Weed and Seed Seeks to Rid Community of Violent Crime

Weed and Seed is a program of the U.S. Department of Justice. It is a multi-pronged approach to violent crime, drug problems, and rrevitalization in neighborhoods or communities ranging from 3,000 to 50,000 persons. There are more than 250 Weed and Seed sites currently in operation.

The U.S. Attorney's office having jurisdiction over the neighborhood organizes the program. A steering committee of appropriate officials and leaders coordinates various levels of law enforcement, private social service organizations, and neighborhood interests. The nearest Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) office is actively involved, as well as the local police department. As part of their organizing responsibility, the U.S. Attorney’s office will be quite motivated to pursue prosecutions aggressively.

The law enforcement agencies aim at using community policing strategies, in which community members are actively engaged as an intelligence source.

Programs also address reentry of offenders after they have been released from prison. A return to a life of crime is so common in this population that it's really important to locate these folks and work with them to assure that other ways of behaving and making money are learned.

The program does include a maximum of a $1 million grant. A 25% local match is required, and "in-kind" contributions count toward the match. A "local match" simply means that before a grant can be awarded, the local community must determine eligible organizations that will contribute cash or "in-kind" services for which a cash value can be assigned. An example of an “in-kind” service is providing office space or a free service that the program otherwise would need to spend cash to receive. Neighborhoods wishing to participate in the program need to apply through their local U.S. Attorney's office.

Some Observations about This Community Drug Program

Getting the attention of the federal prosecutor and federal drug agents is incredibly valuable in addressing a tough drug problem with tough measures. So I think if your U.S. Attorney’s office can get you into the program, you should jump at the chance. Here's the link to the home page for the Weed and Seed program.

A real advantage is that Weed and Seed has a "brand" with "brand name recognition," meaning it's known both to criminals and to potential social service agencies and investors. It says to criminals, stay out of here, the U.S. Attorney has his or her ego invested in cleaning up this neighborhood. It says beware, the DEA is here. It also says that chances are pretty good that the intensive program has convinced residents that it is relatively safe and socially correct for them to be a snitch. That alone is a benefit to you.

If law enforcement types dominate the program, they may not make the right decisions about the "seeding" aspect. So be sure that you have strong and knowledgeable people on your steering committee to increase the likelihood that you will actually seed some good things, and not just cause criminals to relocate to another nearby area.

One of the real positives of this approach is the identification of individuals who need drug treatment and the potential to work with drug users, addicts, and ex-offenders on the intensive basis that is required to have them both rehabilitated and then accepted back into society. It's one thing for an ex-offender to want to go straight, and quite another for a potential employer to take a chance on this individual.

So if your neighborhood enters this program, spend your resources wisely. Good treatment is expensive, so don't go crazy on a fancy office or a too-well-paid director. Concentrate your efforts on motivating the good people to cooperate with the program and on providing the intensive social services needed to get criminals and drug addicts onto a different path.

Keys to Success with Weed and Seed

For this program to be successful in the long-run, there must be local community buy-in.

It's vital that a number of non-profit partners be attracted to the program during its early phases. Faith-based communities are natural allies, as are any social services agencies also active in the area. If you're in a metropolitan area, attempt to interest local foundations with the idea that the intervention and treatment aspects of the program will benefit a wider area than simply your neighborhood.

The federal grant covers a five-year period, so within that five years, the program needs to organize its allies carefully, generate private sector partners, cultivate potential donors, and show results in a fashion that will attract potential donors. To its credit, the program does talk about sustainability of the effort, so give due attention to the wisdom that program employees have developed.

Of course, it's also wise to plan strategies so that the program needs much less money in the future years. Some communities have accomplished this goal by determining on the basis of their initial five-year experience what works and what doesn't in their particular situation. Then it's possible to concentrate on the single highest-payoff activity.

A second five-year grant for the same geographic area isn't allowed, so use your money wisely. After five years a neighborhood "graduates," and while it is supposed to receive some extra support from law enforcement, there are varying degrees of success with making ongoing progress.

As people who have worked in the urban issues business know, criminals often simply move around seeking the most vulnerable communities. So design a durable and flexible program, adjusting frequently as you need to respond to new conditions.

Resources for Revitalization

Since this is a community development website, let's point you toward the pages that might be very relevant and helpful for a Weed and Seed Community. Here are the top seven:

Community mental health. Typically I haven't seen the Weed and Seed programs go far enough in supporting general mental health, which is the true prevention for drug use. To be excellent with your Weed and Seed program, you should attempt to attract mental health professionals who can help heal some of the brokenness. Long-term success means helping the children who've seen all this nonsense in their neighborhoods become hopeful and grounded adults.

Redevelopment. In most cases a Weed and Seed community will need to attract physical development or redevelopment.

Community poverty. Since the spikes in criminal activity always coincide with downturns in the economy, it's easy to demonstrate a connection between poverty and crime.

Neighborhood associations. This page explains how to start a neighborhood association and to some extent, how to grow it and keep it successful. Although the Weed and Seed steering committee is a type of neighborhood association, it doesn't necessarily include the grassroots folks. During the Weed and Seed program, take advantage of the pause in criminal activity and general dysfunction to grow or strengthen an ordinary neighborhood association, which can accomplish extraordinary feats.

Microloans. The U.S. Small Business Administration administers a microloan program for business start-up. As part of the revitalization effort, it's possible to cultivate potential entrepreneurs who live right in the neighborhood. The microloan is small in amount, but can allow at least one person the opportunity to make an honest living. It's highly recommended that you become aware of this program.

Abandoned buildings. Vacant buildings and lots are hangouts for many types of counterproductive behavior, and we think filling them should be part of the "seeding" effort.

Homelessness. This can be another area to attack in a Weed and Seed neighborhood. This isn't to imply that homeless people are criminals or drug users, but failure to deal with the homeless population can make them either targets or perpetrators if they become desperate.

In general, learn all you can about successful community building, and if you click around on this site, or check the Sitemap, you'll find many resources relevant to your situation.

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