Jacobs’ Gang Bill
Jacobs recently sent out a press release detailing the contents of her new gang legislation. The legislation summary is as follows:
- Amend Criminal Law, § 9-801 to include an expanded definition that makes it clear a gang is defined as such because its members have a pattern of committing certain criminal offenses, and their primary objective for associating is to commit additional criminal offenses. The amendment also expands the commonality of the members beyond just signs, name, and symbols to include leadership and purpose.
- Allow State's Attorneys and other law enforcement to investigate and prosecute gang members as a group and across jurisdictional lines.
- Allow the State to charge anyone who actively participates in a criminal gang with a felony when they have knowledge that its’ members engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal gang activity, and willfully participates or assists in any criminal offenses committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a gang.
- Allow all property, real or personal, including money, used in substantial connection with a criminal gang, to be subject to forfeiture.
- Amend Real Property Article § 14-120 to allow any real property used to facilitate criminal offenses by a criminal gang or as a meeting place for the criminal gang subject to abatement.
Nancy is showing that she is our most prized possession in Annapolis. Legislation like this is so important as we take back the Rt. 40 corridor from these thugs. I think the legislators are doing an excellent job creating a net to catch these losers in. If you desire to associate with a group of people whose main purpose in life is to break the law then you will go to jail. With nuisance laws, gang legislation, tough truancy laws, and a curfew, we may be able to stop gangs in Harford County. Many of these kids probably do not have parents so the law may be required to parent them.
We do need one more thing, a new Southern Precinct. I have not heard much about this in quite some time. We should follow up to make sure those campaign promises were not campaign hot air. We hear a lot about school construction, but nothing about building the Southern Precinct. Hopefully that will change soon.
Good job Nancy!
Topic: Nancy Jacobs, State Senate Tags: None
February 1st, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Also as a side note to the mention of the Southern Precinct I have heard rumors that 45 South Main Street will be vacated and those offices that are left will move into the current county office building at 220. They in turn will move into their new building that is planned for the old tire parking lot property at Main and Churchville.
The gang legislation is long overdue but will the judicial system follow through?
February 1st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
“I think the legislators are doing an excellent job creating a net to catch these losers in. If you desire to associate with a group of people whose main purpose in life is to break the law then you will go to jail.”
Oh yes, wonderful. But just wait a few years, when publicly calling certain practices “sin” is considered a criminal act.
I say this is a stupid idea. It’d be far better to just forget the curfew laws (you’d think the whole county were one big prison) and drop the gun laws, too. When the citizenry is properly armed, gangs won’t be as quick to gather.
February 1st, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I don’t think I could have put it better myself.
I am glad some politicians take action instead of just talking about what would be good to do.
Does anyone know if she put together this gang law by herself and is she working with other groups?