State’s Attorney Glasgow’s gang prevention book now available on-line
April 24
JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow announced on Monday that he has placed his popular gang prevention book on-line to make it easily accessible for parents and educators to read and download.
“Gangs: Awareness, Prevention, Intervention,” a 40-page, full-color book, can now be read on the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office Web site at www.willcountysao.com. Click on the “Gangs: Awareness, Prevention, Intervention” icon at the bottom of the menu.
Printed copies of the book also remain available free-of-charge to local educators, community organizers and concerned parents who want to learn more about gang activity in their neighborhoods. Single copies or larger orders are available by calling the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office at (815) 723-1630.
“Gangs: Awareness, Prevention, Intervention,” which State’s Attorney Glasgow published in 2007, is an educational book that provides details about the tattoos, clothing, graffiti and hand signals that identify the main gangs operating in Will County. More importantly, the book discusses the means by which street gangs recruit members, and it outlines strategies and services aimed at steering at-risk teen-agers away from gang influences.
“Making my gang prevention book available on-line places critical information in the hands of as many parents, teachers, counselors and school administrators as possible,” Glasgow said. “With this valuable tool at their fingertips, educators can be alert to signs of gang activity and help keep our schools, our community and our children safe.”
Gang prevention books have been an important component of Glasgow’s administration for 15 years. The state’s attorney first published several black-and-white editions of the book in the 1990s. “Gangs: Awareness, Prevention, Intervention” took the 1990s books to the next level.
The gang prevention book is an eye-catching, full-color book that will appeal to parents and teachers. All of the information is presented in short, easy-to-read chapters that are illustrated through original art as well as high-quality photographs provided by local police departments. With input from gang experts in local law enforcement, the new prevention book also includes short, real-life stories about gang cases that have been investigated and prosecuted in Will County.
The state’s attorney developed the book in cooperation with the Joliet Township High School District’s YESS! Initiative. Funding for the initial printing was provided through a federal Safe Schools, Healthy Students grant awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
To fund additional printing costs, the state’s attorney used money seized from criminals engaged in narcotics or money laundering. No taxpayer funding was used to print the book.
To date, 16,000 copies of the book have been distributed to more than a dozen Will County school districts. A Spanish-language version of the book also is in the works will be available this spring.