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Attorney General Forms Panel On Gangs

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The Associated Press

Published: October 26, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Developing a statewide gang-reduction strategy will be the focus of a high-level state panel formed Thursday by Attorney General Bill McCollum.

The Executive Group will take a two-prong approach to combat gang activity that has grown more in Florida than any other state during the past 25 years, according to figures from the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency.

One part of the strategy will be to increase law enforcement pressure against gangs and the other will be to prevent young people from joining them.

Gangs are a growing threat to public safety through drug trafficking, violence and property crimes, McCollum said.

'Today, gang activity is found in every county of our state,' he said in a statement. 'The long-range plan of this group will be a comprehensive outline that will include efforts to educate our youth and to dramatically reduce gang membership and activities.'

The group's membership includes Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey, acting Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg, Department of Children & Families Secretary Bob Butterworth, Department of Corrections Secretary James McDonough, Department of Juvenile Justice Secretary Walter McNeil and Office of Drug Control Director Bill Janes.

Most gang activity is centered in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Lakeland, but Corrections officials say there's been a recent surge in the Florida Panhandle, including Panama City, Tallahassee and rural towns such as Marianna, Greensboro and Quincy.

Crimes attributed to gangs in Florida have increased by 61 percent during the past three years, from 2,759 in the 2004-05 fiscal year to 4,447 in 2006-07.

McCollum said his office also plans to hold a gang strategy summit in the coming months to seek information from others interested in the issue. The Executive Group then will work with local elected and law enforcement officials, educators, health care providers and other community leaders.

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