Laura Van Horn awoke one morning this past summer to find the phrase "Sur 13" written on a no outlet sign in her Sebring neighborhood. ...more

November 29, 2008

Gang activity in Florida has grown to more than 1,500 active criminal gangs with over 65,000 gang members. In the Tampa Bay area, there are approximately 120 gangs with more than 3,200 members operating within the region. As violent crime associated with gangs has increased, gang members are being recruited younger and younger. A comprehensive plan and coordinated action is essential to halt, and ultimately reverse, the growth of gangs in our state. ...more

September 15, 2008

With gangs statewide gaining a toehold in a wide range of criminal enterprises, state and Bay officials put their heads together today to address the problem. ...more

September 9, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and members of the Gang Reduction Strategy Executive Committee today released their statewide gang reduction strategy, developed to address the threat of criminal gangs and gang violence. The strategy focuses on the three key goals of stopping the growth of gangs in Florida: prevention and intervention, law enforcement, and the rehabilitation and re-entry of offenders back into society. ...more

June 24, 2008

TAMPA - Educational and work programs could divert youngsters from joining gangs, as could a greater focus on neighborhood and community involvement, according to recommendations released today from an anti-gang summit. ...more

January 30, 2008

Each of Florida's 67 counties has at least one gang member in state prison, but there is no statewide law enforcement strategy to reduce gang activity, state Attorney General Bill McCollum said. ...more

December 20, 2007

The Gang Reduction Strategy Summit today and Thursday in Tallahassee will help local and state law enforcement agencies, as well as the school systems and programs that work with at-risk youth, come up with a strategy. ...more

December 19, 2007

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

October 26, 2007