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Gang Violence Reduction Project

In the mid 1970's the California Department of the Youth Authority (CYA) began to explore new and unorthodox methods of delinquency prevention. In 1976, these efforts resulted in the formation of a specialized unit, the Gang Violence Reduction Project (GVRP) in East Los Angeles. The GVRP Project was modeled after the Federacion de Barrios Unidos that operated in East Los Angeles from June 1972 to September 1973. This program was a coalition of several existing gangs looking for alternatives to gang violence and provided a forum in which to mediate feuds.

Over the course of twenty years, the GVRP program evolved and expanded its services in the East Los Angeles community. In addition to conflict mediation, the program also provides services in the areas of community-based education and alternative activities for at-risk youth.

Today there are four grant-funded GVRP programs, all established on a competitive basis and administered through the now Division of Juvenile Justice's (DJJ's) Office of Prevention and Victims Services. The core elements of each GVRP project are gang/conflict mediation, information sharing between various agencies including law enforcement, services for victims of gang violence, alternative activities to gang involvement for at-risk youth, and community service. Other program elements may include literacy development, parenting classes, family strengths programs, cultural awareness events, sports programs, and leadership training.

As part of the DJJ's ongoing efforts in delinquency prevention, these grant-funded GVRP programs implement comprehensive strategies designed to make communities safer, improve opportunities for youth, and reduce gang violence by providing at-risk youth with alternatives to gang activity.

Additional Gang Resources