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Gang bill confirmed by the House
Ross: 'This is a
great day for Washington'
After six months of
meetings around the state with concerned citizens, juvenile intervention
workers, prosecutors and law enforcement,
Rep. Charles Ross
saw the fruition of his work with House passage on a bipartisan bill to
crack down on criminal street gangs and violence.
House Bill 2712, co-sponsored by Ross, R-Naches, and
Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw, was approved by the House 94-1
Monday. It now heads to the Senate, where it's expected to receive
similar support.
"We drove through parts of
my community that I think people are honest-to-god scared of their
neighbors," Ross told colleagues on the House floor. "There's no way we
can enact a law here today that's going to take that fear away. But I do
believe most of this bill will be the foundation that will heal these
communities that are broken by gang violence."
A measure that passed in
the 2007 Legislature led to six meetings of the gang task force around
the state with community members and a variety of professionals dealing
with gang violence.
"From Yakima to Seattle
and Spokane to Vancouver, families are crying out for help," Ross said.
"Businesses and homeowners are distraught and helpless at the damage
that gangs can do. Law enforcement needs real tools to stop gang members
from creating fear in our communities."
Several legislators who
spoke in support of the measure described it as "the most important bill
that will be passed this year in the Legislature."
Hurst sent a note to Ross
and other House Republicans after the passage of the measure.
"It is important to point
out that Charles was the most important inspiration on this bill and
worked tirelessly throughout the summer," Hurst said. "It would have
been nice if he could have been the prime sponsor as he deserves so much
of the credit. He is an outstanding member of the House Republican
Caucus, and I am proud to have worked with him and to call him my
friend. Charles fought hard to bring this home for the people in his
district."
The gang bill contains
eight primary components:
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Create a statewide
gang definition -- Would allow law enforcement and courts to
identify a gang member for sentencing.
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Authorize civil
anti-gang injunctions -- Would allow cities such as Sunnyside
and Yakima a
legal way to prevent established gang members from associating
within designated 'safe zones.' Certain safeguards would protect
citizens' civil liberties while preventing gang association, and
therefore, crime.
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Create a statewide
gang information database -- Would allow law enforcement
around the state to track and identify known gang members.
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Increase
sentencing for adults who recruit juveniles.
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Create a temporary
witness relocation program, if funded -- Would help keep
victims safe and encourage testimony in court cases.
-
Establish a
graffiti/tagging removal grant, if funded -- Citizens who spoke
to the task force expressed that this method of gang communication
leads to greater neighborhood fear.
-
Provide grants in 2008, if funded -- Law enforcement agencies
could use to combat gang violence.
-
Establish five
pilot projects in 2009-2011, if funded -- Ross is hopeful Yakima
will be chosen for one of the projects.
"I'm proud that today
we have a proposal that I know has a lot of input from citizens across
the state. Each time we met with people, they told us 'this is how it's
supposed to work -- lawmakers out in the community taking input from
those who will be impacted by this legislation,'" Ross told colleagues
on the House floor. "This bill will grow and change through the local
authority of the community that it begins to affect."
While the funding was
removed from the bill, Ross said all indicators show the funding for the
projects will come through later in the supplemental budget.
"We have a responsibility to
prevent gang violence, and this bill takes a direct approach with suppression,
intervention and prevention," Ross said. "I'm proud of the bipartisan
work that went into this bill -- it's a great starting point."
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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