Senator Jacobs is Lead Sponsor of a Comprehensive Anti- Gang Package

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Senator Jacobs Partners with the Administration on Comprehensive Anti-Gang Package

February 5, 2007 Contact: Jeffrey Griffin 410-841-3158

Annapolis – Senator Nancy Jacobs is partnering with Governor Martin O’Malley, Attorney General Doug Gansler, and the Maryland State Attorney’s Association for the creation of a Senate Bill 632. This new legislation is a continuation of the first anti-gang laws sponsored by Senator Jacobs in 2005.

Senator Jacobs past leadership on anti-gang initiatives, led the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association to invite her to assist them in drafting a comprehensive anti-gang legislative package. After seeing the results of those meetings, Governor Martin O’Malley and Attorney General Doug Gansler joined this coalition to save our youth.

The proposed legislation would:

• Amend Criminal Law, § 9-801 to include an expanded definition that makes it clear a gang is defined as such because its members have a pattern of committing certain criminal offenses, and their primary objective for associating is to commit additional criminal offenses. The bill also expands the commonality of the members beyond just signs, name, and symbols to include leadership and purpose.

• Allow State's Attorneys, the Attorney General, and other law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gang members as a group and across jurisdictional lines.

• Allow the State to charge anyone who actively participates in a criminal gang with a felony when they have knowledge that its’ members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and willfully participates or assists in any criminal offenses committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a gang.

Senator Jacobs released the following statement concerning this legislation:

“I am thrilled to be joined by Governor Martin O’Malley, the Maryland State Attorney’s Association, and Attorney General Doug Gansler in this endeavor to combat the gang activity that is leading the youth from our communities into lives of crime and despair.

“The gang problem is not a partisan issue. I am grateful for this bi-partisan effort to keep our children from joining gangs.

“This legislation finally allows our state to be proactive instead of reactive to the threat of gangs.

“I made a commitment to my constituents in Harford County to do whatever possible to combat the gang threat and this bill is a fulfillment of that promise. This bill not only helps my constituents, but citizens across our great state.

“We must give law enforcement and State Attorney’s offices across the state the tools to eradicate the gang culture penetrating our communities.”

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