Durbin: New Anti-Gang Bill Approved by Senate

Press Release

Durbin: New Anti-Gang Bill Approved by Senate

United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that a number of his major anti-gang initiatives were included in a new anti-gang measure, approved by the full Senate earlier today. The Gang Abatement and Prevention Act makes a number of gang activities a federal crime, while increasing penalties for existing crimes and increasing funding for prevention and intervention efforts.

"Communities in Illinois and across the country deal with senseless gang violence every day," Durbin said. "This bill creates a balance between enforcement and prevention by providing federal resources for local police and prosecutors to investigate gangs, bring cases to court, and protect witnesses from retaliation. We are taking important and much-needed steps towards addressing the persistent problem of gang violence in our communities."

The gang bill includes several Durbin led initiatives, including funding of over $175 million over five years for gang prevention programs. These resources would go to groups on the front lines who are working to prevent gang involvement and violence. The bill also creates "High Intensity Gang Activity Areas" (HIGAAs) that will be set up by the Attorney General. These HIGAAs would receive special funding to increase law enforcement efforts in the form of new Department of Justice block grants.

Source