Gangs - Trenton Times - Coleman presents anti-gang legislation

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Published in the Trenton Times, Friday, May 12, 2006

Coleman presents anti-gang legislation
County gun court among proposals

Friday, May 12, 2006

By LINDA STEIN
Staff Writer

In October, a 20-year-old college student was dragged from her car while stopped in traffic in downtown Trenton.

"Thugs snatched her jewelry, dragged her to the ground, beat and kicked her," Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman recalled yesterday.

In January, a melee among 40 people broke out in Jersey City outside a high school, said Coleman, D-Ewing. Two students were shot and two were beaten.

In February, a man was arrested and charged with the shooting death of a Willingboro man and with wounding two others.

Coleman cited those incidents at a State House news conference yesterday as she unveiled 17 bills designed to take back New Jersey's streets from gangs.

The bills include gun courts for Mercer and Essex counties -- something Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer has advocated -- and hearings to determine whether bail money comes from legitimate sources.

Other bills would make it a second-degree crime to recruit a minor to join a gang. Another would bar the disclosure of personal information about grand jury witnesses, except their name, to shield them from intimidation.

"Gangs in New Jersey are flourishing, not just in the poor communities but across the rest of the state," Coleman said. "Gangs are large, well-organized and efficient," she said. "They are ruthless. We have a gang problem in New Jersey and it's only growing larger. It's time we did something about it."

Coleman noted that a 2004 New Jersey State Police report showed 17 percent of homicides were gang-related and 39 percent of gang activity occurred in the suburbs. Some 28 gangs had more than 100 members each and there has been a 44 percent increase in gang activity since 2001.

The Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings are the most violent and the most aggressive recruiters of new members, Coleman said.

Gang membership by children younger than 15 quadrupled between 2001 and 2004, she said.

Coleman said the bills would help prevent gang violence, protect children and witnesses from gangs and empower police and communities to fight gangs.

Some of the legislation targets prevention with anti-gang programs in the schools, she said. Another would offer youths employment and after-school programs.

Others would increase the penalties for possession of an assault weapon, for transferring a firearm to a minor and for possession of a so-called "community gun," which is passed around for use in committing crimes.

Those offenses would carry a 10-year prison sentence and a $150,000 fine, she said.

Another bill would regulate the sale of ammunition. One would require the forfeiture of a vehicle if an illegal weapon were found inside.

"You can't have a drive-by (shooting) if you don't have anything to drive," Coleman said.

She praised the school district in Ewing and school Superintendent Raymond Broach for having an anti-gang program in place.

"We need to send a strong message that the day of cherry picking our young out of our schools, homes and out of our churches is over," she said.

In conjunction with the state Attorney General's Office, the Legislature has developed a bill that would require anyone posting bail to identify the source of the money, she said.

"At this point, we're not endorsing any specific bills," said David Wald, a spokesman for state Attorney General Zulima V. Farber. "We did have input on them. We share the assemblywoman's commitment to having the strongest possible laws to fight gangs and violence."

Also in the proposed legislation, hospitals would have to report gunshot wounds and knife attacks to local and state police.

"If gang members are injured in a drive-by or street fight, we need to know about it," Coleman said.

"How sad it is that we are at a point in time where people have forgotten our history, our strength, and we have to have a package of bills that are more punitive than anything else," Palmer said.

There is a "lack of parent responsibility in the home and this is the result," Palmer said.

The Trenton mayor said the police are "doing a good job in arresting these violent offenders" but noted that some are out of jail on bail in one to four days and commit more crimes. They post cash, have no jobs and live with their mothers, he said.

"You know where that (bail) money comes from. It's drug money," Palmer said. "Show me the money. Where did the money come from?"

As for a gun court, he said one judge would be appointed to handle firearms cases, expedite trials and ensure fair sentencing.

Palmer said he hopes the legislation for the gun court will be passed by the end of the summer.

"I've advocated it for over a year," he said.

Asked if there is money available to support the bills, Coleman said the financial impact of the legislation "hasn't been assessed."

Reacting to the bill package, Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. said, "Anything the Legislature can give to law enforcement as an additional tool is greatly appreciated. Hopefully, they will be tools that have teeth."

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Contact Linda Stein at lstein@njtimes.com or (609) 989-6437.

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