Weed and Seed (OJJDP Model Program Guide)

Office of Justice Programs, Innovation - Partnerships – Safer Neighborhoods

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Serving Children, Families and Communities

PREVENTION

IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS

INTERMEDIATE SANCTIONS

RESIDENTIAL

REENTRY

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Weed and Seed

Intervention:

The goals of Weed and Seed are to control violent crime, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime and provide a safe environment where residents can live, work, and raise their families. This strategy has three key components:

Weeding: Law enforcement efforts to remove violent offenders, drug dealers, and other criminals from the target area. This consists primarily of suppression activities such as enforcement, adjudication, prosecution, and supervision efforts designed to target, apprehend, and incapacitate.
Seeding: Human services and neighborhood revitalization efforts to prevent and deter further crime. The coordinated efforts of the private sector, the community, and law enforcement and social service agencies will help prevent crime from recurring. This can be accomplished by concentrating a broad array of human services on the target areas to create an environment where crime cannot thrive.
Community Policing: Proactive police–community engagement and problem-solving, with police personnel accountable for specified geographic locations, regarded as “the bridge between weeding and seeding.” Law enforcement works closely with community residents to develop solutions to violent and drug-related crime. Activities concentrate on increasing police visibility and developing cooperative relationships between the police and citizenry in the target areas through techniques such as foot patrols, problem-solving, victim referrals to support services, and community relations activities. A special emphasis is placed on addressing the needs of crime victims and minority communities that are disproportionately victimized by crime.

Evaluation Methodology:

The multisite evaluation involved an interrupted time series with a nonequivalent, no-treatment control group. The evaluation included eight sites and 10 target areas (two sites had two target areas): Akron, Ohio; Hartford, Conn.; Las Vegas, Nev. (Meadows Village and West Las Vegas); Manatee and Sarasota Counties, Fla. (North Manatee and South Manatee); Pittsburgh, Pa.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Seattle, Wash.; and Shreveport, La. The sites varied demographically, of course, but all had high crime rates related to drug trafficking and use, and most also had gang-related crime problems. The comparison group consisted of a nontarget area in each site. Data was collected from automated, incident-level records provided by the local police departments on crime and arrests. Crime trends were collected from 1 to 2 years before the implementation of Weed and Seed until 2 to 5 years afterward, depending on the site.

Researchers also collected data at each site through 1) individual interviews with key program administrators, senior law enforcement staff, managers of seeding organizations and activities, service providers (both current and former), and community leaders; 2) group interviews with seeding program participants; and 3) resident surveys in target areas, conducted in June 1995 and in December 1997.

Evaluation Outcome:

The evaluation compared the number of crimes (homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and auto theft) committed in the year prior to program implementation with those that occurred during the 2nd year of Weed and Seed. The results found that across the eight sites, crime patterns varied widely. Of the nine target areas with available data (a comparable estimate was not possible for the Akron target area owing to insufficient data), declined occurred in six: Hartford, North Manatee, Pittsburgh, Shreveport, Seattle, and West Las Vegas. During this same period, in seven target areas—Hartford, North Manatee, Pittsburgh, South Manatee, Shreveport, West Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City—crime rates either declined more or increased less than in the rest of the city or county.

The evaluation also showed that changes in the drug arrest rates appear to follow the same pattern as overall changes in the crime rate. For example, among those six target areas for which arrest data is available, the four with decreases in crime from the year prior to Weed and Seed through the 2nd year of implementation (Hartford, North Manatee, Pittsburgh, and Shreveport) all experienced initial high rates of drug arrests—suggesting an initial period of intense weeding activities—followed by declining drug arrest rates. Assuming the level of enforcement as measured by police presence has remained somewhat constant, this trend reflects success in reducing drug activity.

