Hello Everyone,
Evelyn here,
In this week's edition of the Attorney General Bill McCollum's newsletter, News Briefs, the General elaborates more on his early announcement about the development of a “Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy”.
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October 26, 2007
Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum
This week my office announced a collaborative effort to develop a
Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy to crack down on and dismantle the
destructive, and too often deadly, influence of gangs on our
neighborhoods and communities.
The crisis in gang violence that is now occurring throughout Florida
was made all too clear by recent tragedies, including the shooting
death last May of a nine-year-old boy from Bradenton. Stacey Williams
III was caught in a gang-related crossfire as he rode his bike to see
his grandmother. We must protect children like Stacey and their families
from gang violence and find new and effective strategies for taking back
our neighborhoods.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency, Florida experienced more growth in gang activity in 25
years than any other state in the nation. There are at least 1,500 known
gangs in Florida, according to a new survey by the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement, and data from the Department of Corrections reveals a
gang presence in every county in our state.
These frightening statistics underscore the importance of our cooperative
strategy. We are bringing in the expertise of the Florida Department of
Law Enforcement, the Florida Department of Education, the Department of
Children and Families, the Department of Corrections, the Department of
Juvenile Justice, the Florida Office of Drug Control, the Florida Highway
Patrol, the Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs
Association and neighborhood and faith-based organizations from around the
state.
In the coming months, my office and our partners will hold a summit to
receive input from the community on how to successfully address the gang
crisis. Components of the statewide strategy will likely include gang
suppression and deterrence techniques; prosecution and criminal justice
system enhancements; prevention and intervention; data and intelligence
sharing; education and training; and rehabilitation and reentry efforts
for former gang members as they leave prison and return to the community.
With our partners in police and state agencies as well as input from our
citizens, I am confident that we collectively we can stop the growth of
gangs, reverse the trend and actually decrease the number of gangs in our
state. My hope is to ultimately render gangs in Florida ineffectual, and
enjoy a Florida free from the threat of gangs and the violence they bring
to our communities.
Thank you.
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Evelyn out.
