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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | July 6, 2015 02:12 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. and Sen. John T. Yudichak |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution to study Gang Database |
| In the near future we will be introducing a resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an advisory committee to study the feasibility of creating a statewide gang database in the Commonwealth. According to the National Gang Intelligence Center, membership in criminal gangs is up about 40 percent nationwide. This increase has been attributed to aggressive recruitment efforts on behalf of these gangs. By passing Act 200 of 2012 this legislature sent a strong message by creating the crime of recruiting criminal gang members and increasing the sentencing for those individuals who commit crimes in the furtherance of a gang. We have given members of law enforcement another tool to combat gangs and gang related crime, but we must do more. One way that other states like California and Illinois have increased the effectiveness of their law enforcement efforts is by the creation of a statewide gang database. This resolution will direct the Joint State Government Commission to assemble an advisory committee of professional experts and organizations, charged with the responsibility of addressing the feasibility and availability of creating a statewide gang database in Pennsylvania. The advisory committee and Commission will examine the issue comprehensively and produce a final report with findings of fact, recommendations and any proposed legislative remedies. Please join us in this important effort by co-sponsoring and supporting this resolution. |