing in a variety of citrus and exotic fruits. Currently, slightly more than half (54%) of Fallbrook s population is White, and almost two-fifths (39%) are Hispanic, while Blacks, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and other ethnicities account for 1 to 2 percent each. This area is similar to Escondido in that the Hispanic population is younger on average (median age 26.8) than the White population (median age 46.3). Specifically, three-fourths (75%) of the Hispanic population are 39 years old or younger versus only 48 percent of Whites. Oceanside Stretching approximately 6 miles east from the Pacific Ocean to its neighbor, the city of Vista to the East, Oceanside is the only target community bordered by the ocean and the home to the busiest military base in the United States (Camp Pendleton). Incorporated in 1888, Oceanside is comprised of 42 square miles and a population of 179,681, which makes it the largest target city. Additionally, the city is the home to the first Samoan community on the U.S. mainland and a bit more culturally diverse than the other target areas. The ethnic makeup consists of Gang Assessment 5

8 48 percent White, 35 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, and 6 percent Black. San Marcos Incorporated in 1963, San Marcos began as a slow growing community, but by the 1970s was the third fastest growing city in California, with a population increase of 51 percent from 55,069 in year 2000 to its 2010 population of 83,149. One of San Marcos s missions is to provide high quality educational institutions and the city is well known for its local college, California State University, San Marcos. Similar to the other target areas, Whites make up slightly over half (52%) and Hispanics represent just under two-fifths (37%) of the population. Continuing with the common theme of age gaps between ethnicities, Hispanics were younger (median age 27.0) than Whites (median age 43.5). Vista Although Vista is also historically an agricultural community in San Diego County, its population has grown almost 400 percent since being incorporated in 1963, from 19,000 to its 2010 population of 96,089. The trend of demographic make-up across the target areas again holds true for Vista, with the majority of residents described as White (45%) and Hispanic (44%) and the Hispanic population being younger (median age 26.6) than Whites (median age 42.3). Table 1 THE TARGET COMMUNITIES ARE ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AND SLIGHTLY YOUNGER THAN THE TOTAL COUNTY POPULATION Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County Total population in January 1, ,831 44, ,681 83,149 96,089 3,173,407 Total population growth ( ) +8.3% +13.2% +11.6% +51.0% +6.9% +12.8% White 44.6% 54.1% 47.9% 51.6% 44.8% 49.8% Hispanic 45.0% 39.1% 34.6% 37.5% 43.7% 30.2% Black 2.1% 1.6% 5.8% 1.9% 3.7% 5.3% Asian/Pacific Islander 4.8% 2.3% 7.3% 5.8% 4.5% 10.6% American Indian 0.5% 0.7% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.5% Other 3.0% 2.2% 4.1% 2.8% 2.9% 3.6% 19 and under 32.2% 29.0% 32.3% 31.1% 30.7% 27.7% Median age SOURCE: SANDAG, Current Estimates (2009) 6 Gang Assessment

9 Socioeconomic Characteristics There are several factors that can influence an individual s socioeconomic status, including education, employment, income, and dependents. Compared to the county as a whole, the target areas share a similar median household income, but residents had less education on average and more individuals were employed in the service and construction industries (Appendix A). Escondido Among the five target areas, Escondido was the most challenged economically. Escondido had the largest proportion of individuals having less than a ninth grade education (13.9%) and working in the service industry (23.8%). In addition to having the second highest poverty rate (14.0%) and proportion of families living in poverty (9.5%) among the target areas, it also had the largest proportion of families with a household income less than $15,000 to $29,000 per year, as well as the lowest median household income ($65,851). Consistent with this pattern, Escondido had the greatest percentage of individuals receiving public assistance (3.1% cash assistance and 3.7% food stamps) and the most teenage births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 (44). Fallbrook A review of Fallbrook data shows variation in its economic indicators. For instance, although Fallbrook had a high proportion (in comparison to the other four areas) of individuals with less than a ninth grade education (13.2%) and the highest unemployment rate (6.0%), it also had the highest median household income ($76,603). Possibly contributing to this higher median income could be that Fallbrook has the fewest individuals working in the service industry (18.5%). In addition, Fallbrook had the smallest proportion of female-headed households (16.8%) and no teenage births. Oceanside Oceanside is unique in comparison to the rest of the target areas because of the large military presences, which is usually younger and more transient than the civilian population. In many of the socioeconomic indicators, Oceanside fell in the middle range of the five target areas. This was true for the median household income ($69,044) and households earning less than $15,000 to $29,000 per year. However, according to these data, the Oceanside population was more educated than the other areas, having the smallest proportion of individuals with less than a ninth grade education (8.1%) and the second largest percentage with a postsecondary degree (25.5%). Oceanside also had the lowest poverty rate (8.7%) and proportion of families living below the poverty rate (6.0%). However, it did have the third largest proportion of female-headed households living in poverty (19.0%) and teenage births (25 per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19). San Marcos Despite its 51 percent growth rate, which can often stretch a community, San Marcos had some of the strongest economic indicators. Among the target areas, San Marcos had the second highest median household income ($75,336), the largest proportion of individuals with post-secondary education (30.2%), the second lowest poverty rate (10.2%), and the lowest proportion of households with incomes less than $15,000 to $29,000 (25%). These data are consistent with the school data presented below, which showed that San Marcos students performed at a higher level than the other target area districts. Gang Assessment 7

10 Vista As with Escondido, Vista shares some of the more distressing economic indicators among the target communities. Specifically, Vista had the second lowest median household income ($67,905), the smallest proportion of individuals with post-secondary degrees (20.8%), the second highest percentage of individuals with less than a ninth grade education (13.8%), and who work in service occupations (21.9%), and unemployment rate (5.1%). Furthermore, Vista had the highest rate in each of these poverty indicators: overall poverty rate (14.4%), families (10.2%), and female-headed households (25%). Consistent with this pattern, Vista had 41 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19, just below Escondido, and had the second highest percentage of individuals receiving public assistance (cash 2.4% and food stamps 3.6%). Table 2 THE TARGET AREAS VARIED IN THEIR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Vista County Marcos Less than ninth grade 13.9% 13.2% 8.1% 11.1% 13.8% 7.3% Bachelor s degree or higher 21.4% 22.9% 25.5% 30.2% 20.8% 34.0% Unemployed (ages 16 years and 4.5% 6.0% 4.8% 4.8% 5.1% 4.2% older) Service jobs 23.8% 18.5% 19.8% 20.1% 21.9% 17.8% Construction, extraction, maintenance, and repair jobs 12.2% 12.2% 10.7% 8.4% 12.7% 8.7% Income of less than $15, % 26.0% 27.0% 25.0% 26.0% 27.0% $29,000 Median household income 2009 $65,851 $76,603 $69,044 $75,336 $67,905 $72,963 Poverty rate 14.0% 11.1% 8.7% 10.2% 14.4% 11.5% Families below poverty level 9.5% 7.6% 6.0% 6.7% 10.2% 7.9% Female households below poverty 22.2% 16.8% 19.0% 18.4% 25.0% 21.8% level Births per 1,000 women 15 to 19 years old in the past 12 months With cash public assistance income in the past 12 months 3.1% 2.0% 1.7% 1.7% 2.4% 2.2% With food stamp benefits in the past 12 months 3.7% 2.8% 1.7% 2.4% 3.6% 2.8% NOTE: Median household income is not adjusted for inflation. SOURCE: SANDAG, Current Estimates (2009) Summary The five communities making up the 78 Corridor have a rich agricultural history combined with growing urban centers. When examining the demographics of the five target areas, each is diverse culturally and has a larger proportion of Hispanic residents and a slightly younger population than the county as a whole. Economically, the target 8 Gang Assessment

11 communities differ from each other, with Escondido and Vista facing the most challenges and San Marcos and Fallbrook having stronger socioeconomic indicators. In respect to this assessment, obstacles faced by those living in the targeted areas include unemployment, living at or below the poverty level (especially among single female-headed households), lack of education, and high rates of teen pregnancy. Teen pregnancy, a young Hispanic population, employment opportunities, and educational attainment should be taken into consideration when developing a gang reduction plan. THE SCHOOLS What are the characteristics of the schools in the target areas? Understanding the characteristics of schools in the target communities and student performance is critical in any gang assessment because of the nexus between poor school performance and future delinquency and gang involvement (Howell, 2010). There are seven separate school districts within the target area which include 15 high, 18 middle, 71 elementary, and 16 K-12 schools. Combined, these districts served approximately 103,501 (or 21% of San Diego County) students during the school year. The schools are as diverse as the communities they serve and as noted earlier in the report, data are only presented at the district level and the focus is on risky behaviors and academic performance. A more detailed summary and analysis of the school districts and how they compare to the county as a whole is located in Appendix B. Student Characteristics When examining student demographics, the target areas (range 47% to 65%) had a higher proportion of Hispanic students than the county as a whole (44%). Within the target areas, Escondido had the greatest proportion of Hispanic students, with approximately twothirds (65%) of lower grades and over half (55%) of high school students identifying as Hispanic. Also of note, and reflecting the large Samoan population in the city, is the higher proportion of Black students in the Oceanside district in comparison to both the County (7%) and the other target areas (range 1% to 5%) (Table 3). Table 3 THE TARGET AREAS HAVE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF HISPANIC STUDENTS THAN THE COUNTY Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County K-8 H.S. K-8 H.S. All All All All Hispanic 65% 55% 49% 47% 53% 47% 53% 44% White 25% 35% 39% 41% 29% 39% 29% 34% Black 3% 3% 5% 2% 8% 3% 5% 7% Asian 3% 3% 1% 2% 2% 5% 2% 6% Pacific 2% 3% 2% 2% 6% 4% 3% 6% Islander/Filipino American Indian 0.4% 0.7% 0.8% 1% 0.7 % 0.5 % 0.5 % 0.8% TOTAL 19,31 9 9,353 5,617 3, ,517 17,852 26, ,702 SOURCE: District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports , Education Data Partnership Gang Assessment 9