Finally, regarding the specific survey-reported pattern of residents’ perceptions of crime, public safety, and police performance, the target areas cluster into three groups:

1. North Manatee and Pittsburgh exhibited substantial evidence of changes in residents’ perceptions across multiple outcome measures, including the severity of crime and police effectiveness in controlling crime.
2. Akron, Hartford, and Seattle exhibited some evidence of changes in residents’ perceptions on selected crime dimensions—either drug-related crime (Akron and Seattle) or violent and gang-related crime (Hartford).
3. Salt Lake City, Shreveport, and West Las Vegas exhibited little evidence of changes in residents’ perceptions of general public safety or the severity of specific types of crime in the neighborhood.

Other Information:

References:

Dunworth, Terence, G. Mills, G. Cordner, and J. Greene. 1999. National Evaluation of Weed and Seed: Cross-Site Analysis. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.

Program Specification:

Current Rating:

Promising

Expected Date of Re-Review:

Summer 2013

Program Type:

Community and Problem-Oriented Policing

Community Awareness / Mobilization

Gender:

Both

Age:

5 - 35

Target Settings:

Rural

Suburban

Urban

Problem Behaviors:

Aggression/Violence

Alcohol,Tobacco and Other Drug Use

Delinquency

Gang Activity

Trauma Exposure

Risk & Protective Factors:

Risk

Community

Availability of alcohol and other drugs

Availability of firearms

Community crime / High crime neighborhood

Community instability

Economic deprivation / Poverty / Residence in a disadvantaged neighborhood

Low community attachment

Neighborhood youth in trouble

Social and physical disorder / Disorganized neighborhood

Protective

Community

High community expectations

Presence and involvement of caring, supportive adults in the community

Prosocial opportunities for participation / Availability of neighborhood resources

Rewards for prosocial community involvement

Safe environment / Low neighborhood crime

Additional Information:

Status:

Program is in operation at this time.

Contact Information:

Program Developer:
Nelson Hernandez, Director
Community Capacity Development Office
810 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20531
Phone: 2026161152
Email: Click Here
Website: Click Here

Training & TA Provider:
Geroma Void
Community Capacity Development Office
810 Seventh Street NW
Washington, DC 20531
Phone: 2023051790
Email: Click Here
Website: Click Here

Program Locations:
Heather Thomson
Brockton Weed and Seed
32 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301

Aaron Benke
Bronx (Castle Hill) Weed and Seed
1025 Morrison Avenue, B3
Bronx, NY 10472

Richard Guevara
Bronx (Mott Haven) Weed and Seed
555 Bergen Avenue
Bronx, NY 10455

Candace Sany
Brooklyn Weed and Seed
330 Hinsdale Street
Brooklyn, NY 11207

Tabatha Moore
Brown County, S.D., Weed and Seed
25 Market Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401

Elizebeth Limon–Garza
Brownsville (Cameron) Weed and Seed
35 Orange Street
Brownsville, TX 78521

Oswaldo Mestre
Buffalo (Westside) Weed and Seed
65 Niagara Square
Buffalo, NY 14202

Kenton Dick
Burns–Paiute Weed and Seed
100 Pasigo Street
Burns, OR 97720

Gail Wahl
Calais Weed and Seed
587 Main Street
Calais, ME 04619

Carol Dann
Camden (Parkside) Weed and Seed
2500 Broadway, Building P–3
Camden, NJ 08104

Bruce Vander–Sanden
Cedar Rapids Weed and Seed
951 29th Avenue SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

Coordinator
Charleston Weed and Seed
62 Brigade Street, Suite F
Charleston, SC 29403

Toni Tupponce
Charlotte Weed and Seed
600 E. Trade Street
Charlotte, NC 28202

Camila Bibbs
Chattanooga (MLK) Weed and Seed
730 East Martin Luther King Blvd.
Chattanooga, TN 37403

Pamela Winters–Colbert
Chattanooga (Westside) Weed and Seed
1200 Grove Street, Suite 207
Chattanooga, TN 37402

Arnold Cox
Chelsea Weed and Seed
500 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150

James Adams
Chicago (Northwest Austin) Weed and Seed
5730 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60651

Dolores Brown
Cincinnati Weed and Seed
6566 Montgomery Road, Suite 210
Cincinnati, OH 45213

Leona Gray
Gary (Horace Mann Area—nonprofit) Weed and Seed
975 West Sixth Avenue
Gary, IN 46402

