Latest Consumer Scams

From the Washington State Office of the Attorney General: Press Release “Fresh Start Opportunities” reeks of scam Details: “If a young person knocks on your door and says they’re selling magazines for a charity, wait before reaching for your pocketbook. Fresh Start Opportunities claims to be a “job business training company” that sends… »

National Organization “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids”

As an organization of more than 3,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, other law enforcement leaders, and violence survivors, we are determined to see that dangerous criminals are put behind bars. But anyone who thinks that jailing a criminal undoes the agony of crime has not seen crime up… »

Gang Recruitment of a Minor: Now a Felony in Illinois

Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of criminal street gang recruitment of a minor. Provides that a person commits the offense when he or she threatens the use of physical force to coerce, solicit, recruit, or induce another person to join or remain a member of a criminal street gang, or conspires… »

Youth Court Acts As An Early Intervention For First-Time Offenders

The Riverside Youth Court is an innovative approach to juvenile justice and acts as an early intervention for first-time offenders of misdemeanor crimes. It is designed to give youth between the ages of 10 and 17, who have broken the law and admitted their guilt, a second chance. Those who are eligible for the program… »

“Summer Night Lights” Program Combats Gang-Related Crime

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the expansion of a summertime anti-gang program that includes special community events, after-schools activities, sports leagues and extended nighttime hours at 16 city parks, most in gang-prone areas.

Villaraigosa said the “Summer Night Lights” program helped drive down violent crime, murder and gang activity near the eight parks where… »

City To Remove Gang Hangouts

HARLINGEN - The mayor’s juvenile crime and gang task force is compiling a list of buildings considered havens for gang activity that could be torn down.

The task force, created by Mayor Chris Boswell last summer, presented a preview of its report at Wednesday night’s City Commission meeting.

Although the final report will not be presented until… »

Highlighting Recent FBI Gang Investigations

The U.S. is seeing a rise in gang membership across the country and as membership spreads from urban to suburban areas, so does the associated criminal activity. Gangs are involved not only in auto theft, assault, home invasions, armed robbery, and extortion, but also in fraud, identity theft, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, alien smuggling, and… »

LAPD Fights Gangs With Injunction

The boys had made no effort to hide the shotgun, so it was found, loaded, right where they’d left it, on the top bunk in their bedroom, next to a pile of clothes and two school books, “Decimals” and “The Language of Literature.”

The LAPD had pulled up to the little house near midnight, with the… »

Combating Seattle Gang Violence

Seattle’s $8 million Youth Violence Prevention Initiative aims to cut youth and gang violence by 50 percent. But a notable gang expert with the U.S. Department of Justice cautions against evaluating the initiative’s success solely by whether it meets that ambitious… »

Gang Problem Is A “Pandemic”

Jones urged about 200 people at a City Hall forum on gang violence Tuesday night to join in a fight against the contagion. “You’ll not solve the problem tonight, but you can leave with a commitment to join the 911 pandemic gang rescue team,” Jones said.

With 17 gang-related deaths last year in King County, Jones… »