12 As indicators of need, the proportions of students qualifying for free/reduced meals, as English Language Learners (ELLs), and/or in Special Education were examined. Specifically, the former statistics is one indicator of socioeconomics, ELLs are students that have been identified as in need of additional language instruction, and youth in Special Education qualify for extra support services. As Table 4 shows, a similar proportion of students in the target districts (range 41% to 58%) as in the county (47%) qualified for free/reduced meals, with Escondido and Fallbrook elementary/middle schools having the highest proportion (58% each). Consistent with the demographic data, Escondido had the highest proportion of lower-grade ELLs (44%) among the target districts and compared to the county (25%) (Table 4). Table 4 THE TARGET DISTRICT VARIED IN THE PROPORTION OF ELLS AND SPECIAL EDUCATION YOUTH Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County K-8 H.S. K-8 H.S. All All All All Free/Reduced Meals 58% 41% 58% 41% 53% 41% 51% 47% ELLs 44% 18% 29% 16% 24% 23% 28% 25% Special Education 11% 8% 11% 10% 11% 13% 13% 5% 12% SOURCE: District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports , Education Data Partnership Overall Academic Performance To gauge academic performance, several standard measures were examined, including the Academic Performance Index (API) 3 and the eighth grade California Standards Tests (CST) 4. The average API scores show that the target area schools fall within the mid-range of performance in comparison to the county. Specifically, API scores in the target districts ranged from a low of 714 in Escondido to a high of 833 in San Marcos compared to the county average of 785. However, according to CST scores, Escondido, Fallbrook, and Oceanside had a higher proportion (22% to 25%) of youth testing below or far below average compared to the county (18%), with Fallbrook and Oceanside also having around half (51% and 47%, respectively) of their eighth graders having below proficient scores on the math CST. Furthermore, all of the target districts had fewer (13% to 34%) youth taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than the county (35%), an indicator of future college enrollment. Of the five target districts, San Marcos students had the best overall academic performance based on these measures (Table 5). 3 API is an annual measure of test score performance of schools and districts. It is a single number on a scale of 200 to 1,000 that indicates how well students in a school or district performed on the previous spring s tests. 4 The CSTs measure students' progress toward achieving California's state-adopted academic content standards in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and history social science, which describe what students should know and be able to do in each grade and subject tested. 10 Gang Assessment

13 Table 5 OVERALL THE TARGET DISTRICTS HAD LOWER TEST SCORES THAN THE COUNTY Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County K-8 H.S. K-8 H.S. All All All All API * CST English score below average 25% 25% 22% 12% 16% 18% CST Math scores below average 28% 51% 47% 26% 30% 37% SAT Tested 29% 29% 23% 34% 13% 35% NOTES: No official average API score is provided for the County. This score was calculated by dividing the total API by the 688 school sites that had scores listed on the San Diego County Web site School Engagement/Participation Research has shown a connection between poor school participation and risk for delinquency (Howell, 2010). For the purpose of this assessment, three standard indicators (dropout rate, truancy and suspension rates) were gathered to understand the level of school engagement and possible behavior problems. As with academic performance, there was variation between the five target districts and the county, as well as among the districts. In relation to the county (10%), the majority of the target districts had higher suspension rates (range 8% to 32%). The dropout 5 and truancy rates 6 varied widely, with Vista having the highest rates in each of the five risk categories in comparison to the county. Of further concern is Fallbrook s 87 percent 7 truancy rate in the lower grades. Consistent with its academic performance, 5 Dropout rate is an estimate of students who would drop out based on the data collected during the first year of a four-year period. 6 Truancy rate is based on the number of youth classified as truant (i.e., three unexcused absences) divided by the number of students enrolled. 7 Research staff rechecked this figure because of how much it varied from the other districts and was not able to find any other data to confirm or disconfirm this percentage. However, caution should still be taken, as the school district may be calculating truancy differently than other districts. San Marcos had the lowest rate of youth subject to these three risk factors (Table 6). In addition to the aforementioned standard measures, the target districts recently completed the 2009 California School Climate Survey which sheds additional light on the safety and learning environments at the schools in each of the districts 8. In regard to student motivation to learn, only about onethird of staff at Escondido (33%), Fallbrook (32%), and Vista (37%) high schools felt that the students were motivated to learn. In respect to behavior problems, it was the middle schools, not the high schools, in Escondido and Oceanside where more staff reported problems with disruptive students (65% and 78%), vandalism (59% and 52%), gang-related activity (41% and 43%), and fighting (32% and 40%). Again, San Marcos seemed to have the fewest behavior and engagement issues compared to the other target districts, with the majority of staff reporting students were motivated (77% middle and 72% H.S.) and the fewest staff reporting students engaging in behavior problems (Table 7). 8 These data were not available for the county overall so the analysis is limited to the target areas. Gang Assessment 11

14 Table 6 MOST OF THE TARGET DISTRICTS HAD A LARGER PROPORTION OF STUDENTS WITH BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS THAN THE COUNTY Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County K-8 H.S. K-8 H.S. All All All All Dropout rate 12% 16% 7% 8% 34% 16% Truancy rate 23% 4% 87% 11% 35% 20% 32% 27% Suspension rate 12% 18% 8% 25% 32% 7% 12% 10% SOURCE: District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports , Education Data Partnership Table 7 TARGET DISTRICTS VARIED IN THE LEVEL OF PROBLEM STUDENT BEHAVIORS Escondido Fallbrook* Oceanside San Marcos Vista Staff felt Middle H.S. Middle H.S. Middle H.S. Middle H.S. Middle H.S. students are motivated to learn disruptive student behavior is a problem vandalism (including graffiti) is a problem gang-related activity is a problem physical fighting between students is a problem 49% 33% 50% 32% 44% 50% 77% 72% 62% 37% 65% 56% 51% 64% 78% 53% 37% 35% 52% 48% 59% 20% 38% 52% 53% 53% 26% 17% 25% 48% 41% 29% 13% 30% 43% 41% 23% 16% 16% 44% 32% 16% 13% 35% 40% 26% 10% 8% 27% 30% *NOTE: Fallbrook reported elementary and middle school scores together. SOURCE: California School Climate Survey 2009 Summary Understanding the school climate and issues is important because of the nexus between school participation and risk for gang involvement. Overall, there was some variation among the target districts, but it was limited. Demographically, the five districts served a higher proportion of Hispanic youth than the county as a whole. Also, in comparison to the county, issues of truancy and suspension were a problem for a larger portion of the target district s youth overall. Academically, the target areas were performing about on par with the county in regard to API scores; however, for some of the districts, almost half of the students did not receive proficient test scores at the eighth grade math level and about one-quarter tested below or far below in English. Additionally, supplemental data from district staff revealed some red flags in regard to the existence of risk factors known to be associated with gang involvement (Howell, 2010). Specifically, Escondido and Oceanside middle schools had a substantial portion of students that were not motivated to learn, engaging in gang-related activity, and perceived as disruptive. Furthermore, it was evident that the lower the rate of academic achievement, the more staff reported problematic student behavior. For example, 12 Gang Assessment

15 San Marcos, which had the highest level of academic achievement, had the lowest number of behavioral problems reported by staff and Vista which had the highest dropout rate and the lowest number of students taking the SATs, experienced some of the highest reporting of student problematic behavior. These data strongly suggest that in the creation of the gang reduction plan, schools need to be a principal part of the strategy and consideration should be given to support both academic and behavior problems at middle and high school levels. THE SCOPE OF THE GANG PROBLEM What are the characteristics of gang-activity in the target areas? As a whole, San Diego County has approximately 159 different gang sets that include approximately 7,700 members (San Diego Police Department, 2010). Among the five target areas, there are 22 active gangs comprised of an estimated 1,764 documented members. However, it is well known that not all those individuals involved in gangs are documented and many individuals, especially youth, associate with gangs and are not documented members. As such, it is not surprising that there are an estimated 1,300 gang associates among the five target areas (Escondido, Sheriff, and Oceanside Police Departments, 2010) (Table 8). Because of the regional focus of this OJJDP Model, each of the gang units was asked if the gang members that reside in their jurisdictions commit crimes in the other surrounding jurisdictions 9. All of the five target areas affirmed that gang-related activity is not limited to the jurisdiction in which a gang claims territory. Interview Highlights From 15 Gang Involved Individuals Interviewees were 11 years old on average (range 6 to 14) when they started associating with gangs. Youth who described themselves as members (6) said they had associated with the gang for about three years on average (3.57) before joining. In the past year interviewees reported: Fighting (12) Selling drugs (10) Robbing (6) and beating (6) someone using a weapon Stabbing someone (5) Carrying a gun (5) Almost all interviewees reported seeing gang members from other neighborhoods in their own neighborhood (14). Interviewees reported seeing the following gang activity in their neighborhood: Tagging and bullying (15) Committing property crimes (14) Fights between gang members (14) Selling drugs (13) Stabbings and shootings ( 9) Pimping or prostitution (7) Most gang interviewees reported family members being involved in gangs (13). All interviewees felt gangs were somewhat or a serious problem in their neighborhood. SOURCE: SANDAG Gang associates/member interviews 2010 (Appendix F) 9 While the original goal was to describe level and type of crime committed by different gangs across jurisdictions, these data were not reliably available for the time period analyzed, limiting the usefulness of this analysis. Gang Assessment 13

