When a juvenile gang stormed a Boston church during the funeral of a rival gang member, local community leaders and law enforcement officials decided that it was time to cooperate with each other and make a change. Parole officers and police personnel aggressively patrol the streets as a team, to enforce probation and deter violence; streetwise mentors partner with at-risk youth, helping them to deal with the police, the courts, and life in general; and organizations like the Log School and the Community Academy provide education, day care, job training, and food. This program documents the remarkable effectiveness of these alliances, which for two years have helped to totally eliminate juvenile homicide in Boston. (58 minutes)
|