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| Juvenile Justice Groups Oppose Gang Prevention Bill |
| By Los Angeles Times |
| Published: 06/28/2004 |
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A bill in the U.S. Senate that would provide more than $650 million in gang prevention and suppression funds faces opposition from numerous juvenile justice organizations. The opponents fault a portion of the bill that would give federal prosecutors the authority to try juveniles as adults. Currently, only a federal judge may decide whether a juvenile should be tried as an adult in federal court. Backers of the bill say although U.S. attorneys would also make the decision, a judge would still have the final say. And alleged gang offenders would face swifter punishment since they cannot appeal the decision until the case is over. In California state courts, prosecutors already have the authority to decide whether certain teenagers should be tried as adults. The Gang Prevention and Effective Deterrence Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), would allocate $250 million for community-based gang prevention and intervention programs. It would allocate an additional $400 million for law enforcement activities, including hiring local and state prosecutors, enhancing witness protection and funding law enforcement teams in high-intensity interstate gang areas. If passed, the bill would increase penalties and establish new federal crimes such as street gang recruitment and multiple interstate murder. The bill is scheduled for a Senate vote in the coming weeks, but critics hope the legislation will stall there. The legislation would allow juveniles to appeal a prosecutor's decision, but Schindler said the appeal would occur after the case, forcing the juvenile to remain within the dangerous adult system throughout the entire appeal process. The bill would provide cities such as Los Angeles a portion of the money allotted to support criminal gang law enforcement teams and grants toward community-based prevention and intervention programs. |
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