16 Table 8 NUMBER OF GANGS AND GANG-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS BY JURISDICTION Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista Number of gangs Number of documented gang members Estimated gang associates SOURCE: Escondido, Fallbrook, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista gang units, 2010 In regard to demographics, except for Oceanside, all the gangs in the target area are Hispanic based. In addition to Hispanic gangs, Oceanside also has four gangs whose members are Black, Samoan, and mixed race. All but three of the gangs include youth and adult members, and almost two-thirds (14 or 63%) include both females and males (Appendix). Additionally, several of the gangs, such as Diablos, Vario San Marcos, Vista Home Boys, Santos, and Westside have been in the community for generations (since the 1970s and 80s), adding to the complexity and challenge of reducing the allure of gangs. How does gang-related crime impact the target areas? How is gang-related crime defined? Utilization of a common definition or standardized reporting practice continues to be an issue in documenting the scope of gang problems at the national, state, and local levels. To provide a comprehensive view of how gang crime impacts the target areas, data were gathered from two sources: ARJIS and individual jurisdiction gang units. San Diego County continues to take steps to standardize how gang data are collected in the region. In January 2010, the Chiefs and Sheriff agreed to direct officers within each of their jurisdictions to document in ARJIS when a crime incident was potentially gangrelated. Furthermore, an additional data collection category was added to ARJIS that allows officers to identify a gang-related crime as either gang motivated (i.e., done to promote or further the interests of the gang) or potential gang member involved (i.e., a crime where the suspect is believed to be a gang member). In March 2010, a training bulletin was sent out to all jurisdictions notifying them of this change (Appendix C). However, this policy change is still fairly new and feedback received from crime analysts and gang unit law officers, as well as analysis of the two data sets, indicated that each jurisdiction varied in how the data were entered into ARJIS, as well as how gangrelated crimes were coded at the jurisdictional level. For example, a comparison of crime incidents coded as gang-related in ARJIS with crime incidents coded as gangrelated by each jurisdiction highlighted this difference and the variation in coding across jurisdictions and regionally on how gangrelated crime is being documented. These two data sets were compared at the beat level and showed that, on average, there were 6.06 (SD = 12.77) gang-related crimes per beat recorded by the jurisdictions, compared to 3.40 (SD = 8.14) in ARJIS (not shown). Furthermore, some jurisdictions only coded violent crimes as gang-related, while others cast a broader net documenting any type of gang-related activity, from warrants to the most violent crimes. Pending the final focus of the gang reduction strategy, this 14 Gang Assessment

17 inconsistency is a possible area of focus if a more uniform reporting system is desired throughout the target areas. What proportion of crime is gangrelated? It is well documented that gangs are involved in all types of crime and that involvement in a gang is associated with increased delinquency and criminal behavior (Thornberry, 1998). However, law enforcement and communities are particularly concerned about those crimes that pose the greatest risk to public safety: violent crimes. For purposes of standardization, UCR Part I crimes were analyzed across the target areas 10. Because of the implementation of the new gang reporting policy, data were gathered from ARJIS for the year prior to the change and the first six months of 2010 (the most recent data available at the time for this assessment). As Table 9 indicates, there was little difference in the proportion of crimes attributed to gangs before and after the new policy was implemented. However, within the five target areas, homicide had the largest proportion of gang-related crimes (18% in 2009 and 29% in 2010), followed by aggravated assault (17% and 16%, respectively), and robbery (10% and 7%, respectively). Overall, gangrelated crimes accounted for about one in ten of all crimes in the five target areas (11% in 2009 and 10% in 2010) (Table 9). Table 9 NORTH COUNTY GANG-RELATED CRIME Crime Type January 2009 to December 2009 January 2010 to June 2010 All % Gang All % Gang Homicide 11 18% 7 29% Aggravated Assault % % Robbery % 297 7% Rape 132 1% 55 2% TOTAL 1,338 11% % SOURCE: ARJIS Because ARJIS is the uniform reporting method throughout the San Diego County region, only ARJIS data (and not crime data from the jurisdictions) were used for more detailed analysis and mapping. Gang Assessment 15

18 As Figure 1 shows, when compared to the region as a whole, the five target areas had a higher proportion of violent crimes attributed to gang activity. With the exception of rape, the five communities combined had a larger proportion of gang-related homicides (22% compared to 15%), assaults (17% compared 10%), and robberies (9% compared to 4%). Overall, gang-related crimes accounted for nearly two times more violent crimes in the target areas than in the rest of the county. 100% Figure 1 TARGET AREAS HAVE A HIGHER PROPORTION OF GANG-RELATED CRIMES COMPARED TO THE COUNTY JANUARY 2009 JUNE 2010 Gang-Related Crimes 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 22% 15% 17% 10% 9% 11% 4% 1% 3% 6% Homicide Assault Robbery Rape Total Target Areas (N = 1,928) County (N = 8,439) NOTE: The County statistics exclude data from the five target areas. SOURCE: ARJIS 2010 In an effort to obtain a clearer understanding of the gang activity behind these numbers, interviews were conducted with law enforcement officers who were knowledgeable of the gang activity in the target areas. Four interviews were conducted with officers working in the gang units (Escondido Police Department and the San Diego Sheriff s Department) and information about changes they have seen, the characteristics of individuals in the gangs, and possible gang patterns were solicited. In general, officers agreed that the pee wees 11 (i.e., younger gang associates trying to impress the older gang members and earn a reputation) are more likely to commit the violent acts over turf, such as stabbings and robberies. However, the older gang members, those that have had a longer involvement in the gang and are more likely to have been to prison, are more often involved in the sale of narcotics. At this higher business level, gangs cross jurisdictional boundaries, as well as work with rival gangs to sell drugs. This information, combined with the school data, supports the need for a strong delinquency prevention and intervention component of a gang reduction plan. It also supports the initial impetus of the assessment that gang activity is not limited to jurisdictional boundaries. 11 Established gangs often have starter cliques where adolescents become indoctrinated into the gang life (Howell, 2010). 16 Gang Assessment

19 Where are gang crimes and arrests occurring? Because gang crimes often occur around specific geographic locations or identified gang turf, all gang-related crime documented in ARJIS during the 18-month assessment period were mapped (Appendix D). Because the communities in the 78 Corridor are exploring a comprehensive approach to gangs, all data (not just the violent crimes) that were documented as potentially gang-related were mapped. Therefore, the mapping data include UCR Part I violent and UCR Part I property crimes, as well as UCR Part II crimes, such as possession of a weapon or vandalism if it was the highest charge. Data were mapped according to beat because that offered a more refined measure of the actual neighborhoods and it is also a common strategic focus of law enforcement. The analysis of the data revealed that the lion s share of gang activity does occur in and around where gang members live and in their identified turf. Analysis of crime incidents within gang injunction areas reveals a high level of gang activity. The maps, which are located in the Appendix, show that, with the exception of Oceanside, the greatest proportion of gang-related crimes occurred within designated gang injunction areas. Specifically, over two-thirds of all gangrelated crime in Escondido (68%) and San Marcos (67%) occurred in gang injunction areas, as did two in five crimes in Oceanside (43%) and over half in Vista (54%) (Figure 2). Figure 2 A HIGH PROPORTION OF GANG-RELATED CRIMES OCCURRED IN INJUNCTION AREAS NOTE: Fallbrook is not included because they do not have any injunctions in their jurisdiction. SOURCE: ARJIS 2010 There are six injunctions in four of the five target areas and information gathered from the Sheriff s Department and Escondido Police Department gang unit officers shed light on why gang activity clusters in these areas. In San Diego County, injunctions are only permitted against an individual and not against the entire gang. Anecdotally, the impact of this policy is that gang members listed in the injunctions have either moved to other jurisdictions or have been incarcerated. However, gang activity in the injunction areas continues because it is their gang s neighborhood and turf and other gang Gang Assessment 17

