In the News

Today, Representatives Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and John Rutherford (R-FL) introduced the Preventing Gang Violence Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation that would codify a community-based violence prevention grants program.

“The best way to combat gang violence is to cut off the problem at its source by preventing our kids from joining gangs in the first place,” said Rep. Connolly. “In Fairfax County, we learned that regional gang task forces that span jurisdictional boundaries, like the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, are well-positioned to reduce and prevent gang violence by focusing on gang prevention, intervention, and suppression in our communities. Thanks to these collaborative efforts the number of teenagers involved in gang activity in Fairfax County declined by 50 percent and the crime rate fell to a 32-year low.”

The Preventing Gang Violence Act of 2018 codifies a community-based violence prevention grants program, modeled after the Race to the Top education initiative. Grant applications would be evaluated based on a number of factors, including an applicant’s record of implementing best practices in gang violence prevention, evidence of collaboration between relevant stakeholders, an effective grant implementation plan, and plans for evaluating results. The program would award grants to regional gang task forces, but a state or unit of local government may apply on behalf of a task force. The federal grant would be a 3:1 match to the applicant’s program.

This bill has the support of the National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice.

"The National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations (NAGIA) applauds Congressmen Connolly (D-VA) and Rutherford (R-FL) for their bipartisan introduction of the Preventing Gang Violence Act of 2018. Both members have been great supporters of law enforcement officers and their mission to address crime in our communities. NAGIA is committed to a three-pronged approach to addressing the gang issue in America – prevention, intervention, and suppression. This bill recognizes that approach, and recognizes that communities must be equipped with prevention programs to keep their children from joining gangs. NAGIA believes that this legislation will enable local law enforcement, in conjunction with their federal partners, to carry on and carry out that mission."

"The Coalition for Juvenile Justice supports community-based efforts to help keep our young people and their neighborhoods safe, through outreach programs, and similar efforts. CJJ is pleased to support the Preventing Gang Violence Act of 2018, which brings that community-based approach to bear on our nation’s gang violence problem.”

Text of the bill is available here.