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What's Being Done?

Federal, state and local governments are starting to recognize the threat that gangs pose to the stability of the U.S., ranging from basic crime increases to possible links with terrorist groups including Al-Qaida. As such, the country has moved to counter the threat with new programs and legislation.

Federal:

Due to a recent rumor that MS-13 was linked to Al-Qaida (a rumor later believed to be false), President Bush decided that America had to take notice to the growing gang threat.

- In the past two years, Congress has approved $48.6 million in anti-gang initiatives, including new funds for law enforcement in Va. and a national gang intelligence center to be run by the FBI.

- The 2005 annual Justice Department spending bill has designated $10 million in funding for the gang center.

- More than 100 alleged members of MS-13 were arrested in a nationwide sweep known as Operation Community Shield in March 2005, including 25 from the Washington-metro area.

- The government is currently discussing stationing Salvadoran officers in the U.S. to serve as advisers on MS-13.

State:

In May 2003, Virginia Attorney General Jerry Kilgore created the Attorney General’s Anti-Gang Task Force which produced the following legislation to strengthen Va.’s anti-gang laws:

- Class 1 misdemeanor for a person of any age to recruit a person into a criminal street gang (previously Class 6 felony for adults only)

- Class 6 felony for forcing a person to become a gang member through the use or threat of force against that person or another person

- A third or subsequent gang conviction within 10 years is a Class 3 felony (five to 20 years in prison)

- Gangs are subject to the asset forfeiture and seizure laws

- Virginia RICO Act: violation of which is punishable as a felony with confinement of five to 40 years and a fine of up to $1 million.

- Illegal money transmission is a Class 6 felony

- Law enforcement officials can detain certain illegal aliens for up to 72 hours or until they have been taken into custody by federal agents

The Office of the Attorney General has incorporated gang awareness, gang recognition, and the legal ramifications of gang-related offense into the “Class Action” crime prevention and education program in schools.

Kilgore secured a three-year $2.5 million grant from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to coordinate programs and fight gang violence in Richmond. Kilgore also worked with Congressman Frank Wolf (R-Va. 10th District) to help secure $600,000 for Va. to fight gang activity in the federal omnibus spending bill conference report.

Finally, in 2004 Va. legislators passed a law that included a list of weapons that cannot be concealed, including guns, bowie knives, switchblades and machetes in an attempt to cut down on further violence.

Local:

In June 2005 the Northern Va. Regional Gang Task Force will be 2-years-old and will have made over 270 arrests. The force has held over 132 local training sessions and has met with over 5,000 people according to Chief Summers, a member of the force.

“The Northern Va. effort has been one of the most successful in the U.S.,” said Summers, adding that the region has placed a lot of resources into combating gang issues.

Congressman Wolf is also the chairman of the congressional committee that oversees funding for the Department of Justice programs. He secured about $2 million for the Northern Va. Regional Gang Task Force in the department’s plan. The bill was passed by Congress in 2005 and awaits President Bush’s approval.

Leaders of the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force plan to use $500,000 to fund three anti-gang coordinators in the city of Alexandria, as well as Arlington and Prince William counties. Loudoun and Fairfax counties already have them.

“This gang issue came on quickly,” said Loudoun County sheriff’s investigator Scott Mastandrea. “We’re still playing catch up.”

Police have constructed a program to deal with future gang threats. “The main focus is suppression, prevention and intervention,” according to Summers.

Through suppression, authorities are trying to protect the public from violent and criminal gang activities. Prevention focuses on youth before they get involved in gangs to help steer them away from criminal involvement. Intervention focuses on helping young people get out and stay out of gangs.

The Loudoun County Gang Task Force recently kicked of the “Prevention and Intervention” stages of the program. There are four intelligence members who make up the Gang Intelligence Unit within the county. In addition, schools are now working together to identify gang members and students who are at risk.

Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) is taught to children in middle schools in Northern Va. Gang Response Intervention Teams (GRIT) have been set up, along with a 24-hour tip line that citizens can call to report any gang activity.

GRIT tip line: 1-866-No-Gangs

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