Professor Joseph Gustafson and Professor Gina Curcio, both of the criminal justice department, secured the Shannon Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Grant for SSU for the fifth consecutive year, resulting in a grant amount of about $200,000 over a five-year period. Shannon CSI is a state-funded anti-gang initiative that operates in several cities across the Commonwealth, and SSU partners with Springfield, Massachusetts.
Dr. Curcio and Dr. Gustafson are members of the Local Action Research Partner (LARP) team for Springfield, providing research and technical assistance to a series of community-based “Shannon partners.” The Springfield partnership is a collaborative of local agencies that offer diverse programming aimed at reducing youth gang involvement and violence. Partner agencies range from the Springfield Police Department to non-profit and faith-based organizations within the city, such as the Springfield Boys and Girls Club and the Greater New Life Christian Center.
Dr. Curcio and Dr. Gustafson’s work involves assisting each of the Shannon partners with identification of effective strategies that reflect the Comprehensive Gang Model, measurement of program outcomes, and adherence to state mandated reporting requirements. Over the past few grant cycles, they completed a comprehensive study of gang crime in the Springfield area and helped develop and implement an individual risk assessment instrument that directs youth to the most appropriate programs and services based on their needs.