By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – With gang-related crimes spreading from the state's urban centers to the suburbs and small towns, two state lawmakers are proposing new legislation that would stiffen penalties for crimes committed by gangs.
The bill, passed Monday afternoon by the Republican-controlled state Senate, would create a mandatory minimum sentence of two to five years for nonviolent crimes and a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence for violent felonies associated with gang activities.
A study in Rochester showed gang members accounted for 68 percent of all violent acts among youths. Law enforcement officials say gangs are becoming increasingly attractive to young people who crave structure in their lives. They say both boys and girls are being recruited in schools.
One of the measure's sponsors, State Assemblyman Peter Rivera of the Bronx. says enhanced penalties would serve as a deterrent to gang activity.
Under the bill, judges would have the discretion to determine whether a crime was gang related.