Gang violence

Half of Chicago Homicides Linked to Gangs

August 11, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today applauded the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s decision to include Chicago - where half of all homicides are gang-related - in the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative, a move that the Senators requested in April. Through this initiative, $2 million will be made available for Chicago area law enforcement agencies to assist in developing plans to combat gang violence and implementing anti-gang strategies using three components of prevention, enforcement, and prisoner reentry.    » read more »

May 28, 2008 -- STOCKTON -- California Department of Justice special agents, in partnership with the Stockton Police Department, today arrested members of the violent Norteno street gang, which terrorized Stockton with drive-by shootings and crystal methamphetamine trafficking at the direction of the Nuestra Familia prison mafia.    » read more »

May 14, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - In response to a request from U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL), Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip today announced the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s intention to hold an anti-gang training program this summer in Chicago, Illinois as a component of the Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Chicago gang graffiti: Photo by Samuel A. Love (CC)

Additionally, in today's meeting, Durbin pressed Filip for a greater commitment from DOJ and reiterated his request for Chicago to be included in the Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative which would devote more federal resources to Chicago.    » read more »

Recent spike in violent crime warrants additional federal resources

April 28, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today asked for a meeting with Justice Department officials and Illinois Congressional Delegation members to discuss including the Chicago metropolitan area in the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s Comprehensive Anti-Gang Initiative - a program created in 2006 to enhance gang prevention, enforcement, and anti-recidivism efforts.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »

Two of six bills up in committees today

April 1, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that as the 2008 Legislative Session reaches its midpoint, all six bills supported by the Attorney General as his legislative priorities this year are making good progress in the Legislature. The bills cover a wide range of issues related to protecting the safety and security of Floridians, from enhancing the rights of victims of child pornography to providing additional protections against mortgage-related fraud.

Two of the Attorney General’s legislative priorities will be heard in committee today. They are:    » read more »

Sheriffs, police chiefs to partner with the state on gang prevention efforts

March 31, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Signaling her commitment to fighting gang activity, Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today signed the criminal street gang measure, House Bill 2712. In addition, the governor and Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) announced that community involvement in gang prevention and intervention program planning will be a required component of all grant applications for enforcement funds.

In expressing her appreciation to the law enforcement community and legislators for participating in a work group upon whose recommendations the bill was built, the governor said she wanted to do more.    » read more »

Federal funds are for local, “front-line” anti-crime and drug enforcement efforts

March 3, 2008 -- Calling the funding essential to the operation of state crime and drug enforcement efforts, the 56 Attorneys General from all jurisdictions of the United States today issued a letter calling on Congressional leaders to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.    » read more »

Provide Job Training for Troubled, At-Risk Youths

03/03/2008 -- As part of an overall strategy to combat gang violence, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the award of $9.2 million in competitive grants to cities and community-based organizations (CBOs) for gang prevention, intervention and enforcement; and $7.3 million in grants to provide job training and education programs targeting youth at risk of joining gangs or seeking to leave them.    » read more »

March 03, 2008 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- New Mexico Attorney General Gary King today joined attorneys general from all jurisdictions of the United States in asking Congress to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

Byrne-JAG is currently the only source of funding available to local and state law enforcement for multijurisdictional drug enforcement, including methamphetamine initiatives, and is a critical source of funds for drug courts, law enforcement collaboration, gang prevention, and prisoner reentry programs.    » read more »

March 3, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath on Monday joined all of the nation's attorneys general in sending a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.    » read more »

March 3, 2008 -- Calling the funding essential to the operation of state crime and drug enforcement efforts, Maine Attorney General Steve Rowe, joined by the 55 other Attorneys General from all jurisdictions of the United States today issued a letter calling on Congressional leaders to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (Byrne-JAG).    » read more »

March 03, 2008 -- Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway joined 55 other Attorneys General from all jurisdictions of the United States today in requesting that Congressional leaders restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program. The Byrne-JAG Grants provide essential funding for the operation of state crime and drug-enforcement efforts.    » read more »

Grant funds support essential criminal justice programs in Florida

March 3, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Calling the funding essential to the operation of state crime and drug enforcement efforts, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today joined 55 other Attorneys General from all jurisdictions of the United States as they collectively called on Congressional leaders to restore funding to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.    » read more »

January 30, 2007 -- Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster announced today that the Gang Prevention Study Committee, created by the General Assembly in the 2007 Criminal Gang Prevention Act, has completed its Initial Report and Findings. The report was submitted to the General Assembly today.

The entire report can be viewed online: http://www.scattorneygeneral.com/newsroom/pdf/2008/gangstudy.pdf    » read more »

January 23, 2008 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today joined Senate and House leaders to announce tough anti-gang legislation targeting Florida’s growing criminal gang problem. The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Jeff Atwater and Representative William Snyder, will help law enforcement and prosecutors combat gang activity by streamlining the definition of gang members, enhancing the ability for prosecutors to include previous criminal actions under RICO charges, and creating a “Gang Kingpin” statute.    » read more »