Thomas Flynn
Bridgeport Weed and Seed
1395 Sylvan Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06606

Linda Miller
Albany (Southend) Weed and Seed
59 Elizabeth Street
Albany, NY 12202

Bonnie Vallo
Albuquerque (Eastside) Weed and Seed
306 San Pablo SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123

Dolores Herrera
Albuquerque (Westside/South Valley) Weed and Seed
306 San Pablo SE
Albuquerque, NM 87123

Yasmin Evering
Aldine (Harris County) Weed and Seed
9418 Jensen Drive, Suite 151
Houston, TX 77093

Phyllis Alexander
Allentown Weed and Seed
310 N. Second Street
Allentown, PA 18102

Bruce Bertolino
Alton Weed and Seed
915 E. Fifth Street
Alton, IL 62002

Tim Sullivan
Anchorage (Russian Jack/East) Weed and Seed
1251 Muldoon Road
Anchorage, AK 99504

Michael McGonagle
Androscoggin Weed and Seed
171 Park Street
Lewiston, ME 04240

Terrie Patterson
Athens–Clarke (Hancock Corridor) Weed and Seed
3035 Lexington Road
Athens, GA 30605

Karen Rodgers
Atlanta (Pittsburgh/Mechanicsville) Weed and Seed
55 Trinity Avenue SW, Suite 5858
Atlanta, GA 30303

Karen Rodgers
Atlanta (Vine City) Weed and Seed
68 Mitchell Street, Suite 3150
Atlanta, GA 30335

Perry Mays
Atlantic City Weed and Seed
6725 Delilah Road
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234

Michael Simmons
Augusta (Barton Village) Weed and Seed
3645 London Blvd.
Augusta, GA 30906

Dawn Barret
Aurora (Colfax Corridor) Weed and Seed
9898 E. Colfax Avenue
Aurora, CO 80010

Deborah Snow
Austin Weed and Seed
7500 Blessing Avenue
Austin, TX 78752

Derek Lindsey
Baltimore (HEBCAC) Weed and Seed
2107 E. Madison
Baltimore, MD 21205

Eric Clay
Baltimore (Project Garrison) Weed and Seed
3400 Garrison Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21215

Terry Smith
Baltimore (Washington Village) Weed and Seed
904 Washington Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21230

Eric Smith
Battle Creek Weed and Seed
140 W. Michigan Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49017

Brad McGowan
Beaumont (Charlton–Pollard) Weed and Seed
710 Lincoln Street
Beaumont, TX 77701

Brenda Oakes
Belle Glade (Palm Beach County) Weed and Seed
301 North Olive Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Donald Billingsley
Bristol Weed and Seed
100 Corell Drive, #500, Suite 102
Bristol, PA 19007

Jan Detrick
Bristol (Anderson Street) Weed and Seed
801 Anderson Street
Bristol, TN 37620

Charlie Williams
Birmingham Weed and Seed
300 Eighth Avenue, West
Birmingham, AL 35204

Ellen Frank
Boston (Grove Hall) Weed and Seed
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108

Richard Headen
Cincinnati (Lincoln Heights) Weed and Seed
711 Wyoming Avenue
Lockland, OH 45215

Kathleen Garrison
Cincinnati (Madisonville) Weed and Seed
5416 Ward Street
Cincinnati, OH 45227

Janet Skinner
Clearwater Weed and Seed
645 Pierce Street
Clearwater, FL 33756

Brian Kazy
Cleveland (Detroit Shoreway) Weed and Seed
6516 Detroit Avenue, Suite 1
Cleveland, OH 44102

Craig Tame
Cleveland (Central) Weed and Seed
601 Lakeside Avenue, Room 202
Cleveland, OH 44114

Dylan Hayes
Cleveland, Tenn., Weed and Seed
1075 Blythe Avenue SE
Cleveland, TN 37311

William Knowles
Collier City Weed and Seed
100 SW Third Street
Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Gary Daniels
Compton Weed and Seed
404 North Alameda Street
Compton, CA 90221

