The N.C. Street Gang Suppression Act, passed by the General Assembly in July, addresses a number of issues related to gang membership, participation and recruitment, as well as strengthening penalties for related activity. Local police say it gives them more authority to tackle gang problems, while a local prosecutor believes the law is too complex and legislators aren’t doing enough to prevent teens from joining gangs in the first place.
Ah ha! A prosecutor with common sense. Somebody nominate that dude for Pres.
The law is the state’s first to define a street gang, and it makes membership against the law. It also prohibits the recruitment of gang members, threatening gang members who are attempting to withdraw and threats of punishment or retaliation toward withdrawn members. It also gives law enforcement and government the authority to seize property associated with gang activity.
Bingo! There's that ol "seizure of property" thing again. Interesting how those three words crop up so much in legislation isn't it?
Most of the crimes listed in the act are felony offenses, punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison, a fine or both. Capt. John Wolfe, head of the Greensboro Police Department’s Investigative Support Division, which includes the department’s gang squad, said the new law addresses many issues that have been obstacles to law enforcement. “My first impression is 'What’s not to like?’ (The law) begins to identify and define behaviors associated with criminal street gangs,” Wolfe said.
Call me crazy but most human behavior associated with "criminal gangs: other than the act of committing a crime are also behaviors associated with the human race.
“These behaviors alone in most cases are not illegal — however, this act clearly states that if you are involved in these specific behaviors and particular circumstances exist, you are in violation, which makes it a prosecutable offense.”
?????? Um hellooooooo?????? Hey we didn't do anything with that paragraph so is their anybody that can translate it? These behaviors in most cases are not illegal? But now they are? And if I didn't understand that paragraph how will I avoid being prosecuted???
Sounds like "Citigroup", AIG, the executive branch of government doesn't it?The law defines gangs as “any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons” that has a primary activity of committing felony acts, has members involved in gang activity and has a common name, identifying sign or symbol.
"has members involved in gang activity" ?????? What are the gang activities other than committing crimes that are now illegal and therefor engaging in them would be a crime were you a member of a gang but not a crime were you not a member of a gang????? Would the American Eagle or American Flag be considered an "Identifying sign or symbol"?????? Is a group bonk a gang activity and if so is it now illegal????
Assistant District Attorney Howard Neumann said though the law has good intentions, it doesn’t do enough to address gang recruitment efforts and he doesn’t believe it will make cases easier to prosecute. “When (legislators) want to address a problem, it seems that instead of getting more police on the street or more prosecutors, they pass legislation. They make more laws instead of putting some teeth into enforcement,” Neumann said.
“I think they make something against the law and think it won’t happen anymore. Really that doesn’t make a bit of difference.”
Oh my God, this dude makes to much sense. He's gonna lose his job. Wish he would have talked to Florida Representative Carlo's Lopez-Cantera before someone let him lose on the floor of the state legislature.
The law also has a lot of confusing language that likely will have to be addressed by appellate courts, Neumann said. It also leaves the door open for challenges to the constitutional right of freedom of association.
Ummm this little thing about "Freedom of Association" is also related to "Freedom of expression,"and "Freedom of Speech" and oh yeah those little things called " probable cause" and "due process ".But see what the government, the police, the "corporate criminals" BANK on is the fact that most of us "po folk" ain't got the funds to mount a constitutional challenge. So they just go ahead and trample on us instead of the fat cat bankers who have committed the crime of the century that CNBC's Ratigan refers to as "treason"!
“That’s going to be something to watch to see how it’s challenged in courts,” he said. “I don’t think (the law) is the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
Dude, before you lose your job, take a stand on what you believe and instruct your prosecutors not to prosecute constitutionally vauge legislation.
State representatives who sponsored the bill did not return messages seeking comment.
Of course not. See responding to calls means that somebody may challenge your position and you may have to defend your action. That's called being held accountable! Now add "accountability" to the words "state representative" and you have what is called an "oxymoron." Kinda like "Florida state representative Carlos Lopez-Cantera" exercising personal responsibility and not abusing his position of power to pursue a personal agenda that makes him look good in the eyes of a constituency that for the most part has never read the constitution.
James C. Howell, a senior research associate with the National Youth Gang Center, said the legislation’s impact will depend on the state’s overall commitment to gang intervention, suppression and prevention efforts. “It’s a three-pronged approach. If it’s used in coordinated county efforts, some headway can be made,” Howell said. “That will bring everyone to the table and each community can define their gang problem and define the solutions they want to implement.”Now see, this Howell dude, he could be a legislator. That is one of the most poetic, politically correct
combination of words that offers no solution, takes no stand, pisses nobody off and pretty much says absolutely nothing, but probably does insure does he will keep his job. This from a "SENIOR RESEARCH ASSOCIATE" no less. I'm sure he is training all his "probate" research associates well.Add to Technorati Favorites
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