Because of the increase in gang-related crimes in California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to slow down the rate that is occurring in the recent year. The Los Angeles gang-related crimes rose 14 per cent last year, and in the San Fernando Valley, this type of crime increased to 44 per cent. Lives have been taken unnecessarily, especially among the school age youths.
The governor’s plan is to track down violent gang parolees the way it does sex offenders by monitoring them with ankle devices. He also wants to maintain a database that would record their activities.
At a press conference in Oakland, the governor stated that this type of crackdown will not just stop at city limits or in the county, this will be statewide. He was very forceful when he spoke. The governor wants to set aside $48 million in state and federal funds and grants.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa at a press conference at Griffith Park welcomed this plan, and wants more funding for gang-related crimes in Los Angeles. He said that he will work well with the governor. It was discussed that the real troublemakers are the gang leaders. The mayor also wants to use global positioning bracelets so that they can be easily tracked. It is not known yet how much of this plan will go into effect because it is necessary to get legislative approval. Lack of funds may cause this bill to not be passed.
There are some criticisms to this plan. Some Democratic lawmakers said the plan places too much emphasis on suppression rather than prevention. They feel that more time should be spent on a system that would prevent crimes such as setting up job training and social service programs.
Democrats also question the use of ankle bracelets. They wonder if this is the mot effective way to fight crime. Some democrats feel that the bracelet technology is untested and very expensive. Contrary to this thinking is that of San Bernardino department officials. They say that bracelets have helped police locate gang members at the scenes of several crimes, including a carjacking, drug trafficking and shots fired at police officers. The tracking device also helped police locate the suspect in the murder of a gang member who was wearing a bracelet by tracing where the victim had been before he was killed.
One senator, who is a Republican, suggested that he wants to target first-time gang offenders to prevent them from becoming hardened criminals.
There are obvious differences between the thinking of Democrats and Republicans on the subject of gang-related crimes. Now it is up to the legislature to decide.
