Gang exit strategy to focus on how to replace criminal income

Crime Prevention Ottawa has come up with a strategy to get young men out of gangs and into productive jobs, but the program will be able to only reach a small number of people each year.

After last year's record-breaking record number of shooting incidents, pressure is growing for a clampdown on gang activity.

Programs already exist to prevent youth from getting involved in gangs and to help them get out, but there aren't any resources for young adult gang members in the criminal justice system.

At city hall on Monday, Crime Prevention Ottawa released a gang exit strategy aimed at adults.

"The big and complicated piece for that young man is replacing the criminal income," said the agency's executive director, Nancy Worsfold.

"Gangs in Ottawa are very intimately involved in the drug trade and they are making money off of it. And so there need to be real, viable options for them to have hope for a decent life going forward."

Gang members earn much more than minimum wage, so training and education are key for an exit strategy program, Worsfold said.

Other initiatives in the proposed exit strategy program include assistance with mental health issues and addictions, and support to reconnect to healthy relationships, especially with family.

It's also important to help former gang members "re-imagine themselves" in a law-abiding way of life, Worsfold said.

The agency estimates it could reach about 30 young men per year.

The known gang population, police say, is nearly 500. That's about 55 gang members per 100,000 people living in Ottawa.

"Depending on whether we can get all 30 out or one out or two out; even if you're getting one member out of a gang, I think ... it's a success to that strategy," said Coun. Shad Qadri.

There is no current cost estimate for the program.

Crime Prevention Ottawa cautions that no one should expect instant results from the exit strategy.

Changing the lifestyle of gang members will take longer than weeks, and possibly months, Worsfold said.