Police - Gang of One

Gang of One

In 2006, the Hickory Police Department developed the Street Crimes Interdiction Unit to address the growing concern of gang activity in our community.  The mission of the unit is to disrupt gang related activity through education, prevention & intervention, as well as proactive enforcement. 
 
Hickory Police Department was awarded a two-year grant from NC Governor's Crime Commission for a "Gang of One" Director's position beginning July 2008.  This grant implemented, developed and established a Director to coordinate a network of multidisciplinary agencies to meet the various needs of at-risk youth and their families. The purpose of this grant will be to prevent at-risk youth from joining gangs, establish programs that provide positive activities for at-risk youth and provide intervention programs for youth wanting to separate from a gang.
 

What is a gang?  As defined by the North Carolina General Statute 15A-1340.16(2a), "a gang is a group or association of three or more persons who may have a common identifying sign, symbol or name and who individually or collectively engage in, or have engaged in a pattern of criminal activity, creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the community."

 

The gang subculture is not a new phenomenon.  Documented gang activity in America dates back to the 1800's with Billy the Kid and the James Gang.  However, the number of youth gangs and youth gang members has dramatically increased over the past few years, along with the criminal activity committed by these individuals.

 

Historically, youth have been attracted to the gang subculture because they are searching for a sense of self worth and acceptance.  Gang affiliation provides a level of acceptance that is important in adolescent development, and is generally otherwise not available to them.  The gang subculture provides a recognizable identity for youth that otherwise feel invisible.  It provides a social network that becomes a surrogate family for those who do not have a close family connection.  Nevertheless, gangs are not a "street family", as these youth are typically involved in a vast array of criminal activities; some violent.  Gang of One is the gang prevention and intervention initiative of the Street Crimes Interdiction Unit.  It is a resource-based, community-involved initiative for youth and their families that utilizes a network of local resources to address their needs related to gang membership.

 
Gang of One Mission
 
The Gang of One mission is to educate youth and prevent them from joining a gang, support those who are being pressured to join a gang, and assist those already in a gang in getting out.  The youth and their family are connected with the Gang of One Resource network that provides the tools necessary to ensure the youth's success.  
 
Gang of One Objective
 
The Gang of One Resource Network plays a vital role in the lives of these youth, by helping to cultivate their life, social, and critical thinking skills.  The Gang of One objective is to connect the youth at risk and their family with the Gang of One Resource Network, which will offer tools necessary to ensure the youth's success.  The Gang of One Resource Network plays a vital role in the lives of these youth by helping to cuiltivate their life, social and critical thinking skills.
 
 Gang of One Hotline Process
 

The program utilizes a hotline, (828) 328-GANG that is staffed 24 hours a day/365 days a year.   The hotline offers a discreet venue for individuals and their family to seek assistance, while maintaining a certain level of autonomy.  The caring professional individuals staffing the hotline will gather the necessary information that is forwarded to the Gang of One Coordinator.  Once the information is reviewed, an investigator from the Street Crimes Interdiction Unit meets with the youth and related parties, in an inconspicuous location, to ascertain the needs of the youth.  Following the initial meeting, an intervention plan is designed to meet the specific needs of the individual.  The agencies in the Gang of One Resource Network, which meet the criteria of the intervention plan, is contacted, and a final meeting is held with the youth and related parties to present the information.

 

Through Gang of One, the Street Crimes Interdiction Unit also serves as a community knowledge base, to assist our citizens, teachers, business leaders, etc. in better understanding the gang influences on our quality of life. 

 

This project was supported by Award # 018-1-07-001-BN-360 awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, through the N.C. Department of Crime Control & Public Safety/Governor's Crime Commission.

 

To contact the Street Crimes Interdiction Unit, call (828) 324-2060.



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