Course Description

The Office of the Secretary of Public Safety, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce a half day training session for law enforcement officers seeking a basic understanding of criminal street gangs. Street gangs and their frequent criminal behavior have had, and continue to have, an adverse impact on communities throughout the Commonwealth. This train the trainer course is designed to provide participants with tools to provide elementary understanding of criminal street gangs and their impact in the Commonwealth to their fellow officers.

Who should Attend

This curriculum is a basic gang awareness training suitable for use primarily with new law enforcement officers and other criminal justice professionals including probation and parole officers, juvenile probation officers, individuals working in adult and juvenile correctional facilities, delinquency prevention programs, and individuals working with youth, including educators, and social workers.

Topics to be addressed:

This course will provide basic information needed to understand criminal street gangs including:

• The social dynamics that contribute to gang formation, historically and today.
• The multiple impacts of gangs on communities.
• The general categories and structures of gangs and how they operate.
• Recent trends in gang presence in Virginia.
• The legal definition of gangs in Virginia and key gang-related laws and legal concepts.
• Key informational resources available to criminal justice professionals.
• The importance of identifying, and basic methods for documenting gang-related information.
• General approaches and specific strategies for personal safety when interacting with gang members.
• Awareness of media distortions and common myths about gangs.
• The importance of understanding the gang scene in your own and surrounding communities.
• Why youth join gangs and factors that contribute to association with gangs.
• Key elements of a comprehensive approach to gang prevention and intervention and examples of each.
• Key steps and resources for community action to prevent and intervene with gangs.

Length of Training

One day (6 hours). Check in will begin at 8:00 AM. Class time will be 8:30 AM until 2:30 PM.

Registration

DCJS is not currently accepting applications for this course.

Cost

There is no registration fee for this course. Participants are responsible for transportation, lodging, and meal expenses.

Questions

For questions about this training, please contact:

Jessica Smith - 804.786.5367
jessica.smith@dcjs.virginia.gov

Kathi Lee - 804.786.4303
kathi.lee@dcjs.virginia.gov

Shellie MacKenzie - 804.225.1863
shellie.macKenzie@dcjs.virginia.gov

Kathi Lee - 804.786.4303
kathleen.lee@dcjs.virginia.gov

Donna Michaelis - 804.371.6506
donna.michaelis@dcjs.virginia.gov