Senator Luz Robles (D- Dist. 1) said that Utah needs to bring a new perspective to gang activity that focuses on intervention, not only suppression. “It’s a community issue, not a bad people or a west side issue,” Senator Robles said.
The Utah Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 2 on Combating and Reducing Gang Activity on February 12 with a vote of 25-0-4. This resolution urges state and local governments to take comprehensive, collaborative, and communitywide approaches to combat and reduce gang activity. Senator Robles proposes doing this through counseling, the arts, sports, academics, and employment programs.
The resolution passed with a minor amendment, although harsher ones had been proposed. Senator Margaret Dayton (R-Dist. 15) had presented an amendment tying gang activity to illegal immigration. The amendment would have targeted undocumented immigrants using law enforcement to fight gang activity. Senator Dayton ended up voting for the resolution without her amendment.
“This is a community-based approach that is evidence based,” Senator Robles said.
This resolution must now be passed by the House of Representatives.
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