20 members, associates, and family continue to live there. This perspective is consistent with the substantial number of gangs in the region that are well established (10 or more years) and research that argues that neighborhoods where gangs have been present for years are a fertile breeding ground for youth to join (Howell, 2010). In addition to examining gang-related crime in the injunction areas, analyses were conducted to examine where probationers with gang affiliation lived in relation to where gang-related crimes occurred (even though the crimes could have been committed by others). Residential data from these probationers were overlaid with the address of the gang-related crime incidents and mapped (Appendix). The results showed a positive correlation between where these probationers lived and gang-related crime areas. In other words, areas with more gangrelated crime also had more gang-affiliated probationers living in them; conversely, where there was less crime, there were fewer gang-affiliated probationers living. While the crime incident and the probationer s residence are not linked, nor are other confounding variables accounted for (e.g., apartments that rent to probationers, distressed neighborhoods, poverty levels, etc.), the data focus a lens on neighborhoods with high community risk factors that are target rich, for both interventions and suppression. In addition to analyzing where gang-related crimes were occurring, analyses were conducted on when they were most often occurring. Difference in the proportion of gang-related crime by day of the week were minimal. The largest proportion of all gangrelated crime occurred on Friday (18%) and the smallest proportion occurred on Tuesday (12%), with only a 5 percent range throughout the week (not shown). However, there was more variation in the time of day that gang-related crimes occurred, with over half occurring within an eight hour time span, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. (31%) and 8:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. (28%) (Figure 3). The 4:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. time period represents those critical hours after school and before going home that are often the target of prevention and intervention programs. Figure 3 MOST GANG-RELATED CRIMES OCCURRED IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENINGS Percent Gang-Related Crime Incidents 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 12:00am- 3:59am 13% 3% 4:00am- 7:59am 8% 8:00am- 11:59am 17% 12:00pm- 3:59pm 31% 4:00pm- 7:59pm 28% 8:00pm- 11:59pm SOURCE: ARJIS Gang Assessment

21 Further analysis revealed some interesting patterns when day of week and time of day were examined together (Figure 4). Specifically, gang-related crimes were more likely to occur during those critical after school hours on weekdays (i.e., Monday thru Thursday), whereas, the largest percentage of gang-related crimes occurred later in the evening (8:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.) on Friday and Saturday. Consistent with the weekend pattern, the early hours (12:00 a.m. to 3:59 a.m.) of Saturday (26%) and Sunday (25%) had a greater amount of activity during those hours compared to weekdays. One anomaly to this pattern was late Sunday afternoon, when the most active time for gang-related crime was from 4:00 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. Figure 4 GANG-RELATED CRIME MORE LIKELY OCCURRED EARLY AFTERNOONS ON WEEKDAYS AND NIGHTS ON WEEKENDS Percent Gang-Related Crime Incidents 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Monday (N=68) Monday - Thursday After school hours most prevalent time for gang-related crime 38% 40% 37% Tuesday (N=68) Wednesday (N=62) Thursday (N=65) Friday and Satuday Evening hours most prevalent time for gang-related crime 35% 38% 36% Friday (N=86) Saturday (N=74) 32% Sunday (N=74) 12:00am-3:59am 4:00am-7:59am 8:00am-11:59am 12:00pm-3:59pm 4:00pm-7:59pm 8:00pm-11:59pm SOURCE: ARJIS 2010 Summary Overall, the information gathered on the characteristics and scope of the gangs in the target areas reveals a diverse set of gangs and members. The variation in ethnicity, age, and gender among the gangs supports the need for a continuum of gang reduction approaches. Specifically, since research has shown that most youth leave gangs within the first year, with the majority leaving voluntarily at some time (Thornberry, Huizinga, and Loeber, 2004) it is critical that supports are in place to help youth transition away from gangs. Furthermore, girls have a different relationship with gangs and often play a different role than their male counterparts, which calls for a genderresponsive approach. Finally, because of the diversity among the gang sets and the communities, attention to cultural competency would need to be a core piece of any effective gang reduction strategy. In addition, to understand where, when, and what type of gang-related crimes were occurring in the target areas, several data sources were used to extract and examine crime patterns. Results from these analyses provide a narrowed focus on gang-related crime activity. Qualitative data supported the argument that gang-related activity crosses Gang Assessment 19

22 jurisdictional boundaries in the region, gangs are well established, and they reflect the diversity of the communities. The data also revealed neighborhoods that experienced a high level of gang-related crime, most of which were located within gang injunction areas. In addition to the identified neighborhoods, after school hours and weekend evenings are times when gang reduction activities should be implemented. COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES A key component to conducting a comprehensive community gang assessment of the 78 Corridor was feedback about gang activity in the target areas obtained from residents, business owners, and key stakeholders (e.g., schools, law enforcement, and community organizations). To gather input from these entities, a URL link to a Web-based survey system (i.e., Survey Monkey) was sent via or a hardcopy was distributed. The sample was one of convenience with members of the North County Comprehensive Initiative Steering Committee drawing upon their relationships in the community to distribute the surveys. The surveys were intended to answer the assessment questions outlined below. Community Survey Respondents Community surveys were distributed to individuals who lived and had businesses in the area including business owners, residents, program youth, and grassroots community action groups. This snowball sampling method resulted in a total of 58 surveys being completed between November 2010 and January Table 10 shows the respondents status in the community and where they worked or lived in the North County region. Table 10 COMMUNITY MEMBER STATUS AND LOCATION IN NORTH COUNTY REGION Status Community resident 79% Worked in the community 26% Business owner 2% North County Location Oceanside 49% Escondido 28% Vista 23% TOTAL SOURCE: Community Survey 2010, SANDAG 20 Gang Assessment

23 Stakeholder Survey Respondents As with the community survey, an electronic or hard copy version of the stakeholder survey was also distributed from November 2010 through January 2011 with all Steering Committee members invited to complete it, as well as send it on to other possible respondents. The survey was given to individuals who had professional knowledge and experience working with gangs and gang associates and a total of 55 surveys were completed. Most of the respondents (54%) reported working at a CBO, followed by individuals in law enforcement (15%) and the County Health and Human Services Agency (15%) (Table 11). Table 11 OVER HALF OF RESPONDENTS WERE EMPLOYED AT A CBO Employment Sectors Community-based organization 54% Law enforcement 15% County Health and Human Services Agency 15% Schools 9% Faith-based organization 7% TOTAL 46 NOTE: Percentages are based on multiple responses. SOURCE: Stakeholder Survey 2010 Stakeholders were asked a few questions regarding length of time working in North County, the length of experience working with gangs, and their current job titles. The majority of respondents had been involved in the North County region for over six years and had experience working with gang members (67% each). It is important to note when reading the survey results that more than half (54%) of respondents were from CBOs and this sample does not represent the entire stakeholder community. However, these data are a good starting point to begin assessing the perceptions and different approaches regarding gangs and gang activities. What is the community s perception of the gang problem? Information gathered from those surveyed clearly indicates the target communities are impacted by gangs and gang activity. Specifically, almost three-quarters (72%) of community respondents thought gang members lived in their community and 70 percent thought there was gang activity occurring in their community. Further supporting this perception was the finding that gang activity was seen as the second highest concern that respondents had about their community. Table 12 shows the other top five concerns of community members, with unemployment (45%) leading the list, followed by gang activity and violent crime (35% each), burglary (28%), and drugs (22%). Gang Assessment 21

24 Table 12 TOP FIVE CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY Concerns About Their Community Unemployment 45% Gang activity 35% Violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, assault) 35% Burglary 28% Drugs 22% TOTAL 58 NOTE: Percentages are based on multiple responses. SOURCE: Community Survey 2010, SANDAG This perception of gang presence in the community reinforces the OJJDP Model s recommendation to work within and at the community level to address gang violence. Further supporting the evidence that community members are aware of gangs in the community is that 84 percent of respondents stated that gang activity has either increased or stayed the same within the past year and close to half (47%) of respondents felt that gang activity was present in their area due to multiple generations of gang members living in the community (not shown). The data collected from community members not only indicate there is an awareness of gang activity and why it is present, but that it is also negatively impacting the quality of life in the community. When asked the top problems gangs presented in the community, more than one in three (36%) said graffiti/tagging was their number one concern, followed by increased violent crime against people (29%) and increased drug crime (22%) (Table 13). This range of activity is consistent with the spectrum of criminal activity often associated with gangs, from nuisance crimes to robberies, assault, and homicide. Again, the data support a continuum of approaches to address the gang issue within the community. Table 13 TOP FIVE PROBLEMS THAT GANGS PRESENT IN THE NORTH COUNTY REGION Problems Indicating Gangs are in the Community Graffiti/tagging 36% Increased violent crime against people 29% Increased drug crime 22% Family disruption 21% Fighting 17% TOTAL 55 NOTE: Percentages are based on multiple responses. SOURCE: Community Survey 2010, SANDAG 22 Gang Assessment

25 Similar to the community results, almost all of the stakeholders (96%) reported that gangs were a problem in the North County region. This finding is expected since the surveys were distributed to individuals who were actively involved in working to address gangs. However, what is most pertinent for the assessment is that the majority of respondents (62%) thought gang activity had increased in the past five years, that gang activity had become more violent (41%), and that the number of gang members had increased (72%) (Figure 5). Figure 5 STAKEHOLDERS FELT GANG ACTIVITY HAD INCREASED OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS SOURCE: Stakeholder Survey 2010, SANDAG Interesting to note is that stakeholders also shared similar beliefs with community members that gang and gang activity were present in their community due to generations of gangs living in the area (60%), poverty (51%), and lack of employment/jobs (31%). However, there is one area where stakeholders differed from community respondents. While a lack of positive community activities was ranked second by community members (41%) as contributing to the gang problems in the neighborhood, it was not seen as a top priority among stakeholders (20%) (Table 14). This suggests an opportunity for outreach and education between community- and faith-based organizations and residents to raise the awareness of existing programs or activities and to also learn about gaps for youth in the community. Gang Assessment 23

