1115.org

Gangs Grow, but Hard Line Stirs Doubts New York Times (9/13/07):

At least 36 states have passed hard-line laws similar to those pioneered in the 1990s by Los Angeles, and enacted statewide in California. The laws prohibit public gatherings of two or more people suspected of being gang members; establish databases to track gang members; deploy broad sweeps of suspects; and lengthen prison sentences for gang-related crimes.

But even as lawmakers in Raleigh have worked to create a similar gang law, doubts have been raised across the country about the value of the approach.

A growing number of law enforcement officials, including some in Los Angeles, suggest that such aggressive suppression tactics may worsen some gang problems by alienating whole groups of people from the police and stocking prisons with thousands of young people, many of whom are transformed into hardened gang members while incarcerated.

I could have sworn that the Decider put Pickles on the case…