Wynn Urges Participation in Preventing Gang Violence

Press Release

Wynn Urges Participation in Preventing Gang Violence

Today, Congressman Albert Wynn attended the second annual Metropolitan Regional School Safety and Security Conference at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. This years theme, "Gang Awareness and Prevention: a Youth Development Strategy" served as an education and training course for school personnel and school-based law- enforcement to recognize and combat gang activity in schools.

Topics of discussion included intervention and prevention strategies as well as an update on gang activity in the metro region. This conference comes after a series of violent gang assaults in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. Just last week there were at least six reported stabbings in Montgomery County, four of which occurred at a public shopping center in front of bystanders.

Wynn recently supported H.R. 1279, which imposes longer sentences for gang activity and provides funding for more federal prosecutors. Congressman Wynn was successful in adding language to the bill instructing the Department of Justice to organize a media campaign about the severe penalties associated with these serious crimes.

"One of the things that law enforcement must do is have better coordination among the different jurisdictions. Furthermore, every individual has a responsibility not to participate in these illegal activities and to report unlawful activities to the police as they are witnessed. As the new school year commences, it is important that parents and school officials are able to recognize gang activity and preempt escalation. I was pleased with the conference and I will continue to work with community leaders and parents to address this problem," says Wynn.

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