Elgin

The problem: In 1996, there were 415 gang-related crimes.

Solutions: Elgin police instituted a gang unit in the late 1980s, working closely with the Elgin Gang and Drug Task Force. God's Gym gives gang members an alternative to membership. The police trace seized guns to try to target the people who supply gangs with weapons.

The Resident Officer Program of Elgin, which has served as a model for cities from Austin, Texas to Springfield, provides officers with a home in the area they police, a squad car and a mountain bike for a five-year term. The officers set their own hours, depending on crime patterns or neighborhood meetings, and residents can come and talk to them at any time.

The result: Gang incidents dropped to 154 in 2000 and rose slightly to 232 in 2001. In every area with a resident officer, crime has decreased, and almost every neighborhood wants one.

Boston, MA

The problem: In 1990, 35 to 40 street gangs had more than 4,000 members in the city of 550,000. About 75 percent of homicides were gang-related.

Solutions: A broad-based coalition including police, schools, clergy and community groups banded together to battle gang violence. Operation Cease Fire aims to get guns out of young people's hands by educating them on federal consequences. Operation Night Light helps youths comply with the terms of their probations. A Strategic Planning and Community Mobilization Project led to increased cooperation between citizens and police. Another alliance between Boston police and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston provides children with an alternative to gangs.

The result: From 1986 to 1996 all crime had dropped 29 percent, while violent crime sank 16 percent and firearm homicides were down 90 percent in 1997 compared to 1990.

Rockford

The problem: In 1993, there were more than 300 shooting victims, including a police officer who was the victim of an attempted assassination. In 1996, 31 people were murdered.

Solutions: A joint operation with the DEA and FBI took out the core leadership of two major gangs. Rockford places police officers in schools, works closely with neighborhood organizations and those that work with at-risk youths.

The department works with the FBI, DEA, ATF, State's Attorney and U.S. Attorney to fight against gangs, drugs and guns. They trace gun purchases to find out if people with no criminal histories are purchasing guns for felons and then prosecute them.

The result: Crime dropped significantly in the late 1990s, but this year, there have been 19 homicides. The resurgence of violence there is partially attributed to the continuing popularity of crack cocaine and the first round of convicted felons coming back on the streets.

Chicago

The problem: About 25 percent of the city's roughly 700 yearly homicides are gang-related.

Solutions: The Anti-Gang Loitering Initiative allows officers to clear potential gang hot spots and send those who don't comply to jail for up to one year. The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy includes a monthly meeting on every beat where residents can bring problems and information to the police.

Every district in the city has a plain-clothes tactical gang team that keeps tabs on territory disputes, potential retaliations and drug traffic.

The results: Homicides have dropped from a high of 939 in 1992, although recent years have seen an increase. Most other crimes have dropped significantly.

Joliet

The problem: Ten of the 19 homicides in 1994 were gang-related and 1993 saw 124 drive-by shootings.

Solutions: The department is involved with gun-stopper programs, bike patrols, safe-school programs and neighborhood-oriented policing teams. There are also residency requirements for officers, and some have take-home squad cars to increase visibility. The entire department also operates under a community-policing philosophy.

Joliet scrapped a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation program because they found most gang crimes were drug related, and created an in-house undercover narcotics unit to combat that problem. An aggressive nuisance abatement program means that landlords can be held responsible for their tenants' behavior.

The results: Of the five homicides in Joliet last year, none were gang-related. The city has seen a sharp decrease in gang-related shootings as well, but officials are closely watching events in Aurora to see if the wave of violence spreads there.