26 Table 14 TOP REASONS WHY THERE ARE GANGS/GANG ACTIVITY IN THE COMMUNITY Reasons for Gang Activity Stakeholder Community Generations of gangs living in the community 60% 47% Poverty 51% 33% No employment/jobs 31% 33% Not enough positive community activities 20% 41% TOTAL NOTE: Percentages are based on multiple responses. SOURCE: Community and Stakeholder Surveys 2010, SANDAG What should be done about the gang problem in the community? Community members and stakeholders may agree on the existence of a gang problem in their community, but there is a slight disconnect between the two about how to address the problem. Table 15 shows that community members and stakeholders shared a similar attitude about reducing gang activity by increasing mentoring (31% and 42%, respectively). However, community members thought there should be more police intervention (33% compared to 9% of stakeholders), whereas stakeholders wanted more school support services (44% compared to 22% of community members). These differences indicate a more reactive response on the part of community members compared to stakeholders, whose responses seem more aligned with a preventative approach. This range of perspectives highlights the necessity of a multi-pronged strategy toward reducing gang activity and ensuring that community input is included when developing the gang reduction model. Table 15 TOP THREE SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE GANG AND GANG ACTIVITY IN THE COMMUNITY Stakeholder Community More services for families 35% 29% Mentoring 42% 31% School support services 44% 22% More police intervention 9% 33% More parent involvement 36% 26% TOTAL NOTE: Percentages are based on multiple responses. SOURCE: Community and Stakeholder Surveys 2010, SANDAG The community members more reactive approach is also reflected in their response to a survey question asking them to rank which organizations they felt were most responsible for dealing with gangs and gang activity ( 1 being the least responsible and 10 being the most responsible). Specifically, respondents felt that families were the most responsible (mean = 8.5, SD = 2.1), followed closely by police (mean = 8.0, SD = 2.7), and the criminal justice system (e.g., District 24 Gang Assessment

27 Attorney, Probation, etc.) (mean = 7.4, SD = 2.9). As previously mentioned, the majority of stakeholders have worked with gangs for more than six years, indicating a substantial level of knowledge in the area. When asked which of the programs or activities that are currently in place were effective in gang reduction, their responses illustrated their commitment to a preventive approach to the problem. More than half (55%) felt that after school programs were effective, followed by education/outreach to the community (27%), and early intervention programs (27%) (Table 16). Given that the crime data analysis indicates more criminal activity occurring during the time period of 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, the stakeholders perspective is in alignment with the areas of greatest need. Outreach and education regarding prevention methods could help reduce the difference in opinion and aide stakeholders and community members to work together toward their common goal. Table 16 CURRENT GANG REDUCTION ACTIVITIES STAKEHOLDERS THINK ARE EFFECTIVE Effective Gang Reduction Activities After school programs 55% Education/outreach 27% Early intervention 27% Counseling 18% Gang suppression 18% Community involvement 18% Parent involvement 12% Discipline 12% Collaboration 6% TOTAL 33 NOTE: Percentages are based on multiple responses. SOURCE: Community and Stakeholder Surveys 2010, SANDAG Because it is just as valuable to understand what is not working as what is in regard to programming, stakeholders were also asked which gang reduction interventions/activities were not effective. Of the 17 individuals who responded, most (7) felt that some of the law enforcement activities (i.e., gang sweeps, probation programs, and police relationships with community) were not effective, which again is consistent with their opinions on how to address the issue, which emphasize prevention and intervention activities over suppression. Other comments included some of the school-based programs (3), group counseling (2), social activities (2), lack of collaboration among the different agencies (2), and programs based on helping older teens since they are already heavily involved in the gang lifestyle and focus should be on early intervention (1) (not shown). Although stakeholders felt that schools were playing a crucial role in addressing gang activity, more than four out of five respondents reported that schools (88%) and community-based organizations (84%) could do more to help reduce gang violence (not shown). This opinion is consistent with stakeholders' earlier input to have more school support services as part of the solution. Gang Assessment 25

28 Of the 38 respondents that thought schools could do more, 28 provided additional information about specific actions the schools should take. The top three actions stakeholders thought the schools could take were: Provide more prevention programs; Crack down on misbehavior; and Provide more early intervention programs and counseling. Furthermore, the stakeholder also had recommendations on what community-based organizations could do to reduce gang activity. These suggestions included: Focus more on individual needs; Provide more programs; and Acquire more funding for programs. These suggestions offer an initial approach towards determining which strategies to focus on when implementing the OJJDP Model. Summary Community mobilization is described as one of the important strategies in the OJJDP Comprehensive Model to reduce gang activity. The survey results described here show that both community members and stakeholders recognize the presence of gangs and gang activity in their communities and share similar attitudes as to why there are gangs and the problems they present in the area. However, there is a disconnect between the two groups regarding what actions should be taken to reduce gang activity, While community members view the family as critical in solving the problem, they also place greater importance on more immediate law enforcement and suppression interventions. Stakeholders, however, have more of a longterm and preventative approach, identifying the need for more school support services and intervening early in a youth s life to prevent further participation in gang activity. This differing of perspectives is not unusual and has been documented in other research as well (Decker and Curry, 2000). However, these results provide an opportunity for a gang reduction plan to increase the communication and collaboration between community members and stakeholders. While the information from these survey results should not be generalized to the entire community, they do provide a sound starting point to begin the dialogue among all entities involved in developing and implementing the gang reduction activities. SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION Motivated by their attendance at the OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model training in 2009, representatives from the North County Gang Prevention and Intervention Committee, promptly put into motion a series of activities that culminated in the formation of the North County Comprehensive Gang Initiative. One of the first official acts of the steering committee was to support a comprehensive gang assessment using the guidelines outlined by OJJDP. Conducted by SANDAG, the gang assessment was unique in that it examined multiple communities, rather than a single neighborhood as described by OJJDP. The primary reasons for this innovation were the close geographic proximity of the five target areas (Escondido, Fallbrook, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista), the similar demographics, and the cross-jurisdictional gang-related activities. The intention was to create a cross-jurisdictional gang reduction strategy that would leverage resources and information among the five communities. The gang assessment gathered data from multiple sources to provide a detailed and holistic description of the target areas characteristics, schools, crime, perception of gang-related activity, and the impact of gangs. 26 Gang Assessment

29 The data shows an area that has its roots in agriculture but has grown substantially over the years. The 78 Corridor, so named because the communities are located along Highway 78, is culturally diverse, home of the first Samoan community on the U.S. mainland, and has a larger proportion of Hispanic residents than the San Diego region as a whole. Socioeconomic data varied among the target areas, but overall the median incomes were similar to the countywide figures. The school data showed variation among the target districts, but overall performed slightly lower than the county. That is, academically students in the target districts performed a bit lower than the county as far as average API and those testing below proficiency on the eighth grade CST test. Additionally, most of the target districts had higher rates of truancy and suspension. Information gathered from a supplemental survey highlighted student behavior that was concerning. Specifically, results from surveys of school district staff suggested the existence of middle and high school student behaviors that are often associated with gang activity. For example, these include evidence of vandalism on campus, concerns about student fighting, a problem with disruptive student behavior, and the perception of gang-related activity at school. The level of these behaviors varied among the districts, indicting the need for a flexible approach when designing services. At the core of the assessment was the question of the scope and impact of gangrelated crime in the region. Analysis of 18 months of crime data indicates that the region does have a larger proportion of crime attributed to gang-related activity compared to the San Diego region. The target communities have 22 active gangs, comprised of an estimated 1,764 documented members. There are seven injunctions in four of the five target areas. Geo-spatial analysis of crime incidents showed a cluster of gang-related crimes in specific areas, especially in those neighborhoods where injunctions existed. Additionally, when comparing gang-related crime locations with residences of probationers with gang-related court conditions, there was a correlation between those residences and higher incidences of crimes. Furthermore, anecdotal information on gang activity in the target areas was that gang activity is not limited by jurisdictional boundaries and gangs do commit crime in other jurisdictions. Furthermore, while younger members/associates (e.g., pee wees ) are more likely to commit crimes related to turf issues, older and more entrenched members dealing narcotics are known to do business with other gangs and rival gang members. Information garnered from community members and stakeholders, drew attention to the presence of gangs in the neighborhoods and their propensity for vandalism (i.e., graffiti) and committing crimes in the neighborhood. The information also shed light on the role of family as either a buffer from, or passageway to, gangs. Differences existed between the community and stakeholders on how best to address gangs, with community members more prone to cite law enforcement and the courts as primarily responsible for solving gang problems and stakeholders supporting the need for intervention and prevention services, especially from the schools. While more information could be gathered on the regions gang-related issues, this assessment provides some rich information to begin to draft a comprehensive gang reduction model. Taking in account the data presented in this report, the recommendations below are put forth. Gang Assessment 27

