By: Rosetta Key
The Ocean County Prosecutors Office is methodically going about its gang prevention efforts and have recruited the assistance of Georgian Court University students.
Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford says G.C.U. students are participating in a research project aimed at identifying the resources already in place in Ocean County's 33 communities designed to thwart gang attraction and recruitment activities.
The University says the research, which began on February 18th, is being conducted by faculty and students in the sociology, anthropology, criminal justice and social work departments.
Prosecutor Lynch Ford says, "what we intend to do with that information is then report it back to the community and to try and identify successful programs that are worthy of having funding and resources directed to them."
She adds "there might well be a program out there that's struggling and if we can try and identify that program as a successful program then we would like to also lobby to make sure they get resources so that they can survive."
According to a University press release, 82 surveys were completed by school officials. These results, along with survey results from athletic leaders, social service providers, criminal justice agencies and other individuals from the municipalities, will be presented at a gang prevention conference being held at G.C.U on Friday May 1st.
Lynch Ford says the study will also help identify the programs that aren't working very well and will examine the reasons for their success or failures.
The conference is being sponsored by the OceanFirst Foundation and is open to the public. Reservations are required. Register online at www.georgian.edu/advancement/initiative.htm or call Maja Meighan at 732-987-2105 or Ross Basen at 732-987-2280.
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