Hollister
– A local lawmaker’s bill designed to prevent recruitment of
children into gangs has unanimously passed the state Assembly.
Hollister – A local lawmaker’s bill designed to prevent recruitment of children into gangs has unanimously passed the state Assembly.
The bill would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who encourages or induces a minor to join a criminal street gang. And after it received a 55-0 passing vote on Thursday, California State Assemblywoman Anna Caballero said she is hopeful the bill has similar success making its way through the Senate.
“I think it’s going to be a big aid to prosecutors as they do their investigations of gang members,” said Caballero, a Democrat.
The law is part of Caballero’s Youth Violence Prevention bill package, which would also provide vocational education, a literacy program and law enforcement apprenticeships for youth.
Caballero said adult gang members often photograph children dressed in gang colors. Gang members also use ink pens to draw mock tattoos on children, she said.
“We’ve seen children as young as 1 years old and 3 years old,” Caballero said. “They obviously don’t know what’s going on.”
As the law stands now, there is only a felony enhancement for gang-related crimes. A misdemeanor charge would provide the criminal justice system with an extra tool to combat such activity, Caballero said.
“The prosecutors indicated that they use (the felony charge) infrequently because it’s hard to prove,” Caballero said.
San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill has sponsored the bill through the California State Sheriffs’ Association.
“It shows our local member of the Assembly is working hard to do the right things,” Hill said.
Hill said he has seen photographs of picnics in which gang colors are worn as a family affair.
“There’s an 18-month-old or 2-year-old kid with a red bandana, already wearing Norteño colors,” Hill said.
The misdemeanor law is one more tool the county’s law enforcers can use to combat gangs, Hill said.
And as gang members are convicted of the misdemeanor charge, it will make it easier to prove felony charges down the road, the sheriff said.
“It’s something we can use and we’ll use it down here,” Hill said.
Although Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller has not followed the new law closely, he said it was encouraging.
“I applaud efforts to strengthen and give us more tools to deal with the gang problem,” Miller said.
While gang activities vary widely, law enforcers need a broad range of tools to tackle the problem, Miller said.
District Attorney Candice Hooper said she supports the continued efforts of the :Legislature to address the gang problem.
“I think early intervention is the key,” Hooper said.
Under the proposed law, anyone convicted of inducing or encouraging a minor to join or participate in a criminal street gang could face up $2,500 in fines and one year in county jail.
The measure now moves to the state Senate.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or [email protected].