30 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Address gangs cross-jurisdictionally ( 78 Corridor ) rather than by each community alone: The results of this assessment provide sufficient data to justify a cross-jurisdictional gang reduction strategy. Furthermore, the existing collaborative nature in the 78 Corridor offers an opportunity to leverage the resources in each jurisdiction to create a comprehensive approach to gangs. 2. Target resources in neighborhoods with injunctions: The continued high proportion of gang-related crimes in those safety zone areas, along with the familial connection of gang activity, warrants intensive focus on areas that have active injunctions. 3. Target after school weekday hours and night hours on weekends for intervention and suppression activities: The analyses of gang-related crime data identified specific times and days of the week that are more susceptible to gang-related crime. This type of analysis is often used by gang units to target scarce law enforcement resources, but this information could also be helpful in implementing support services. For example, interventions that reduce the opportunity for victimization, such as truancy sweeps, curfew sweeps, and extended hours at recreation centers, should be explored. 4. Include schools in the planning and implementation of the gang reduction plan: The results from this assessment point to several areas of concern in the target schools. Schools are a critical partner in any comprehensive gang reduction strategy and should be involved in the entire process. 5. Convene events to facilitate dialogue among community members, youth, and stakeholders: While the different survey respondents did share similar sentiments about the existence of gang activity and the impact it had in the community, there was a clear divergence about how best to address the gang problem. As such, the first priority in creating a gang reduction plan should be to bring together the diverse entities to share perspectives about the problem, build partnerships and relationships, educate about existing resources and gang reduction efforts, and collaborate on the design of the plan. 6. Enhance the assessment with additional information: The information gained from the community and stakeholder surveys and gang member/associate interviews scratched the surface of potentially rich sources of information. Additional focus groups with the community and interviews with law enforcement and a broader representation of gang members would enhance the development of the gang reduction plan. 7. Ensure interventions are age appropriate, culturally competent, and gender responsive: The large Hispanic and Samoan population, along with the institutional nature of some of the older gangs in the neighborhoods, is evidence of the need for a gang reduction plan that is responsive to the particular cultural needs of the area. In addition, any services or outreach directed toward at-risk girls would benefit from a gender appropriate response. 8. Examine policies to address contributing factors to gang participation: Data from several sources revealed the existence of several 28 Gang Assessment

31 underlying issues that are often associated with gangs and gang activity. For example, unemployment, poverty, teen births, and lack of positive community activities were identified as needs in the target areas. While no gang reduction plan could be tasked with solving these larger societal issues, awareness of their scope and influence in the communities, as well as efforts to improve the community, are essential in any strategic plan. associated with generational gang involvement and provide services that can provide employment and internships as an alternative to gang activity. Build on the already strong collaborative foundation of the areas law enforcement agencies to target suppression activities, share information, and leverage resources. 9. Explore the feasibility of a uniform gang crime reporting policy for the involved jurisdictions: An on-going challenge in documenting the scope of gangs in any region is the lack of standardized reporting. While substantial efforts have been made to more uniformly report potential gang crimes in ARJIS, there is still much variance in reporting policies among the individual jurisdiction levels. Discussion on both the usefulness and feasibility of creating more standardized practices should be explored. 10. Create a comprehensive strategic gang reduction plan: The results from the assessment provide a clearer lens of the impact gang activity has in the 78 Corridor. This understanding is a crucial step in implementing the OJJDP gang reduction model. The second step is to develop a continuum of programs that include prevention, intervention, and suppression. These programs should be linked to the needs of the 78 Corridor as noted in this assessment. For example, target prevention programs to youth living in the injunction areas and in neighborhoods with established gangs and implement services during after school when there are more gang-related crimes. Create intervention services that take into account the long history of gangs in the region and the challenges Gang Assessment 29

32 REFERENCES Arciaga, M., Dougherty, V., Moore, J., Hale, K., Ray, S., and Howell, J. (2009). OJJDP Comprehensive Gang Model Planning and Implementation. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Decker, S.H., and Curry, D. G. (2000). Responding to Gangs Comparing Gang Member, Police, and Task Force Perspectives. Journal of Criminal Justice 28 (pp ). Eagley, A., Howell, J.C., and Moore, J.P. (2010). Highlights of the 2008 National Youth Gang Survey. (Fact Sheet). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Howell, J. (2010). Gang Prevention: An Overview of the Research and Programs (Bulletin). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Thornberry, T. P. (1998). Membership in Youth Gangs and Involvement in Serious and Violent Offending. In R. Loeber and D. P. Farrington (eds.), Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders: Risk Factors and Successful Interventions, Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications Thornberry, T. P., Huizinga, D., and Loeber, R. (2004). The Causes and Correlates Studies: Findings and Policy Implications. Juvenile Justice, 10(1), Available for download at 30 Gang Assessment

33 APPENDIX A

34

35 Total Population in January 1, 2009 Total Population Growth ( ) COMMUNITY CENSUS DATA Table 1 POPULATION DATA Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County 144,831 44, ,681 83,149 96,089 3,173, %+ 13.2%+ 11.6%+ 51.0%+ 6.9%+ 12.8%+ Females 51% 50% 51% 51% 50% 50% Males 49% 50% 49% 49% 50% 50% White 44.6% 54.1% 47.9% 51.6% 44.8% 49.8% Hispanic 45.0% 39.1% 34.6% 37.5% 43.7% 30.2% Black 2.1% 1.6% 5.8% 1.9% 3.7% 5.3% Asian/Pacific Islander 4.8% 2.3% 7.3% 5.8% 4.5% 10.6% American Indian 0.5% 0.7% 0.4% 0.4% 0.4% 0.5% Other 3.0% 2.2% 4.1% 2.8% 2.9% 3.6% 19 and Under 32.2% 29.0% 32.3% 31.1% 30.7% 27.7% Median Age SOURCE SANDAG, Current Estimates (2009) Table 2 HOUSING AND FAMILY STRUCTURE DATA Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County Total family households 72.3% 72.9% 68.5% 72.9% 73.7% 66.0% Female Householder, No 12.7% 10.5% 11.1% 10.6% 14.3% 11.5% Husband Present, Family With Own Children 8.0% 5.5% 6.2% 6.2% 8.8% 6.5% Under 18 Years old Average Household Size Average Family Size Single Family Detached 48.0% 72.9% 51.9% 51.2% 48.3% 48.8% Single Family, Multiple-Unit 9.5% 4.7% 13.0% 2.9% 8.1% 11.7% Multi-Family 34.6% 17.2% 29.6% 32.8% 36.9% 35.8% Mobile Home and Other 7.9% 5.2% 5.4% 13.1% 6.7% 3.7% SOURCE SANDAG, Current Estimates (2009) Appendix A - Gang Assessment A-1

36 Table 3 EDUCATIONAL DATA Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County Population 3 Years and Over Enrolled in School 26.8% 30.2% 26.2% 28.8% 26.7% 28.0% Nursery school, preschool 5.7% 6.5% 5.2% 7.1% 4.8% 6.1% K-8 th Grade 47.9% 45.9% 44.2% 46.1% 46.5% 41.6% High school (grades 9-12) 24.1% 23.2% 22.9% 18.3% 24.6% 20.8% College or graduate school 22.3% 24.4% 27.6% 28.4% 24.3% 31.5% Educational Attainment Population 25 years and over 61.3% 63.3% 64.6% 60.9% 60.8% 64.4% Less than 9th grade 13.9% 13.2% 8.1% 11.1% 13.8% 7.3% 9th to 12th grade, no diploma 10.5% 7.5% 8.0% 8.2% 11.3% 7.5% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 24.5% 21.8% 23.8% 20.8% 23.3% 20.2% Bachelor s degree or higher. 21.4% 22.9% 25.5% 30.2% 20.8% 34.0% SOURCE SANDAG, Current Estimates (2009) Table 4 EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County Unemployed 4.5% 6.0% 4.8% 4.8% 5.1% 4.2% Occupation Service Occupations 23.8% 18.5% 19.8% 20.1% 21.9% 17.8% Construction, extraction, 12.2% 12.2% 10.7% 8.4% 12.7% 8.7% maintenance, and repair occupations. Income of less than 15, % 26.0% 27.0% 25% 26% 27% 29,000 Median Household Income $65,851 $76,603 $69,044 $75,336 $67,905 $72, Total Income Change From ( ) 52.0%+ 54.7%+ 49.3%+ 64.1%+ 57.0%+ 54.1%+ NOTES: Employment data is for population 16 and older. Median household income is not adjusted for inflation. SOURCES: SANDAG Current Estimates (2009); U.S. Census Bureau, ; Source A-2 Appendix A - Gang Assessment

37 Table 5 RISK INDICATORS Escondido Fallbrook Oceanside San Marcos Vista County Poverty rate for all residents 14.0% 11.1% 8.7% 10.2% 14.4% 11.5% Families below poverty level 9.5% 7.6% 6.0% 6.7% 10.2% 7.9% Single female households 22.2% 16.8% 19.0% 18.4% 25.0% 21.8% below poverty level Households receiving cash 3.1% 2.0% 1.7% 1.7% 2.4% 2.2% public assistance income Households receiving food 3.7% 2.8% 1.7% 2.4% 3.6% 2.8% stamp benefits in the past 12 months Per 1,000 Women 15 to 19 Years Old Birth in the Past 12 Months SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Appendix A - Gang Assessment A-3

