Matthew Santoni, The Examiner
2008-02-12 08:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

Gang members would be prosecuted under a broader array of laws and face stiffer penalties under bills backed by state Sen. Nancy Jacobs. Her legislation comes in response to prosecutors’ calls for tougher laws than the anti-gang measures passed last year.

Jacobs, R-District 34, has introduced eight bills, including proposals to charge juvenile gang members over 16 as adults for certain crimes; to make it easier to kick gangs off properties and seize their assets; and to expand the definition of gangs and the evidence that can be used to prove a defendant’s membership.

“The gang problem has not gone away, and most people are realizing we’re not doing enough to curtail the crimes committed by gangs,” Jacobs said. “We’re going to be constantly behind if we don’t do something new, if we don’t put some teeth into the laws.”

The bills would strengthen existing laws bit by bit, she said, allowing legislators to choose which provisions they want and negotiate on the others.

“I’m hoping [legislators will] make it more practical to do gang prosecutions and make it more worthwhile in terms of sentencing gang members to additional time for acting as part of a gang when committing a crime,” said Harford County State’s Attorney Joseph Cassilly.

Cassilly joined other prosecutors in suggesting changes for the gang legislation passed last year.

But amendments to last year’s gang bill left it without key provisions Cassilly said the prosecutors hoped to reintroduce this session, like making sentences consecutive rather than concurrent for the gang violation and the underlying crime.

One bill would expand the kinds of crimes that can be prosecuted as gang crimes, to include misdemeanor assault, malicious destruction of property, human trafficking and collecting money from prostitution. Another measure would standardize the kinds of common symbols, activities and attributes that could be used as evidence of gang affiliation in a trial.

All eight of the bills will have their first hearing before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on March 11 at 1 p.m.

msantoni@baltimoreexaminer.com