Summary
The topics of this report are: the youth gang situation in Ottawa; the insight gathered from key informant interviewees regarding how to address the gang situation in the city; as well as perceived gaps in service delivery in the region. Notable findings include: the lack of consensus on the scope and dimension of the youth gang issue; gang activity is centred around key communities inside the Greenbelt which have been identified as being at risk; the principal reasons for gang membership; that after school programs, mentorship, primary prevention programmes and life skills development would be most effective in preventing youth gang activity; the biggest gaps in service delivery occurred in awareness programs, youth outreach programs and quality community housing programs. Also discussed is the capacity of the Ottawa Police SRO program.