38

39 APPENDIX B

40

41 COMMUNITY SCHOOL DATA Table 1 ESCONDIDO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS Escondido Union District County Number of Elementary Schools Number of Middle Schools Population 19, ,702 Hispanic 64.5% 44.1% White 25.0% 33.8% Black 3.0% 6.9% Asian 2.7% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 2.3% 5.6% American Indian 0.4% 0.8% English- Language Arts Proficient 44.6% 46.0% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 57.5% 46.5% ELL 44.2% 24.8% Special Education 11.1% 7.1% Truancy Rate 23.4% 26.6% Suspension Rate 12.0% 9.6% Expulsion Rate 0.19% 0.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports Table 2 ESCONDIDO HIGH SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS Escondido Union High District County Number of High Schools 5 97 Population 9, ,702 Hispanic 55.2% 44.1% White 34.9% 33.8% Black 2.9% 6.9% Asian 2.5% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 2.5% 5.6% American Indian 0.7% 0.8% English- Language Arts Proficient 51.2% 44.5% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 40.6% 46.5% ELL 17.9% 24.8% Special Education 8.2% 4.6% Truancy Rate 4.1% 26.6% Suspension Rate 17.5% 9.6% Expulsion Rate 1.0% 0.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-1

42 Table 3 ESCONDIDO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Escondido Union District County API 740 Not Given for County CST English- Language Art (8th grade) Advanced 18% 27% Proficient 26% 27% Basic 31% 28% Below or far below 25% 18% CST s Math (8th grade) Advanced 8% 6% Proficient 32% 26% Basic 32% 32% Below or far below 28% 37% SOURCE: California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) , California Department of Education Table 4 ESCONDIDO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Escondido Union High District County API 714 Not Given For County % Math CAHSEE Passing 81.0% 85% % English-Language CAHSEE Passing 80% 83% % senior SAT Tested 29% 35% Average SAT Scores 1,555 1,535 Graduation Rate 84.7% 79.4% Dropout Rate 11.5% 16.0% SOURCE: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), California Department of Education B-2 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

43 Table 5 FALLBROOK ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS Fallbrook Union District County Number of Elementary Schools Number of Middle Schools Population 5, ,702 Hispanic 49.4% 44.1% White 39.3% 33.8% Black 5.1% 6.9% Asian 1.1% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 2.3% 5.6% American Indian 0.8% 0.8% English-Language Arts Proficient 55.7% 46.0% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 58.4% 46.5% ELL 29.0% 24.8% Special Education 11.0% 7.10% Truancy Rate 87.0% 26.6% Suspension Rate 7.9% 9.6% Expulsion Rate 0.21% 0.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports Table 6 FALLBROOK HIGH SCHOOL CHARACTERISTICS Fallbrook Union High District County Number of High Schools 1 97 Population 3, ,702 Hispanic 47.0% 44.1% White 41.4% 33.8% Black 2.2% 6.9% Asian 1.6% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 1.7% 5.6% American Indian 1.4% 0.8% English-Language Arts Proficient 58.7% 44.5% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 41.4% 46.5% ELL 16.0% 24.8% Special Education 10.0% 8.4% Truancy Rate 11.1% 26.6% Suspension Rate 25.0% 9.6% Expulsion Rate 0.83% 0.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-3

44 Table 7 FALLBROOK ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Fallbrook Union District County API 798 Not Given for County CST English- Language Art (8th grade) Advanced 30% 27% Proficient 26% 27% Basic 30% 28% Below or far below 25% 18% CST s Math (8th grade) Advanced 2% 6% Proficient 17% 26% Basic 29% 32% Below or far below 51% 37% SOURCE: California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) , California Department of Education Table 8 FALLBROOK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Fallbrook Union High District County API 745 Not Given For County % Math CAHSEE Passing 83.0% 85% % English-Language CAHSEE Passing 81% 83% % Senior SAT tested 29.0% 35% Average SAT scores 1,509 1,535 Graduation rates 84.6% 79.4% Dropout rates 15.7% 16.0% SOURCE: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), California Department of Education B-4 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

45 Table 9 OCEANSIDE DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS Oceanside Unified District County Number of Elementary Schools Number of Middle Schools Number of High Schools 2 97 K Population 21, ,702 Hispanic 53.3% 44.1% White 28.5% 33.8% Black 7.9% 6.9% Asian 2.3% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 5.9% 5.6% American Indian 0.7 % 0.8% English- Language Arts Proficient 51.2% 46.0% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 52.7% 46.5% ELL 23.9% 24.8% Special Education 11.1% 11.8% Truancy Rate 34.7% 26.6% Suspension Rate 31.8% 9.6% Expulsion Rate.42%.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports Table 10 OCEANSIDE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Oceanside Unified District County API 766 Not Given for County CST English- Language Art (8th grade) Advanced 21% 27% Proficient 25% 27% Basic 32% 28% Below or far below 22% 18% CST s Math (8th grade) Advanced 0% 6% Proficient 0% 26% Basic 45% 32% Below or far below 47% 37% SOURCE: California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) , California Department of Education Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-5

46 Table 11 OCEANSIDE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Oceanside Unified District County API 766 Not Given For County % Math CAHSEE Passing 83.0% 85% % English-Language CAHSEE Passing 80.0% 83% % senior SAT tested 22.5% 35% Average SAT scores 1,519 1,535 Graduation rates 83.6% 79.4% Dropout rates 7.2% 16.0% SOURCE: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), California Department of Education Table 12 SAN MARCOS DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS San Marcos Unified District County Number of Elementary Schools Number of Middle Schools Number of High Schools 2 97 K Number of Continuation Schools/Alternatives 2 21 Population 17, ,702 Hispanic 47.3% 44.1% White 39.3% 33.8% Black 3.2% 6.9% Asian 4.6% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 3.9% 5.6% American Indian 0.5 % 0.8% English-Language Arts Proficient 67.1% 46.0% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 41.3% 46.5% ELL 23.3% 24.8% Special Education 13.2% 11.8% Truancy Rate 19.5% 26.6% Suspension Rate 6.6% 9.6% Expulsion Rate 0.54% 0.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports B-6 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

47 Table 13 SAN MARCOS ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE San Marcos Unified District County API 833 Not Avail for County CST English- Language Art (8th grade) Advanced 32% 27% Proficient 29% 27% Basic 26% 28% Below or far below 12% 18% CST s Math (8th grade) Advanced 6% 6% Proficient 35% 26% Basic 33% 32% Below or far below 26% 37% SOURCE: California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) , California Department of Education Table 14 SAN MARCOS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE San Marcos Unified District County API 833 Not Avail For County % Math CAHSEE Passing 88% 85% % English-Language CAHSEE Passing 88% 83% % Senior SAT tested 34.1% 35% Average SAT score 1,481 1,535 Graduation Rate 87.3% 79.4% Dropout rates 7.9% 16.0% SOURCE: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), California Department of Education Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-7

48 Table 15 VISTA DISTRICT CHARACTERISTICS Vista Unified District County Number of Elementary Schools Number of Middle Schools Number of High Schools 5 97 Population 26, ,702 Hispanic 53.0% 44.1% White 29.4% 33.8% Black 5.4% 6.9% Asian 2.4% 5.6% Pac Islander/Filipino 3.0% 5.6% American Indian 0.5 % 0.8% English-Language Arts Proficient 55.1% 46.0% (Target) Free/Reduced Meals 51.1% 46.5% ELL 27.7% 24.8% Special Education 13.1% 11.8% Truancy Rate 32.3% 26.6% Suspension Rate 11.6% 9.6% Expulsion Rate 0.21% 0.20% SOURCE: Education Data Partnership, District/County Profiles and Accountability Reports Table 16 VISTA ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Vista Unified District County API 779 Not Given for County CST English- Language Art (8th grade) Advanced 26% 27% Proficient 30% 27% Basic 29% 28% Below or far below 16% 18% CST s Math (8th grade) Advanced 6% 6% Proficient 30% 26% Basic 32% 32% Below or far below 30% 37% SOURCE: California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) , California Department of Education B-8 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

49 Table 17 VISTA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Vista Unified District County API 779 Not Given For County % Math CAHSEE Passing 83.0% 85% % English-Language CAHSEE Passing 80.0% 83% % Senior SAT tested 13.3% 35% Average SAT scores 1,509 1,535 Graduation rates 60.7% 79.4% Dropout rates 33.6% 16.0% SOURCE: California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), California Department of Education Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-9

50 SCHOOL CLIMATE DATA Table 18 ESCONDIDO OVERALL STUDENT BEHAVIOR Escondido Elementary Middle School High School Students are Motivated to Learn 66% 49% 33% (Nearly all to most) Cutting Class or Truancy is a 4% 21% 51% Problem (Moderate to severe) Most to some students are wellbehaved 77% 67% 70% (Nearly all to some) Racial/Ethnic Conflict Among 6% 22% 29% Students is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Disruptive Student Behavior is a 47% 65% 56% Problem (Moderate to severe) Harassment or Bullying Among 29% 59% 32% Students is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Student Alcohol and Drug Use is a Problem (Moderate to severe) 1% 18% 47% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 19 ESCONDIDO BEHAVIORS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH GANG ACTIVITY Escondido Elementary Middle School High School Vandalism (Including Graffiti) is a 29% 59% 20% Problem (Moderate to severe) Physical Fighting Between Students 12% 32% 16% is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Gang-Related Activity is a Problem 8% 41% 29% (Moderate to severe) Weapons Possession is a Problem (Moderate to severe) 2% 9% 6% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 B-10 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

