Gang Awareness

Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force
Through the support of the Honorable Frank R. Wolf of Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, the Congress of the United States has funded the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force as part of the Department of Justice Appropriations Bill since July 2003.

The Gang Task Force was established as a multi-jurisdictional partnership comprised of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to address gang activity in Northern Virginia through dedicated officers and resources, thereby making the region inhospitable to gang activity. The Manassas Park Police Department is represented on this taskforce with one investigator who operates specifically on gang related activities that develop within the City, as well as investigations to reduce activities within the jurisdictions of the task force.

The goals of the Gang Task Force were built upon three component strategies: enforcement, prevention/education, and intervention. The result is a coordinated law enforcement and public information effort to combat gang activity.

CALL 703-GET-HELP
The Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force
Resource Information Line

To confidentially report gang activity to law enforcement staff of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, please call 1-866-NO-GANGS.

Prince William Area Gang Response Intervention Team (G.R.I.T.)

Serving Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park

Gangs continue to be of concern in the Prince William Area and are being addressed through a well-coordinated and comprehensive regional strategy of enforcement, education, prevention and intervention. The Gang Response Intervention Team (G.R.I.T.) is a dedicated group of concerned public and private citizens who want to bring a coordinated response to this challenging issue. The G.R.I.T. coordinator is available to answer questions concerning gangs or to help guide you to the resources you might need to help address a gang issue.

Mission

The mission of the Prince William Gang Response Intervention Team is to bring together key public officials and community leaders from Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas and Manassas Park (the Prince William Area) who can advise on and promote the coordination of, and encourage a collaborative community-based response to, the region’s gang prevention efforts.

Goal

Prevent children, youth and young adults from gang involvement and assist gang-involved youth and young adults at-risk of gang involvement to leave the gang lifestyle.

Objectives

Promote and support information sharing among all agencies and groups that have a stake in serving gang involved young people and those who are at risk of gang involvement, and their families.
Educate and involve the community in a collective response to gang prevention and intervention, by raising awareness of gang issues and the availability of resources and possibilities for addressing those issues.

Develop shared strategies for a collaborated and coordinated response to gang involvement.
Assess gang involvement and its relationship to existing resources and prevention/intervention efforts, and develop strategies to prioritize and redirect resources.

Identify additional funding opportunities to provide resources for G.R.I.T.
Coordinate local gang prevention/intervention efforts with those of the Northern Virginia region.

Strategies

Cooperate in a comprehensive regional assessment of gang activity and prevention/intervention/suppression efforts in the Northern Virginia region and the Prince William Area. Develop a gang prevention/intervention strategic plan for the Prince William area based upon the regional assessment.
Identify gaps in service and promote development of needed resources, or recommend the realignment of existing resources, to address those gaps.

Monitor gang activity in the Prince William Area in general, as well as the impact of that activity on the community.
Participate in gang prevention activities at the local, regional and state levels and ensure that the Prince William Area’s efforts are coordinated with those efforts.
Provide information and outreach to parents and adults working with children and youth concerning gang issues and gang prevention.

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