Stop anti-youth gang bill in congress!

by YJC Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 at 7:58 PM

[From Youth Justice Coalition]: ACT NOW TO BLOCK EXTREMELY DAMAGING GANG BILL MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIS WEEK!

[From Youth Justice Coalition]: ACT NOW TO BLOCK EXTREMELY DAMAGING GANG BILL MOVING THROUGH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIS WEEK!

U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein’s gang bill Senate Bill

456, (the Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2007)

just passed out of the Senate under nearly unanimous

consent. She has been tryng to push through versions

of this bill for years now, but was blocked until now.

The bill basically takes many of the provisions of

California’s Proposition 21* and our damaging gang

suppression tactics, such as the STEP Act, national.

There was no discussion on the Feinstein bill. While

the youth justice movement – (thanks to everyone who

pushed for changes) – was able to remove the adult

court transfer provisions in the bill and insert more

money for prevention and treatment, the bill still has

an overly broad definition of gang involvement

(modeled on California’s definition) and will push

youth into the federal court system!



The House will soon be considering two gang bills

introduced by Representative Adam Schiff (Pasadena,

L.A. County/California) and Representative Bobby Scott

(Virginia). The Schiff bill has many problems

(outlined in the attached Action Update), while the

Scott bill is very positive and is primarily focused

on prevention.

Please get involved to push the Scott bill and stop

the Schiff bill!!!! The steps to take are outlined in

the Action Update.



Thanks! - YJC, 323-235-4243; freelanow@yahoo.com.

Original: Stop anti-youth gang bill in congress!