The National Gang Center (NGC) is a project jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The NGC program works to further the mission of DOJ by providing an array of information and resources on gangs for state, local, and tribal jurisdictions. NGC’s national leadership serves researchers, policymakers, direct service providers, criminal justice practitioners, and other community members through peer-to-peer information exchange and mentoring, training, and on- and off-site technical assistance. NGC activities contribute to reductions in gang-related crime and violence and gang activity by juveniles and adults.
History of the NGC
In October 2009, the National Youth Gang Center, which had been funded by OJJDP since 1995, merged with the National Gang Center (NGC), which had been funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance since 2003. This unification signified a recognition that street gang activities transcend ages of the members and that a balanced, comprehensive approach is needed to reduce gang involvement and levels of gang crime. Consolidation of the centers has leveraged resources and resulted in a single, more efficient entity, responsive to the needs of researchers, practitioners, and the public.
