What is Gang of One?

Gang of One, established in February 2004, is the gang prevention and intervention initiative of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in partnership with local agencies and citizens and local, state, and federal law enforcement.  The mission of Gang of One is to prevent youth from joining a gang, support youth being pressured to join a gang and assist youth in getting out of a gang.

 The Hotline

Gang of One began with a 24/7 Hotline, 704.432.GANG/4264, staffed by bilingual CMPD volunteers.  The purpose of the Hotline was to connect youth and their families with community resources to help youth disassociate from gangs and to educate the community about gangs.  Since 2004, G01 has

• Received over 2,000 calls to the Hotline
• Facilitated over 350 gang recognition and resistance workshops
• Provided over 100 youth with resource information in support of their efforts to disassociate

 Comprehensive Model for Gang Violence Reduction

The goal of the Comprehensive Model for Gang Violence Reduction, implemented in 2006, is to reduce gang violence and crime through integrated prevention, intervention, suppression, and re-entry strategies coordinated by Gang of One in partnership with local citizens and agencies, and local, state and federal law enforcement.

 Gang of One Prevention and Intervention Programs

Dangers Involved with Gangs is a 4-hour gang prevention program that provides 5th grade students with positive decision-making skills to resist gang influence.

2005-2006              3 CMS Elementary Schools     400 students

2006-2007              9 CMS Elementary Schools     1,200 students

2007-2008              22 CMS Elementary Schools   2,670 students

 

No Easy Walk is a 36-hour peer leadership, outdoor challenge program that provides middle school youth with skills and alternatives to resist gang influence and involvement.

2006-2007       1 CMS Middle School              90 peer leaders, 600 students

2007-2008       2 CMS Middle Schools            179 peer leaders, 665 students

 

Truancy/Safe Neighborhoods is an intervention team-based model that reduces juvenile criminal activity and truancy and increases student participation in school.

2006-2007              1 CMS Middle School              46 students

2007-2008       2 CMS Middle Schools          106 students

 

UNC Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Department of Criminal Justice, is Gang of One’s research partner in the development of these programs.

 

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Gang Prevention Coalition

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Gang Prevention Coalition, established in May 2007, is a multidisciplinary body chaired by the Director of Area Mental Health.  Its mission is to partner with the community to eliminate gangs through collaboration, training, and technical assistance.