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Rep. Ross named co-chair of
gang-related crime work group
Task force
meets in Spokane, explores options to fight gang crime
Members of the
Work Group on Gang-Related Crime have named
Rep. Charles Ross,
R-Naches, as co-chairman. Ross replaces Sen. Jim Clements, R-Selah, who
resigned from the group following his 14th District primary election
loss last month.
Meeting in Spokane Monday, the task force discussed various methods used
by law enforcement in other areas of the nation to address gang-related
crime.
"We’re hearing from many of our communities that gang violence is a
serious problem. This task force has the opportunity to make some
important recommendations to the Legislature in the hope that we can
begin some positive efforts to address gang-related activity,’ said
Ross. "We’re trying to approach this from all ends – to keep young kids
from becoming involved in gangs and we’re exploring how to address the
problem of older youth who are already entrenched in the gang
community."
Ross noted that the
Spokane County
Sheriff’s Department has identified more than 900 confirmed gang
members operating in the greater Spokane area. Sheriff’s officials say
gang leaders come to Spokane from out of state and recruit local youth
in a lucrative effort to sell crack cocaine, methamphetamine and other
drugs. Home invasion robberies, assault and even homicide are the result
of growing gang activities that involve drugs. The Spokane Gang
Enforcement Team (GET) was recently formed to address the growing
gang-crime problem in Spokane.
"I applaud their efforts because GET members are making a difference in
the community. However, we’re hearing from them and other law
enforcement officials that our state needs stronger laws to effectively
fight further expansion of gangs in our local communities," said Ross.
"Even though it may be much harder to obtain a conviction, prosecutors
and law enforcement often send these cases to the federal jurisdictions
because federal law is much stronger than our state laws, especially
when it comes to felons carrying firearms. They recognize, however, that
if they don’t have the necessary tools in place from the state level,
gang crime will continue to escalate."
Ross said the work group is seeking various options for prevention and
intervention of youth gang membership and the possibility of creating a
statewide gang information database.
"Law enforcement officials want a standardized system in place that will
confirm gang members and provide a statewide system that may be used to
fight gang activity across Washington. They also want the ability for
officers conduct searches of convicted gang members on probation,
including their vehicles and residences. These are among a number of
options we are exploring from within the work group," said Ross.
"We’re also very concerned about the issue of graffiti in the
communities, not only from the standpoint of the damages it causes, but
how this gang tagging lends itself to further violence in our
communities," added Ross.
The Work Group on Gang-Related Crime was created during the 2007
legislative session through
Senate Bill 5987. The measure directed the
Washington Association of
Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to coordinate a group of gang experts to
evaluate gang-related crime in Washington. The work group consists of
legislators, prosecutors, local law enforcement, criminal defense
attorneys, court administrators, prison administrators, probation
officers and others involved in fighting gang-related crime.
So far, the task force has held public meetings in Yakima, Bellingham
and Spokane. The group is charged with evaluating and making
recommendations to the Legislature regarding additional legislative
measures to combat gang-related crime. The group will continue its work
session Tuesday (Sept. 11) at
Spokane
Community College.
Future meetings are
scheduled in Vancouver, Tacoma and Seattle. A report of recommendations
is due to the Legislature by Dec. 31.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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