Fenty Administration, Council Address Immediate Need for Gang Injunction in Wake of Columbia Heights Shootings

Fenty Administration, Council Address Immediate Need for Gang Injunction in Wake of Columbia Heights Shootings

CONTACT:
Erica Stanley
202-727-9226 (desk)    


WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by members of the Council of the District of Columbia and Attorney General Peter J. Nickles announced a strong commitment to the civil gang injunction approach to combating violent crime. City leaders are seeking an emergency enactment of the gang injunction provision in the Omnibus Anti-Crime Amendment Act.  The D.C. Council enacted parts of the administration’s Omnibus Crime bill on June 16, but did not move forward on the gang injunction provision.

“My administration is committed to strengthening measures to limit gang activity, said Mayor Fenty. “The gang problem in the District is an evolving and growing issue in the region and demands our immediate attention.”

The Omnibus Crime Act was introduced to create new measures to combat gang violence—measures that have been applied successfully in Texas and California and upheld as constitutional by the highest courts of those states. During years 2007 and 2008 in the District, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has found that spates of retaliatory violence involving gangs were increasing in intensity and duration.   Although violent crime is down this year, typically summer is the season when most violent crimes occur.  

“We hope this legislation will be treated on an emergency basis by the Council on June 30 so that civil gang injunctions may be used during the summer,” said Attorney General Nickles.  “We have had a gang task force working for the last three months in anticipation of taking down some major violent gangs immediately after enactment.”

Civil gang injunctions would allow prosecutors to bar alleged gang members from engaging in criminal gang activities. Violators of the court orders could receive a criminal charge that could lead to six months in jail. The provision would also:

•    Amend the statutory definition of a gang to at least three members, instead of six.
•    Authorize the issuance of civil injunctions against gangs declaring their public behavior a nuisance and requiring specific prohibitions.  
•    Increase the penalty for criminal conspiracies to commit violent crimes from five years for all conspiracies to the maximum punishment prescribed for the offense, which was the subject of the conspiracy.
•    Help juveniles renounce gang involvement and provide opportunities to reintegrate youth into the community.

“This is an example of the consequences that can happen and were intended to be addressed by the gang injunction provision that was not adopted by the council the other day,” said Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans.  “I hope that in light of the events that happened my colleagues will reconsider and vote to support civil injunctions against gangs and gang activity.”

“Having someone shot in broad daylight on a busy street shows gang and crew violence is out of control,” said Ward

1 Councilmember Jim Graham.  “This madness cannot continue. We need a combination of strong police action with targeted outreach to the most active gang and crew members.”

“Yesterday’s shootings in Columbia Heights underscore the importance of developing new crime fighting tools,” said At-Large Councilmember David Catania.  “Hand-wringing and wishful thinking will not make our streets safer. Protecting our residents must be our first priority, and it’s time that the Council responds accordingly.”

“Without the gang provisions, I think we missed filling a huge hole in our crime fighting arsenal,” said Ward 4 Councilmember Muriel Bowser. “But, with the emergency legislation, the Council can demonstrate that the District has a zero tolerance policy for gang activity.”