YAKIMA COUNTY GANG COMMISSION

C O M M U N I T Y A S S E S S M E N T

AGENDA

Types of Data Comparison of Results Specific Indicators Key Findings

TYPES OF DATA

• • • Community Data • Community Members • Community Leaders • Youth Serving Organizations Law Enforcement Data • Gang Members • Parents of Gang Members School/Youth Data • • Students School Staff

DATA FROM SURVEYS

Dissatisfaction with current response to gangs Community Leaders Community Members 64% 76%

DATA FROM SURVEYS

Top reported cause of gang problem Community Leaders Community Members School Staff Gang Member Family/Friends in Gang Family/Friends in Gang Cultural/Family Poverty

DATA FROM SURVEYS

Top problem gangs present

Community Leaders Community Members School Staff Students Graffiti/ Vandalism Increased Violence Bullying Fights with other gangs

DATA FROM SURVEYS

How should the problem of gangs be solved Community Leaders Community Members More Parental Involvement Programs/ Recreation

COMMUNITY LEADER SURVEY

Do you believe gangs are a problem in your community?

Don't Know Yes 1% 99%

COMMUNITY LEADER SURVEY

More parental involvement Jobs and job trainings More police presence Mentoring Recreation programs School programs Other New laws/ordinances Tutoring No Response

What should be done to reduce the gang problem?

4% 7% 16% 15% 30% 33% 51% 47% 49% 63%

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Do you think there are gangs in your community?

No Yes 8% 92%

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

Do you think your children are in a gang or at risk of being in a gang?

Yes No 16% 84%

YOUTH SERVING ORGANIZATIONS

How is gang activity changing among the youth you serve?

Decreasing The Same Increasing 6% 39% 55%

GANG MEMBERS

Are you employed?

Are you in School?

12% Yes 50% Yes 85% No 4% Unknown 46% No 4% Unknown

GANG MEMBERS

How easy is it to get Guns and Drugs

50,0% 45,0% 40,0% 35,0% 30,0% 25,0% 20,0% 15,0% 10,0% 5,0% 0,0% Somewhat hard 3,8% Very Hard 3,8% Do not know No response 7,7% 11,5% Somewhat easy 23,1% Very easy 50,0%

PARENTS OF GANG MEMBERS

Who is responsible to solve the gang problem

Police Parents Schools Everyone Youth Family Other Guardians Current Members Church Government 3% 3% 5% 8% 7% 12% 16% 28% 31% 48% 59%

PARENTS OF GANG MEMBERS

Why did your child join a gang?

Protection Desire for money, power, popularity, clothes, girls Not sure Boyfriend, family, friends Buillied Bored Single parent, dad left us 5% 5% 14% 16% 19% 19% 21%

STUDENTS

67%

Have you seen adults you know personally do the following?

No Yes 79% 72% 58% 42% 33% 28% 21% Done things that could get them in trouble with the police Gotten drunk or high Sold drugs Used Illegal Drugs

STUDENTS

84%

Have you carried a gun in the past 12 months

No Yes 92% 84% 85% 87% Grade 12 16% Grade 10 16% Grade 8 15% Grade 6 8% Total 13%

STUDENTS

Grade Level of Respondents

35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Grade Grade 6 33% Grade 8 34% Grade 10 18% Grade 12 15%

100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Yes No Don't Know Grade 6 16% 20% 64%

STUDENTS

Are there gangs at your school?

Grade 8 41% 12% 47% Grade 10 52% 12% 35% Grade 12 48% 18% 34%

STUDENTS

Do any of the students at your school belong to a gang?

70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 Don't know 66% 48% 37% 35% No 18% 9% 7% 11% Yes 16% 42% 57% 54%

STUDENTS

0% 4%

Activities of gangs around your school

31% 27% 22% 23% 12% 13% 32% 34%

STUDENTS

Percentage of Students who Self-Identified as Gang Members

5,0% 4,5% 4,0% 3,5% 3,0% 2,5% 2,0% 1,5% 1,0% 0,5% 0,0% Grade 6 1,4% Grade 8 5,0% Grade 10 4,7% Grade 12 4,3%

40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

STUDENTS

Students who report that gang members brought guns to school in the past six months

8% 3% 5% Grade 6 Yes Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12 5%

40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

STUDENTS

Students who report that gang members involved in the sale of drugs at school in the past six months

30% 5% 18% 23% Grade 6 Grade 8 Grade 10 Grade 12

STUDENTS

How old were you when you first belonged to a gang?

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 12 10 8 6 10 or younger 45% 41% 44% 71% 11 0% 10% 18% 16% 12 3% 7% 19% 10% 13 13% 14% 13% 3% 14 16% 16% 4% 0% 15 11% 7% 0% 0% 16 3% 3% 0% 0% 17 or older 11% 1% 3% 0%

STUDENTS

16%

Why did you join the gang?

24% 25% 29% 34% 36% 40% 48% 49%

SCHOOL STAFF

What signs do you see that lead you to believe that gang members are present in the school?

27% Clothing/Colors Graffiti/Tagging/Writing Overheard Conversations Fighting/Bullying No Response Attitude Hand Signs/Whistles Tattoos Rosaries/Jewelry/Accessories Hair Styles Peer Group 2% 2% 3% 3% 4% 5% 6% 8% 10% 21%

SCHOOL STAFF

What types of problems do gang members present in or around the school?

Bullying/Intimidation N/A Fighting Disruption Drugs/Crime Disrespect/Apathy/Absence Recruiting Peer Pressure Safety Concerns 4% 5% 7% 10% 11% 14% 16% 23% 30%

KEY FINDINGS

Yakima County has an environment that contains multiple risk factors for gang involvement including a culture of poverty which is magnified by single parenting, low adult educational attainment, and high seasonal unemployment rates. The presence of these factors varies widely amongst communities within the County .

KEY FINDINGS

Yakima County has a high rate of at-risk youth with multiple risk factors for gang involvement including higher rates of school failure, a high teen birth rate, suicide and suicide attempts, depression, illegal drug use, alcohol use, and low neighborhood attachment. Students also report feeling less safe in school.

KEY FINDINGS

Yakima County contains wide disparities in race and ethnicity, income, crime, and educational attainment. There are also undercurrents of conflict related to those differences as demonstrated in the survey responses.

KEY FINDINGS

A lack of common definitions and criteria for Gang Membership and Gang Activity made the analysis of Gang Crime difficult. Additionally, the old system for tracking law enforcement activity called for individual assessments of incident reports, this and the absence of a dedicated Crime Analyst has also been a challenge in assessing crime activity.

QUESTIONS?