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SANDAG newsletter provides access to regional information
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North County bridge keeps
San Diego moving
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New 5-1-1 service dialed in rule
Mission Valley East Trolley extension named project of
the year
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Smart Corner is all
about smart growth rule
Your tax dollars at work
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Gang activity generates coordinated local response
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Navigating by bicycle is
getting a lot easier
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MTS launches SAFEWATCH rule
SANDAG Board Actions available online
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   the rEgion
 

Gang activity generates
coordinated local response SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division

Gang violence and how it is reverberating throughout the San Diego region has garnered local concern and action by law enforcement, community members, and public officials.

During the first half of 2006, homicides rose by 51 percent in the San Diego region, compared to the first half of 2005 (from 43 to 65).

For those homicides committed in 2005 in the City of San Diego with known motivation, 18 percent were attributed to gang activity. The San Diego Police Department has documented more than 3,500 gang members in their city alone, comprising 85 different gang sets. Of these gang members, approximately five percent are juveniles.

Research has shown that gang members are likely to offend more frequently and commit more serious crimes than non-gang members. Local data collected as part of the SANDAG Substance Abuse Monitoring program on a sample of individuals booked into Juvenile Hall showed that almost two-thirds of those interviewed reported that they were or had been a gang member. These juveniles were more likely to report risky behavior than non-gang members, including fighting, attending school while under the influence, and possessing a weapon.

These data are providing valuable information to assist the region’s aggressive efforts to prevent and curtail gang violence. For example, the City of San Diego formed the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention, composed of law enforcement, community agencies, faith organizations, justice entities, and public officials, to collaborate on developing solutions to address gang violence. As a member of the Commission, SANDAG will be exploring ways to support the collection and analysis of data on gang activity to help inform the group in its development of a coordinated strategic plan.

Project Manager:
Dr. Cynthia Burke, Director, Criminal Justice Research Divison
cbu@sandag.org; (619) 699-1910