Growing against gangs and violence: Findings from a process and outcome evaluation.

Abstract

The present study assesses program efficacy of Growing Against Gangs and Violence (GAGV), a primary prevention partnership with the U.K. Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), delivered in London schools with the aim of reducing gang involvement, delinquency, and violent offending and improving young people's confidence in police. GAGV is partially derived from an American program, Gangs Resistance Education and Training (GREAT). Method: A qualitative process evaluation and randomized control trial (RCT) outcomes study were undertaken. Results: Findings indicate GAGV personnel were keen to enhance program fidelity and process implementation. The RCT did not demonstrate a statistically significant program effect. However, effect sizes (ESs) indicate the program was effective in reducing levels of gang membership and the frequency and variety of delinquency and violence in the short-and longer term. More robust evidence indicated GAGV also improved students' attitudes toward police and reduced their adherence toward street code. Conclusions: The use of cohort-(not individual-) level data and missing data in the 1-year follow-up make it difficult to draw reliable and robust conclusions. However, results are encouraging. Several recommendations are suggested for GAGV, including curriculum design, regular evaluations, and expanding to include more schools. Limitations of this and similar evaluations also are discussed.

Putting the ‘Street’ in Gang: Place and Space in the Organization of Scotland’s Drug-Selling Gangs

“…Moreover, the way in which policies for tackling gangs and drug markets are conceptualized and applied needs to take cognizance of the nature and impact of gang activity in local settings. Thus, a local neighbourhood dominated by the presence of YSGs may require interventions designed to tackle ACEs combined with programmes focused on challenging young men's perspectives on the gravitas associated with street capital (Densley et al 2017). Conversely, in areas where YCGs have begun to emerge the focus may be more on the need for preventing their evolution from expressive to instrumental violence and from an overarching focus on trading growing into enterprise and governance (Densley 2014).…”

Street Gang Intervention: Review and Good Lives Extension

“…Outcomes from an RCT found recipients of the GAGV program had 2.72% lower odds of joining a street gang than non-recipients, at a one-year follow-up. However, this did not reach the criteria to be considered statistically significant, meaning findings should be interpreted with caution (Densley et al 2016). Critically, this may be due to poor retention and attrition rates at the one-year follow-up.…”

A Process Evaluation of a Youth-Led Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative

“…This article presents a process evaluation of Youth VIP , an innovative youth-led SV prevention initiative. Process evaluation is a key component of creating effective community programming to prevent negative behaviors and experiences among youth (e.g., Densley et al, 2017; Durlak & DuPre, 2008; Ybarra et al, 2014). Process evaluation was particularly important for the current project as there have been no youth-led SV prevention initiatives evaluated to date, and thus, there is much to learn in this growing area of research and practice.…”

“…The evaluation of program implementation—process evaluation—is a key part of understanding prevention initiatives that should occur alongside outcome evaluation (e.g., Densley et al, 2017; Ybarra et al, 2014). Process evaluation may be particularly important for effectiveness trials, where implementation is not as highly controlled as with randomized controlled efficacy trials (Spoth et al, 2013).…”