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The Weed and Seed Strategy
Weed and Seed is a community-based program that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country. Weed and Seed sites range in population from 10,000 to 50,000 people.
The strategy involves a two-pronged approach. First, law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area as part of the program. Second, "seeding" brings a variety of human services to the area encompassing crime prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization. A community-oriented policing component bridges the weeding and seeding aspects of the program. Officers obtain helpful information from area residents for weeding efforts while they aid residents in obtaining information about community revitalization and seeding resources.
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The Role of the
United States Attorney
At each site, the United States Attorney plays a central role in organizing the Steering Committee and bringing together the communities with the other Weed and Seed participants. The United States Attorney also facilitates coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement efforts. Through cooperation, sites can effectively use federal law in weeding strategies and mobilize resources for seeding programs from a variety of federal agencies.
Since the Weed and Seed program began in 1993, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York has been a leader in establishing Weed and Seed sites throughout the district. Currently, Weed and Seed sites exist in East New York (Brooklyn), Far Rockaway (Queens), Uniondale/Roosevelt (Nassau County), and Wyandanch (Suffolk County). Former Weed and Seed sites include Hempstead, New Cassel, and Roosevelt in Nassau County and North Amityville, Huntington Station, and North Bellport in Suffolk County.
If you are interested in obtaining more information about our office's Weed and Seed program, please contact Richard Capobianco, phone # 631-715-7877 Richard.Capobianco@usdoj.gov
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Highlights of
the EDNY's Weed and Seed Program
Our New York City-based Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) program is in its tenth year of operation, serving at-risk youth from the NYC Weed and Seed sites, in partnership with the New York City Police Department and members of the United States Navy, United States Marines and New York National Guard. The program consists of a two-week summer camp geared toward anti-drug and anti- gang education, goal-setting and development of self-esteem, as well as a year-round mentoring program for children while they are at home and attending school. Over 700 children from Brooklyn and Queens have graduated from the NYC DEFY program.
As for the "weeding" part of our program, federal agencies and local law enforcement partners have succeeded in dismantling several violent drug gangs that operated in the Weed and Seed sites in our district. Numerous gang members and others who were responsible for drug trafficking, homicides and non-lethal shootings have been arrested and prosecuted, thus liberating communities to use their housing developments and streets without fear of crime or violence. Our Weed and Seed sites have experienced significant reductions in crime as a result of strategic law enforcement initiatives. In addition, local law enforcement officials also have established and operated Neighborhood Watch and job-placement programs for local residents in Weed and Seed communities.
Our "seeding" accomplishments have been equally significant and varied. Weed and Seed-funded programs in our district include after-school programs, computer centers, performing arts and sports programs, youth entrepreneurship, job training and placement programs designed to teach youths and ex-offenders the skills necessary to become productive members of our communities. In addition to these efforts, our Weed and Seed program has worked with local site steering committees to enable them to procure financial assistance from other government agencies and private foundations. Re-entry of ex-offenders from incarceration back into the community is an important issue to many of our Weed and Seed sites and they are aggressively pursing solutions. Through collaboratives with social service providers, law enforcement agencies, housing organizations, and other entities our Weed and Seed sites are leading the way in developing successful and meaningful strategies to help these individuals get a second chance and become productive members of society.
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The Community Capacity Development Office
The Weed and Seed program is administered by the Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO) Office of Justice Programs at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. The CCDO Director, Dennis E. Greenhouse, and his staff oversee more than 300 Weed and Seed sites throughout the United States. CCDO can be contacted at (202) 616-1152 or for more information visit the website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo/
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