Today the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee passed a measure, by a 9-1 margin, to allow local authorities to use civil anti-gang injunctions against the worst criminal gang members.
House Bill 2594, co-sponsored by Rep. Charles Ross, would provide authority for local law enforcement to create civil injunctions against established criminal gang members at the top of the organization.
“I’m pleased we had such great bipartisan support for this proposal,” said Ross, R-Naches. “This is not about handcuffing someone because of the clothes they wear or the friends they hang out with. It’s about going after known criminal gang members who are plotting their next crime to terrorize the neighborhood or continue a war with another gang. We want to stop these crimes before they occur.”
The bill puts the burden of proof on local authorities to define and notify gang members under the injunction, and provides legal counsel for gang members at the civil proceedings.
Next, the legislation will be considered for action before the full House of Representatives.
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Contact: Sarah Stewart, Public Information Officer, (360) 786-7720
