Comprehensive Gang Assessment - 2010
Key FindingS
Community Perception Data
Community Survey
To collect Community Perceptions data, the Coalition implemented a Community Survey, conducted from June 1 to June 30, 2010. Three thousand copies of the Community Survey, in Spanish and English, were inserted in the water bills mailed to all City residents, and another 1,000 copies were distributed to a half dozen locations throughout the City. The hospital, businesses, schools, and nonprofit agencies were provided a sealed box for respondents to deposit the surveys, and surveys also included a mailing address for return. A diverse cross section of the community responded to the survey. In all, 488 people completed a Community Survey.
The Assessment Co-Coordinator, working with a bilingual/bicultural staff member of the local one-stop agency, Safe Passage Family Resource Center, conducted a 90-minute focus group with eight Hispanic parents of youth who were elementary school age or older. The group was held in Spanish and English using dual translation.
Community Survey
To collect Community Perceptions data, the Coalition implemented a Community Survey, conducted from June 1 to June 30, 2010. Three thousand copies of the Community Survey, in Spanish and English, were inserted in the water bills mailed to all City residents, and another 1,000 copies were distributed to a half dozen locations throughout the City. The hospital, businesses, schools, and nonprofit agencies were provided a sealed box for respondents to deposit the surveys, and surveys also included a mailing address for return. A diverse cross section of the community responded to the survey. In all, 488 people completed a Community Survey.
- The majority of respondents of all racial groups, ages, and economic backgrounds felt that gang issues are a significant problem in Fort Bragg.
- Hispanic respondents reported more concern with gang issues in the community than reported by Caucasians: on scale from ‘no problem at all’ to ‘a very big problem’ with the response ‘a problem’ being in the middle of the scale, 73.9% of Hispanics agreed that gangs were ‘a problem’ or worse, whereas 62.9% of whites felt that gangs were ‘a problem’ or worse.
- 84.7% of all respondents reported that gang graffiti/tagging is a problem in the community.
- More than 42% of respondents agreed that gangs created family dysfunction, and 53% listed school disruption as a problem caused by gangs.
- 63% of respondents reported increased fear in their community, the same percent who reported gangs had caused increased fear for their personal safety.
- The majority of respondents (55.7%) believed the presence of gangs led to increases in prejudice and racism.
- When asked to identify the causes of gang activity, five responses stand out as common among all subgroups: the vast majority of all respondents believe that gang activity happens because 1) families and friends are in gangs, 2) there are problems in the family, 3) gang members are moving in from other places, 4) boredom, and 5) there is a lack of positive activities that could serve as an alternative to gang membership.
- In terms of addressing the gang problem, the majority of all respondents identified law enforcement (80.4%) and parents (79.7%) as responsible for reducing the gang problem, followed by youth serving agencies (49.8%), school staff (46.8%), and community residents (47.5%).
- 53.2% of all respondents reported they felt they could help improve their community’s response to gangs.
- In regard to how the community ‘should’ respond to gang problems, there is significant common ground among respondents regardless of race. New laws and ordinances were not reported as a necessary focus by the majority of any racial group. In contrast, the vast majority of respondents across racial groups cite the need for more parental involvement (80.3% of all respondents 76.9% of Hispanics, 83.7% of whites).
The Assessment Co-Coordinator, working with a bilingual/bicultural staff member of the local one-stop agency, Safe Passage Family Resource Center, conducted a 90-minute focus group with eight Hispanic parents of youth who were elementary school age or older. The group was held in Spanish and English using dual translation.
- All attendees reported gangs were a problem in the Fort Bragg area.
- All attendees knew family members, friends, or neighbors who were involved in gangs, and all agreed that the gang problem is personally affecting their family and their community.
- All participants agreed that parents are the most important group needing to address gang issues, followed by law enforcement, schools, and social service agencies.
- All attendees reported concerns about the need for additional support services for at risk youth entering the middle school.
- Students who were struggling academically were seen as the most at-risk for becoming involved in gangs.
- The lack of real economic opportunity for Hispanic youth, the prevalence of the marijuana economy, and the rise of gang involvement in manufacturing of drugs (meth) were cited as contributing factors for why gangs had increased in the community.
