Washington, D.C. - Mr. Speaker, I rise to applaud the passage of the FY 2006 Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations Bill, which includes funding for Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties Joint Gang Suppression and Prevention Initiative in my district. I salute my colleague Mr. Wolf and thank him for his leadership on confronting the issue of gang violence in the Washington metropolitan area.
The federal funding approved today builds on the ongoing work of the Joint County Gang Prevention Task Force, which was established by the county executives of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in February 2004. This funding will allow for the establishment of centralized anti-gang units within each county’s police force, enabling them to pursue a zero-tolerance policy for gang violence. A cross jurisdictional community-based program, serving youth and families, would be created to provide gang prevention education, mentoring, and outreach services. Critical after-school programs would be funded for areas where there is a high incidence of gang activity.
Law enforcement research shows that there are approximately 3,600 gang members in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia and that there are nine major active gangs and more than 100 additional crews region wide. Montgomery County Police estimate that there are 20 to 22 active gangs with approximately 540 to 560 active members and associates. Prince George’s County Police estimate that there are 50 crews or gangs in that county with a total of over 400 members. Officials in Prince George’s County note a recent increase in the number of Latino gangs and report that the criminal activity of these gangs has expanded to sophisticated car theft rings and prostitution.
This funding will help the people of Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties fight the growing problem of gang violence and teach young people that gang life is not the road to success, but rather the path to prison. It is important that we provide our law enforcement officials, our teachers, and our community leaders with the support they need as they work to keep our youth safe from gangs and teach them the long term consequences of joining a gang.