Hank Lawson
Dallas (South) Weed and Seed
2710 Jefferson Street
Dallas, TX 75211

Rev. Tommy Steward
Dayton (Northwest) Weed and Seed
1352 West Riverview Avenue
Dayton, OH 45402

Loriann Morris
Daytona Beach Weed and Seed
990 Orange Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Sharron L’Herron
Delray Beach Weed and Seed
625 Auburn Circle West
Delray Beach, FL 33444

Caleb Cooper
Des Moines Weed and Seed
1611 11th Street
Des Moines, IA 50314

Tamela Aikens
Detroit (Northwest) Weed and Seed
7800 W. Outer Drive, Suite SB–38
Detroit, MI 48235

Sabrina Taylor
Detroit (Ninth Precinct) Weed and Seed
13560 E. McNichols
Detroit, MI 48205

Soujourner Jones
Detroit (11th Precinct) Weed and Seed
4777 East Outer Drive, Suite 1115A
Detroit, MI 48234

Yvonne Gilyard
Durham Weed and Seed
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701

Everlean Merritt
East Point Weed and Seed
2727 East Point Street
East Point, GA 30344

Michele Martinez
Espanola Westside Weed and Seed
411 North Paseo de Onate
Espanola, NM 87532

Jim Savage
Euclid Weed and Seed
545 East 222nd Street
Euclid, OH 44123

Lorna Flormoe
Eugene Weed and Seed
870 Berntzen Road
Eugene, OR 97402

Lisa Rushing–McDowell
Dyersburg Weed and Seed
425 W. Market
Dyersburg, TN 38025

Linda Jones
Evansville Weed and Seed
619 N. Main Street
Evansville, IN 47711

Michele Stanton
Fall River Weed and Seed
888 Purchase Street, Fifth Floor
New Bedford, MA 02740

Michael Daly
Far Rockaway Weed and Seed
8911 Merrick Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11432

Coral Evans–Randall
Flagstaff Weed and Seed
2304 North Third Street
Flagstaff, AZ 86004

Janet Callico
Flint (North Central) Weed and Seed
2712 North Saginaw Street
Flint, MI 48505

Lorie Riggs
Flint (East Side) Weed and Seed
604 Plum Tree Lane
Flint, MI 48430

Timothy Waters
Florence Weed and Seed
1113 Oakland Avenue, Suite B
Florence, SC 29506

April Bodeman
Fort Meyers Weed and Seed
2210 Peck Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901

Mary Alice Bennett
Fort Pierce Weed and Seed
921 Orange Avenue
Fort Pierce, FL 34950

Ken Sheele
Fort Wayne Weed and Seed
201 West Superior Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Erin Lewis
Fort Worth (South East) Weed and Seed
906 E. Leuda Street
Fort Worth, TX 76104

Kathy Isakin
Fresno (Southeast Expansion) Weed and Seed
4949 E. Kings Canyon
Fresno, CA 93727

Allen Hodgkin
Fresno (Southwest) Weed and Seed
2436 Martin Luther King Blvd., Suite 212
Fresno, CA 93706

Paul Inscore
Fuquay–Varina, Weed and Seed
202 West Academy Street
Fuquay–Varina, NC 27526

Andy White
Grand Prairie (Daleworth) Weed and Seed
617 Royal Avenue
Grand Prarie, TX 75050

Karen Henry
Grand Rapids Weed and Seed
401 W. Fulton Street
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Lou Ann Brown
Grand Rapids (Central City) Weed and Seed
900 Fuller SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Margaret Simon
Galveston Weed and Seed
3904 Avenue T Annex
Galveston, TX 77550

Jo Ann J. Davis
Gastonia Weed and Seed
340 West Long Avenue, P.O. Box 2398
Gastonia, NC 28053

John Wintrow
Glendale (Orchard Glen) Weed and Seed
6835 North 57th Drive
Glendale, AZ 85301

Delores McLaughlin
Brevard County (Diamond Square) Weed and Seed
811 Temple Street
Cocoa, FL 32922

Minnie Rolark
Alchua County Weed and Seed
218 SE 24th Street
Gainesville, FL 32641