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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Mark Longietti |
  
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Longietti introduces legislation to combat criminal street gangs
HARRISBURG, Sept. 18 – Pennsylvania state Rep. Mark Longietti, D-Mercer, has introduced legislation (H.B. 2372) aimed at combating criminal street gangs.
The legislation would create a separate criminal offense for being a member of a criminal street gang and participating in activity related to criminal street gangs.
Most importantly, Longietti noted, the legislation calls for the forfeiture of assets by those prosecuted for participation in criminal street gang activity. The assets and any revenue recovered as a result of fines would be used by law enforcement and community groups for crime-fighting and anti-gang measures and programs.
"Gang activity has become an increasingly significant problem, particularly in the cities of Sharon and Farrell in my legislative district, and across the state," Longietti said. "This bill would be an effective tool in deterring and punishing criminal street gang activity by hitting gangs where it hurts them most, in their wallets."
The legislation was crafted following a hearing held in Hermitage last year by the House Democratic Policy Committee's Public Health and Violence Prevention Taskforce. The taskforce received testimony from then District Attorney James Epstein and Police Chiefs Michael Menster (Sharon), Riley Smoot (Southwest Regional) and Patrick McElhinny (Hermitage) detailing gang-related problems in the Shenango Valley and the needs of law enforcement to prevent those problems.
The taskforce also heard testimony from Lizette Olson, executive director of AW/ARE, a local domestic violence and rape crisis center and Al Boland, co-chairman of the Community Health Partnership, on the effects of violence and at-risk behavior on families and the community. Since the hearing, a Mercer County Taskforce has been established to identify and take a proactive approach to dealing with gang-related issues and keeping youth from being attracted to gang participation.
The local taskforce is comprised of community leaders, municipal officials, school district officials and educators, local law enforcement, juvenile probation, the district attorney's office and area ministers.
Longietti noted that his legislation is designed to be a part of the comprehensive approach sought by the Mercer County Taskforce.
"If we work together with law enforcement and community leaders and give them the tools to stop gangs from getting a foothold in our communities, we can strengthen our neighborhoods and preserve the good quality of life that we enjoy in Mercer County," he said.
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