The growth and expansion of gang activity in Virginia and throughout the country is a serious concern. This is an issue that directly impacts local communities and strains local law enforcement resources.

In an effort to provide additional support, I cosponsored the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007, which the Senate passed to give local communities the law enforcement resources necessary to combat gang violence.  This bill provides more funding and more feet on the ground to combat the growing problem of gang violence in our schools and communities. The costs of violent gang activity are widespread.  It’s time to impose stiffer penalties on these offenders and restrict their recruitment efforts in our communities.

In 2009, I cosponsored The Youth Promise Act, which will provide resources to communities to decrease juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity.  Under the bill, communities confronting youth gangs and related crime will form councils composed of representatives from law enforcement, court services, schools, social service organizations, health and mental health providers and community-based organizations, who will jointly develop prevention and intervention strategies.  This bill targets youth who are at risk of becoming involved in gangs or crime to redirect them toward productive and law-abiding alternatives.
 
Cracking down on gang violence is also a goal of the Criminal Justice Commission Act that I reintroduced in February of 2011. The legislation establishes a Presidential level blue-ribbon commission charged with conducting an 18-month, top-to-bottom review of our nation's entire criminal justice system.