WASHINGTON – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released its 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment (available here: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/ngta2009.pdf). Among its findings is that gangs in the East region (an area that includes New Jersey, six other states and Washington, D.C.) “very likely will continue to expand their operations from urban communities into suburban and rural locations.” The FBI estimates that there are more than 2,900 gangs with approximately 73,650 members operating in this region. 57 percent of law enforcement in the region reported gang activity in their jurisdiction, whereas 37 percent did so in 2004.
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, in the previous session of Congress, was the sponsor of the Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act (details here: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=271326), which focused on combating gangs and steering youths away from gangs. He released the following statement on the Gang Threat Assessment today:
“Gang activity is a threat to our families, not just in our cities, but in our suburbs and beyond. We need to stand up to these gangs with the types of strong initiatives on the national and state levels that combat them directly and undercut them at their roots for the future. That is why, this year, I plan to introduce a stronger and more effective version of my anti-gang legislation, designed not only to stop existing Gang activity but to also steer our children away from gangs and toward productive futures.
“In New Jersey, it is incumbent on our U.S. Attorney’s office to become a true partner in ending gang violence. I will be urging the next U.S Attorney in New Jersey to create a ‘tiger team’ of prosecutors who come together across the state to prosecute cases involving gangs swiftly and effectively. This is an all-hands-on-deck problem. We need to work together, share intelligence, and protect our communities. This is a top priority for the security of New Jersey families, and it should be a top priority for our top law enforcement.”
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, in the previous session of Congress, was the sponsor of the Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act (details here: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=271326), which focused on combating gangs and steering youths away from gangs. He released the following statement on the Gang Threat Assessment today:
“Gang activity is a threat to our families, not just in our cities, but in our suburbs and beyond. We need to stand up to these gangs with the types of strong initiatives on the national and state levels that combat them directly and undercut them at their roots for the future. That is why, this year, I plan to introduce a stronger and more effective version of my anti-gang legislation, designed not only to stop existing Gang activity but to also steer our children away from gangs and toward productive futures.
“In New Jersey, it is incumbent on our U.S. Attorney’s office to become a true partner in ending gang violence. I will be urging the next U.S Attorney in New Jersey to create a ‘tiger team’ of prosecutors who come together across the state to prosecute cases involving gangs swiftly and effectively. This is an all-hands-on-deck problem. We need to work together, share intelligence, and protect our communities. This is a top priority for the security of New Jersey families, and it should be a top priority for our top law enforcement.”
