Effectively Prosecuting

The 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment report states, “[gangs] pose a serious threat to public safety in many communities throughout the United States” In his 2008 report to Congress, Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey writes, [Gangs] threaten our society, from city streets to sub-urban neighborhoods and beyond. They bring a culture of violence and drugs to our doorsteps, creating an atmosphere of fear, diminishing the quality of life, and endangering the safety, well-being, and future of our children. In partnership with state and local authorities as well as community leaders, we must be vigilant in keeping our communities safe from the curse of gang-related crime and violence. Legislatures have passed statutes intended to address gang related issues within their states. Those states enacting gang legislation have, with certain exceptions, done so recently.To understand and identify the threat posed by a criminal street gang, the term must be defined. At present, the federal definition reads as follows:...