Youngkin signs executive order establishing partnership to combat gangs in the Commonwealth
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive order that will establish a partnership with multiple agencies and build on efforts to combat gang activity and violence in Virginia. On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Youngkin signed Executive Order 41 to establish a statewide gang and community violence prevention partnership and enforcement strategy to confront gang violence, drug trafficking, human trafficking and provide support to communities and victims. According to Youngkin, there are about 33,000 gangs in the United States with over one million gang members. Younkin said Virginia law enforcement agencies are currently combating over 650 identified criminal street gangs and criminal organizations with local, national and international reach. "Gangs are linked to assaults, homicides, brutal robberies, drive-by shootings, extortion, drug trafficking, prostitution and human trafficking, accounting for some of the most significant threats to public safety in this state," Youngkin said in the executive order. According to Youngkin, the order directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to establish the Commonwealth Gang Prevention Partnership between several agencies and stakeholders, including Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections, in collaboration with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General. This partnership will be directed in the executive order to carry out several actions as part of a comprehensive plan that supports the following priorities: Training criminal justice personnel on the identification and interdiction of gangs Deter criminal gang activity, trafficking and violence committed with firearms through investigation, arrest and enhanced prosecution Establish Virginia State Police as the centralized data repository and warehouse for all Commonwealth gang-related data Establish a Gang Intelligence Task Force that will work to identify, document, investigate and eradicate gangs operating in the Commonwealth Enhance anti-gang and gun awareness training for communities and schools Enhance support for youth intervention, prevention, community partnerships and mentoring programs to reduce criminal street gang, trafficking and associated violence in Virginia communities "The initiatives created in this Order establish significant steps to make Virginia communities safer," Youngkin said in the executive order. "Through this comprehensive approach we will enhance the already successful efforts in place across Virginia with structural coordination to drive partnership, data sharing, enforcement, education, prevention, and communication."
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Governor Glenn Youngkin has signed an executive order that will establish a partnership with multiple agencies and build on efforts to combat gang activity and violence in Virginia.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, Youngkin signed Executive Order 41 to establish a statewide gang and community violence prevention partnership and enforcement strategy to confront gang violence, drug trafficking, human trafficking and provide support to communities and victims.
According to Youngkin, there are about 33,000 gangs in the United States with over one million gang members.
Younkin said Virginia law enforcement agencies are currently combating over 650 identified criminal street gangs and criminal organizations with local, national and international reach.
"Gangs are linked to assaults, homicides, brutal robberies, drive-by shootings, extortion, drug trafficking, prostitution and human trafficking, accounting for some of the most significant threats to public safety in this state," Youngkin said in the executive order.
According to Youngkin, the order directs the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security to establish the Commonwealth Gang Prevention Partnership between several agencies and stakeholders, including Virginia State Police and the Department of Corrections, in collaboration with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General.
This partnership will be directed in the executive order to carry out several actions as part of a comprehensive plan that supports the following priorities:
- Training criminal justice personnel on the identification and interdiction of gangs
- Deter criminal gang activity, trafficking and violence committed with firearms through investigation, arrest and enhanced prosecution
- Establish Virginia State Police as the centralized data repository and warehouse for all Commonwealth gang-related data
- Establish a Gang Intelligence Task Force that will work to identify, document, investigate and eradicate gangs operating in the Commonwealth
- Enhance anti-gang and gun awareness training for communities and schools
- Enhance support for youth intervention, prevention, community partnerships and mentoring programs to reduce criminal street gang, trafficking and associated violence in Virginia communities
"The initiatives created in this Order establish significant steps to make Virginia communities safer," Youngkin said in the executive order. "Through this comprehensive approach we will enhance the already successful efforts in place across Virginia with structural coordination to drive partnership, data sharing, enforcement, education, prevention, and communication."
