Taking a Proactive Approach

Taking a Proactive Approach

When HBO ran a documentary in 1994 about gangs in Little Rock, it shocked a lot of people to learn that this was problem outside of major metropolitan areas. In fact, the filmmaker said he wanted to make the movie so he could show that this problem has spread out to the heartland.

Twelve years later, the problem is continuing to spread in Arkansas and, according to a recent article in the Northwest Arkansas Times, another documentary on gangs in Arkansas may be in the works. This time it would focus on the development of gangs in the Northwest Arkansas-area, the fastest growing region in the state.

Rogers Police Department has told the media that graffiti from at least four different street gangs has been identified in the area, including that of the infamous MS-13 gang which has been identified as one of the most violent gangs in the country. Police in Springdale have noted an increase in graffiti as well, calling that "the first sign of gang activity."

Law enforcement officials in the region have begun to take proactive measures to address the situation before it increases. The Rogers Police Department has started a Gang Suppression Unit to raise awareness and help curb gang activity before it gets out of hand. Springdale Police Department has indicated they may follow suit if problems persist in their community.

We are becoming more proactive on the federal level as well. One of the members of Congress leading the charge on this issue is my friend Randy Forbes from Virginia. Last year, Randy introduced the "Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005" in an effort to strengthen federal laws that pertain to gang activity. He authored the bill to address the growing national threat from the spread of violent gangs into communities around the country.

We were able to include many of the important provisions from Randy's bill in a larger child-safety bill we passed in the House of Representatives last month. That bill, the "Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2005," included language from Randy's bill that calls for the prosecution of criminal gang enterprises under federal racketeering laws; authorizes funds for joint federal, state and local gang investigation and prosecution; and creates mandatory minimum sentences for gang crimes.

It is important that the federal government to take a strong stance against gangs. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, there are currently over 25,000 gangs and over 750,000 gang members who are active in more than 3,000 jurisdictions in the United States. Many of these gang members are active in multiple jurisdictions or in communities that do not have the resources to combat them. This is why the federal government plays a vital role in this fight. We can put the vast amount of federal resources to use assisting local law enforcement in targeting and federally prosecuting violent criminals who are associated with street gangs.

Families chose to settle in Arkansas because of the many wonderful tight-knit communities that exist in our state. Our communities enjoy low crimes rates, dedicated teachers and great atmospheres to raise children in. I am committed to helping keep our communities safe and will continue to support efforts like the "Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2005," that help our local law enforcement address this issue before it gets out of hand.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=41691