51 Table 20 ESCONDIDO SCHOOLS EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT Escondido Elementary Middle School High School School is a safe place for students 92% 84% 95% Collaborates Well With Law Enforcement Handles Discipline and Behavioral Problems Effectively (Strongly agree to agree Resources Sufficient to Create a Safe Campus (Strongly agree to agree) Seeks to Maintain Secure Campus (Strongly agree to agree) 76% 83% 91% 65% 60% 63% 62% 61% 85% 13% 20% 29% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 21 FALLBROOK OVERALL STUDENT BEHAVIOR Fallbrook Fallbrook Union Fallbrook Union High Students are Motivated to Learn 50% 32% (Nearly All to Most) Cutting Class or Truancy is a 0% 66% Problem (Moderate to severe) Most to some students are wellbehaved 88% 65% (Nearly All to Most) Racial/Ethnic Conflict Among 13% 41% Students is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) Disruptive Student Behavior is a 51% 64% Problem (Moderate to severe) Harassment or Bullying Among 50% 50% Students is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Student Alcohol and Drug Use is a Problem (Moderate to severe) 0% 73% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-11

52 Table 22 FALLBROOK BEHAVIORS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH GANG ACTIVITY Fallbrook Fallbrook Union Fallbrook Union High Vandalism (Including Graffiti) is a 38% 52% Problem (Moderate to severe Problem) Physical Fighting Between Students 13% 35% is a Problem Gang-Related Activity is a Problem 13% 30% Weapons Possession is a Problem (moderate to severe) 0% 4% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 23 FALLBROOK SCHOOLS EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT Fallbrook Fallbrook Union Fallbrook Union High School is a safe place for student 100% 80% (Strongly agree to agree) Collaborates Well With Law Not Avail 79% Enforcement (Strongly agree to agree) Handles Discipline and Behavioral Not Avail 61% Problems Effectively (Strongly agree to agree) Resources Sufficient to Create a Safe Not Avail 48% Campus (Strongly agree to agree) Seeks to Maintain Secure Campus (Strongly agree to agree) Not Avail 36% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 B-12 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

53 Table 24 OCEANSIDE OVERALL STUDENT BEHAVIOR Oceanside Elementary Middle School High school Students are Motivated to Learn 70% 44% 50% (Nearly all to Most) Cutting Class or Truancy is a 3% 26% 51% Problem (Moderate or severe) Most to some students are wellbehaved 75% 66% 82% (Nearly All to Most) Racial/Ethnic Conflict Among 7% 33% 33% Students is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) Disruptive Student Behavior is a 48% 78% 53% Problem (Moderate to Severe) Harassment or Bullying Among 27% 66% 30% Students is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) Student Alcohol and Drug Use is a Problem (Moderate to severe) 0% 22% 39% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 25 OCEANSIDE BEHAVIORS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH GANG ACTIVITY Oceanside Elementary Middle School High School Vandalism (Including Graffiti) is a 15% 53% 53% Problem (Moderate to severe) Physical Fighting Between Students 13% 40% 26% is a Problem (Severe to Moderate Problem) Gang-Related Activity is a Problem 8% 43% 41% (Severe to Moderate Problem) Weapons Possession is a Problem (Moderate to severe) 1% 8% 7% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-13

54 Table 26 OCEANSIDE SCHOOLS EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT Oceanside Elementary Middle School High School School is a safe place for student 96% 84% 91% Collaborates Well With Law 81% 93% 94% Enforcement Handles Discipline and Behavioral 67% 66% 71% Problems Effectively Resources Sufficient to Create a Safe 74% 70% 69% Campus Seeks to Maintain Secure Campus 12% 61% 75% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 27 SAN MARCOS OVERALL STUDENT BEHAVIOR San Marcos Elementary Middle School High School Students are Motivated to Learn 74% 77% 72% (Nearly all to most) Cutting Class or Truancy is Problem 5% 5% 5% (Moderate or Severe) Students are well-behaved 73% 83% 80% (Strongly Agree to Agree) Racial/Ethnic Conflict Among 5% 5% 5% Students is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) Disruptive Student Behavior is a 29% 37% 35% Problem (Moderate to Severe) Harassment or Bullying Among 19% 28% 25% Students is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) Student Alcohol and Drug Use is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) 0% 5% 3% NOTE: High School Percentage was not available, district percentage used instead. SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 B-14 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

55 Table 28 SAN MARCOS BEHAVIORS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH GANG ACTIVITY San Marcos Elementary Middle School High School Vandalism (Including Graffiti) is a 0% 26% 17% Problem (Moderate to Severe) Physical Fighting Between Students 5% 10% 8% is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) Gang-Related Activity is a Problem 0% 23% 16% (Moderate to Severe) Weapons Possession is a Problem (Moderate to Severe) 0% 5% 3% NOTE: High School Percentage was not available, district percentage used instead. SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 29 SAN MARCOS SCHOOLS EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT San Marcos Elementary Middle School High School School is a safe place for students 100% 100% 100% (Strongly Agree to Agree) Collaborates Well With Law 67% 80% 77% Enforcement (Strongly Agree to Agree) Handles Discipline and Behavioral 100% 95% 96% Problems Effectively (Strongly Agree to Agree) Resources Sufficient to Create a Safe 66% 80% 77% Campus (Strongly Agree to Agree) Seeks to Maintain Secure Campus (Strongly Agree to Agree) 33% 60% 54% NOTE: High School Percentage was not available, district percentage used instead. SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-15

56 Table 30 VISTA OVERALL STUDENT BEHAVIOR Vista Elementary Middle School High School Students are Motivated to Learn 63% 62% 37% (Nearly all to most) Cutting Class or Truancy is a 5% 13% 63% Problem (Moderate to severe) Most to some students are wellbehaved 75% 75% 70% (Moderate to severe) Racial/Ethnic Conflict Among 14% 14% 45% Students is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Disruptive Student Behavior is a 52% 52% 48% Problem (Moderate to severe) Harassment or Bullying Among 31% 47% 43% Students is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Student Alcohol and Drug Use is a Problem (Moderate to severe) 0% 22% 39% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Table 31 VISTA BEHAVIORS OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH GANG ACTIVITY Vandalism (Including Graffiti) is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Physical Fighting Between Students is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Gang-Related Activity is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Weapons Possession is a Problem (Moderate to severe) Elementary Middle School High School 10% 25% 48% 14% 27% 30% 7% 16% 44% 1% 8% 10% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 B-16 Appendix B - Gang Assessment

57 Table 32 VISTA SCHOOLS EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT School is a safe place for student (Strongly agree to agree) Collaborates Well With Law Enforcement (Strongly agree to agree) Handles Discipline and Behavioral Problems Effectively (Strongly agree to agree) Resources Sufficient to Create a Safe Campus (Strongly agree to agree Seeks to Maintain Secure Campus (Strongly agree to agree) Elementary Middle School High School 90% 89% 79% 69% 83% 87% 70% 59% 38% 60% 73% 45% 12% 18% 36% SOURCE: California School Climate Survey, 2009 Appendix B - Gang Assessment B-17

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59 APPENDIX C

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61 San Diego County Gang Committee IIn paarrttneerrsship witth TRAINING BULLETIN March 16, 2010 The San Diego County Gang Committee and ARJIS are providing this training bulletin to announce regional changes in the documentation of gang crime. Crime reports have been revised to allow officers to flag crime cases that are potentially gang-motivated as well as cases that potentially involve a gang member. Where do I find the changes? There are now two boxes relating to gangs in the Suspect Actions section. Box #19 is now to be marked for crimes that are potentially Gang Motivated. Box #62, newly added to the form, is to be marked for any crime (gang motivated or not) that involves a suspect that is a potential gang member. Box # 19 Potential Gang Motivated Previously listed as: Gang-Related Newly Added! Box # 62 Potential Gang Member Involved. Appendix C - Gang Assessment C-1

62 How do I define a Potential Gang Motivated crime? This Suspect Action has been modified to eliminate the confusion associated with the term gang-related. The Suspect Action Gang Motivated refers specifically to the intent of the suspect, and is intended to flag crimes that are committed in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote or further the interests of that gang. For regional consistency, the DOJ s gang crime definition is to be used as a guide for marking this box. Department of Justice Gang Crime Definition Any crime that is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, with the specific intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by gang members. In what situation would I mark Potential Gang Member Involved? Not all crimes committed by gang members are intended to promote or further the interests of the gang. This scenario has created the need for this new Suspect Action. Officers now have the ability to flag crimes of any type in which they believe a potential gang member is involved. An example for marking this box would be: a domestic violence case in which the suspect is associated with a gang. The case is not likely to be gang motivated, however the officer would mark box #62 to note that this case possibly involves a gang member. What if my department is still using the old report forms? It will likely take some time before the new forms are in full circulation. If Suspect Action #62 does not appear on the form, simply write-in the action on the form. As long as #62 appears on the form, the case will be flagged as potential gang member involved. Example: For what purpose are we tracking these cases? These changes are part of a countywide effort to more accurately track gang crimes and other crimes committed by gang members. Cases that have been flagged by marking these Suspect Actions will be reviewed by gang investigators and crime analysts for the purpose of improved statistical reporting. Thank you for your assistance in this endeavor. Created 03/11/2010 C-2 Appendix C - Gang Assessment