About Us

The United States Department of Justice launched Operation Weed & Seed in 1991 as
a comprehensive, coordinated effort to “weed out” violent offenders through intensive law enforcement and prosecution and to “seed in” the neighborhood with prevention, intervention, treatment and revitalization services. Operation Weed & Seed is administered by the Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO), Office of
Justice Programs.

Approximately $1.1 million was provided to each of the 19 sites selected for the 18-month demonstration period during the early 1990’s. Today, there are more than 300 Weed & Seed sites across the nation.

The City of Salinas first applied to the United States Department of Justice Weed and Seed Initiative in December of 1997. The City of Salinas received official recognition in 1998 for Census Tract 07 until 2003. The City of Salinas re-applied in 2004 for Census Tract 05 (Area II) and was officially recognized in 2005. The Salinas Weed & Seed in Census Tract 05 runs until 2010.

History

In the mid-1990s the City of Salinas – in collaboration with local residents, community-based organizations and other governmental agencies – started a Community Policing Pilot Project covering several blocks in Census Tract 07. By 1995, a core group called the Steering Committee was formed and was actively directing the evolution and implementation of this Pilot Project. In December 1997, the City of Salinas along with the Steering Committee applied to the United States Department of Justice Operation Weed & Seed Initiative. In 1998, this group began to meet formally as the Weed & Seed Steering Committee when the City of Salinas was officially recognized as a Weed & Seed community.

The Salinas Weed & Seed Initiative in Census Tract 07 received funding until 2003. The community in Census Tract 07 has sustained the momentum created by the initiative. For this reason, the Steering Committee decided to expand its focus to encompass implementation of the Weed & Seed strategy in Census Tract 05 (Weed & Seed Area II). In August 2004, the City of Salinas and the Steering Committee applied to the Department of Justice Operation Weed & Seed. In 2005, the City of Salinas was once again officially recognized as a Weed & Seed community. Membership was broadened to include additional residents of Area II, as well as representatives of businesses and the Public School District that serve that area.

Strategy

• Law Enforcement (‘Weed’ component)
• Community Policing (‘Weed’ component)
• Prevention, intervention, and treatment (‘Seed’ component)
• Neighborhood restoration (‘Seed’ component)

Goals

• “Weed” - To eliminate violent crime, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime from targeted high crime neighborhoods.
• “Seed” - To provide a safe environment, free of crime and drug use for law-abiding citizens to live, work, and raise families.

Weed Activity Goals:

• Reduce gang membership
• Reduce violent youth crime
• Empower residents to take ownership and participate in crime prevention activities.

Seed Activity Goals:

• Safe Haven Site: Hebbron Family Center-north wing. Build self-esteem, self-reliance, provide choices, enhance life skills, have fun.
• Community Linkages: Build partnerships, Empower community, Bring in outside agencies.
• Code Enforcement: Remove blight, abandoned vehicles, community clean-ups, health and safety, substandard housing, overcrowding.