Hatch, Feinstein Lead Bipartisan Coalition to Introduce Comprehensive Leigislation to Fight Gang Violence
HATCH, FEINSTEIN LEAD BIPARTISAN COALITION TO INTRODUCE COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION TO FIGHT GANG VIOLENCE
National Association of Police Organizations, National Sheriffs' Association, and International Association of Chiefs of Police Endorse Legislation
U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), and a bipartisan coalition of 14 additional Senators, today introduced comprehensive gang legislation. The legislation establishes new crimes and tougher federal penalties to deter and punish members of illegal street gangs and provides more than $1 billion in funding for gang enforcement, prevention and intervention programs over five years.
The legislation has garnered the endorsement of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), which represents 238,000 police officers from across the country, as well as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA).
In addition to Senators Feinstein and Hatch, the legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Arlen Specter (R-Penn.), Joseph Biden (D-Del.), Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Ken Salazar (D-Col.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
"For more than 10 years now, Senator Hatch and I have been trying to pass federal anti-gang legislation to provide the tools and resources our country needs to begin the task of reining in criminal street gangs," Senator Feinstein said. "Unfortunately, while Congress has failed to act, violent street gangs have expanded nationwide and become more empowered and entrenched in our communities."
"The FBI reports that violent crime is increasing at its highest rate in 15 years, and many experts attribute this to the increased gang presence in our cities, both large and small. The federal government cannot wait any longer to strengthen its own criminal laws and lend this much-needed hand of assistance to the local agencies battling gang violence."
Senator Hatch said, "Gangs have penetrated virtually every community in the country. Our state and local law enforcement need - and want - our help in giving them new ways to stop this scourge. Gangs don't just bring violence, though that's bad enough. They bring all the vices: drugs, prostitution, identity theft, you name it. But if we want to really be effective with addressing gang violence, we need to work across city and state lines. This bill helps us do just that."
In 1996, Senators Feinstein and Hatch introduced the Federal Gang Violence Act, which would have increased criminal penalties for gang members, made recruiting persons into a criminal street gang a crime, and enhanced penalties for transferring a gun to a minor.
Many of the provisions of that bill were incorporated into the 1999 Juvenile Justice bill, which was approved overwhelmingly (73-25) by the Senate in the 106th Congress. However, the Juvenile Justice bill stalled in Conference Committee, and these provisions were never signed into law.
Another comprehensive gang bill, introduced by Senators Feinstein and Hatch, was approved by the Judiciary Committee during the 108th Congress, but was never brought to the floor of the Senate for action.
In the 109th Congress, Senators Feinstein and Hatch joined eight Senate co-sponsors in introducing a revised gang bill, but the Senate took no final action on the bill.
The "Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007" would help those on the front lines by adopting new criminal laws and tougher penalties against those who commit gang-related crimes, authorize funding for investigations, prosecutions and witness protection programs, and invest in successful community programs to prevent young people from joining gangs in the first place.
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