Gang violence

Sunshine State targets largest increase in gang activities nationwide

October 25, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL - Surrounded by state and local leaders, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced a collaborative effort initiated by his agency to develop a Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy. According to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, Florida experienced more growth in gang activity over a twenty-five year period than any other state in the nation. These statistics underscore the importance for the cooperative strategy.    » read more »

10/11/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today announced that he has signed legislation to fight gang violence in California. The package of bills will advance the Governor’s California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention (CalGRIP) Initiative. One proposal establishes the Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy; others are focused on education for youthful offenders, witness protection, anti-gang violence parenting classes and civil remedies that would allow a landlord to evict a gang offender.    » read more »

October 2, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced $1.5 million in grants for programs that seek to reduce urban youth violence in Connecticut.

“From Bridgeport and Norwalk to New Haven and New London, these grants will help thousands of young people across Connecticut,” Governor Rell said. “The funds will be a big boost to after school programs, recreational activities and educational offerings in our cities.    » read more »

September 21, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that a number of his major anti-gang initiatives were included in a new anti-gang measure, approved by the full Senate earlier today. The Gang Abatement and Prevention Act makes a number of gang activities a federal crime, while increasing penalties for existing crimes and increasing funding for prevention and intervention efforts.    » read more »

Legislation, which has broad, bipartisan support, authorizes more than $1 billion, including at least $411.5 million for prevention programs

September 21, 2007 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today approved comprehensive gang legislation sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would provide more than $1 billion in funding for successful gang prevention, intervention and suppression programs, as well as create tough federal penalties to deter and punish members of illegal street gangs.    » read more »

09/21/2007 -- As part of his California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program (CalGRIP), Governor Schwarzenegger today appointed two more members to the CalGRIP Advisory Committee: Angel Rios, Jr. and John Roberts.    » read more »

5 Charged with Murder Conspiracy in Indictment Targeting Gang in North Jersey

September 14, 2007 -- TRENTON – New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a state grand jury today returned an indictment charging 11 members of the violent Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods street gang, including the three top leaders of the set in New Jersey, as a result of an investigation led by the New Jersey State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice.    » read more »

5 Men Indicted in 2 Long Branch Murders

September 7, 2007, TRENTON – Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced that a state grand jury has returned three indictments charging 23 alleged members of the violent Sex Money Murder set of the Bloods street gang. Eighteen defendants were charged with first-degree racketeering, including two leaders in Trenton and the leader in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Five men were indicted on murder charges in two fatal shootings in Long Branch last year.    » read more »

09/04/2007 -- As a part of his California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program (CalGRIP), California Governor Schwarzenegger today appointed former U.S. Attorney Paul Seave as state director of gang and youth violence policy along with ten advisory team members to help build comprehensive, long-term strategies to fight gang violence. The Governor also released $2.8 million in discretionary Workforce Investment Act funds for local government to expand job training for at-risk and gang-involved youth and gang members.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (August 28, 2007) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that James Randolph Krenzer, 43, of Brooklyn, was sentenced in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court to six months in jail for illegal possession of a regulated firearm. Judge Phillip T. Caroom sentenced Krenzer to 30 months incarceration with all but six months suspended and five years probation, and ordered him to forfeit his guns. Krenzer, who had previously been convicted of second degree assault, is prohibited by Maryland and federal law from possessing firearms.    » read more »

08/24/2007 -- Statement from New York Yankees regarding gang-related New Era apparel:

The New York Yankees were completely unaware that caps with gang-related logos and colors had been manufactured with the New York Yankees logo on them. These caps were made under a licensing agreement between New Era and Major League Baseball and were not subject to the Yankees' approval nor shown to the New York Yankees at any point prior to their retail distribution.    » read more »

Major League Baseball Statement Regarding Gang-Related New Era Apparel

08/24/2007 -- Major League Baseball statement:
Yesterday, Major League Baseball was made aware of caps with gang-related symbols in the marketplace. We were not previously aware of the symbolism of the designs on the caps, which were made under a licensing agreement between Major League Baseball and New Era. We immediately contacted New Era, and are working together to pull all caps that included the symbols, regardless of team or color.    » read more »

Children Participating in ‘Badges for Baseball’ Program; Virginia First State to Implement Program; Brings Together Law Enforcement and At-Risk Youth

Aug. 21, 2007 -- Richmond - Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, clipboard in hand, stood in the parking lot of the Metro Richmond Boys & Girls Clubs today, calling out the names of Clubs from across Virginia and saying goodbye to the children heading to the Cal Ripken Academy in Aberdeen, Maryland as part of the “Badges for Baseball” program.    » read more »

Arrests, Searches Part of Ongoing Nationwide Initiative Targeting the “Outlaws”

August 15, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – Sixteen members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges including violent crime in aid of racketeering, illegal drug distribution and gun violations, the Department of Justice announced today.    » read more »

August 15, 2007 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today said that grants are now available for programs that seek to reduce urban youth violence in Connecticut. Grant applications are due September 12 and awards will be announced during the week of September 24.

“We expect that 15 to 30 projects will be funded in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 each,” Governor Rell said. “We want to get the word out to all of our cities and nonprofits that this is a great opportunity to gain extra funding for programs that reach out to young people between the ages of 12 and 18.    » read more »