Gang Violence: A Target for Law Enforcement

Posted on May 5, 2008
Filed Under Criminal Law, Drugs, Gangs, Law, Laws, Los Angeles, Police, Sex Offenders, Three Strikes, Tips |

The last few months have seen a huge rise in the attention put on gang violence in Los Angeles.  Racial issues, weapons, drug offenses and more are all a part of what law enforcement faces when it comes to gangs.  Police have begun focusing on how to deal with gang violence, and are cracking down even more than before on gang activity.  They’ve also begun involving former gang members in their efforts to prevent minors from joining gangs and curbing gang activities in general.

A group called the Businessman, a precursor to the Crips and Bloods, have recently gotten together to try and inform current gang members and help the youth around Los Angeles to steer clear of the brutality that can happen to gang members.

The young African-American football player whose death caused an incredible amount of remorse and shock throughout Los Angeles was killed by an alleged gang member who had just gotten out of LA County jail 28 hours before the young man was murdered.  Deaths such as these that involve gang activities bring a great deal of publicity to the circumstances surrounding the crime.  This publicity brings both political and civic pressure on law enforcement to crack down harder on current and alleged criminals.

This increased emphasis will lead to increased prison sentences, harsher crackdowns and sentences for those involved with, or suspected to be involved with, gangs.  For those indicted or suspected of gang activities, it’s important to not only have an attorney who is aware of your civil rights, but who has experience dealing with weapons charges, murder, drug offenses and theft.

Another potential fallout from these crackdowns is a heightening of three strikes penalties, meaning that suspected gang activity, even in non-violent crimes, could count as a strike which will eventually lead to a life sentence if enough strikes are accrued.

Written by Joe M

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