McDonnell’s talking points included the March attack on William and Cynthia Bennett in Lansdowne and possibly the highest profile gang murder in Virginia’s history, the murder of Brenda Paz.
Paz’s fate was crafted early in life, chalked up as a girl with unrealized promise and a pre-determined destiny. According to 60 Minutes, who profiled Paz as evidence of the growing MS-13 threat in “The Fight Against MS-13” Paz joined the gang at 14 years old, after being born in Honduras to a broken home, and raised in the poorest neighborhoods of Los Angeles. After being “jumped into” the gang, beaten for thirteen seconds, Paz was soon dating one of the highest-ranking members, assessing gang stability and activity as they traveled together across the country. \
Eventually, Paz wanted out of the life, but her boyfriend soon grew suspicious of her—because of what she knew—and with whom she was willing to share it. Worried about potential charges after witnessing an MS-13 murder, she went on the record with gang information never before shared with authorities. Gang members sent a clear message—one that would prove fatal for Paz. After a short stint in the Federal Witness Relocation Program, officials believe that Paz attempted to reconnect her former gang. This choice led to her downfall as her body was found on the banks of the Shenandoah River. Investigation determined that her throat had been slit and that she had been stabbed sixteen times.
The autopsy revealed Paz was four months pregnant. Two of the four men tried for Paz’s murder were eventually found guilty.
McDonnell’s plan takes a sharply different approach to the gang problem than Congressman Scott’s (VA-3) highly touted “2009 Youth Promise Act”, the most significant piece of national gang legislation currently pending in Congress.
McDonnell’s presentation was pitch perfect, assisted by the cooperation of U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10). Credited for his creation of the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force and his omnipresence at meetings even distantly related to the gang issue, Wolf understands the threat and the layers of bureaucracy that serve to insulate that threat. McDonnell, with Wolf at his side, announced that fighting gang violence will be a focus of his term as Governor, noting, “As Governor, combating criminal street gangs will be one of my top public safety priorities”.
McDonnell’s plan to combat gangs reveals much of what one would expect of a plan written by a self-identified conservative—tougher penalties for gang recruitment, increased utilization of State Police, and a larger role for Corrections and Parole officers. Upon inspection, the plan is a healthier mix of prevention, intervention, and suppression than has been seen at this level. The innovative prevention elements of Scott’s 2009 “Youth Promise Act” and the tougher penalties and suppression tactics of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) 2009 “Gang Abatement and Prevention Act”—seem to enjoy a natural co-existence in the plan—but at what cost? No hard figures have been attached to the plan yet—and could be the deciding factor that ensures the public acceptance—and implementation—of the plan.
The Plan
McDonnell suggests success can be found in a “multi-pronged” approach with local, state and federal agencies, with more state resources earmarked for gang initiatives. A statewide plan and dedicated resources are the foundation of the McDonnell plan.
Coordination
A repurposed public safety position would transform into a newly appointed “State Anti-Gang Coordinator,” at the deputy secretary level. The coordinator would serve under the direction of the Secretary of Public Safety and would have, according to McDonnell, “no fiscal impact.” The coordinator would “serve as a resource for prosecutors and law enforcement officers in the investigation and prosecution of gang members, working closely with the Commonwealth’s Attorneys Services Council and the Department of State Police.”
The State Anti-Gang Coordinator would not only work in coordinating local, state and federal authorities, but would work closely with the Virginia Fusion Center to “complete efforts to develop a workable gang intelligence database…” Other responsibilities would include grant research, information distribution, and coordinating training relating to “best practices” programs.
This ambitious approach, creating a multi-jurisdictional overseer on gang issues is an innovative one, but it may be overly ambitious as the proposed workload may outstretch the proposed size of the position.
Prevention
Prevention efforts within the “Making Virginia a Gang-Free Zone” plan include the expansion and improvement of the Class Action program, considered a proven success by McDonnell. The Class Act program, taught in Virginia schools, uses potential scenarios to educate students on illegal drugs and street gangs. Partnerships with non-profits including faith based organizations, “Badges for Baseball”, (Cal Ripken’s highly successful program), Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Scouts programs would provide the missing puzzle pieces—or at least some of them—to a happy life, not the gang life.
McDonnell proposed a second position in the Gang Reduction and Intervention Program (GRIP) Coordinator, who will work closely with the State Anti-Gang Coordinator. The position will be housed in the Office of the Attorney General. The goal of the GRIP coordinator appears well defined and focused—“aiding individual localities in replicating Richmond’s successful and nationally recognized GRIP program or a version of the Gang Reduction and Prevention Model.” The program is also geared to the very delicate stage of reentering into the community after incarceration. Much like Scott’s Youth Promise the plan notes, “Our commitment to public safety is strengthened by administering prevention and intervention programs prior to the use of necessary suppression efforts. The GRIP Coordinator position is an example of smart government involving a low cost investment that yields tremendous benefits to the overall anti-gang strategy.”
In the first ninety days McDonnell is calling for a comprehensive review to determine how resources are being used and how they could be more efficiently applied. He will analyze both the Department of State Police and Department of Corrections, and use this analysis to shape the comprehensive plan. State Police will have an increased role with localities, expanding their role in the State Police in anti-gang Task Forces, gang investigations and the development of gang intelligence. The Department of Corrections will be called on to improve their ability to identify, track, control and debrief gang members who are incarcerated.
In order to prevent recidivism, McDonnell will take a sharp look at Community Corrections, with a concentration on more “effective implementation of prisoner reentry plans as required by the law championed by Attorney General McDonnell in 2008.”
The McDonnell plan also proposes an expansion of Attorney General Bill Mims (then State Senator Mims from Loudoun County) plan for “gang-free school zones” to include school bus stops, community centers, parks, libraries, and state hospitals.
The Class 1 misdemeanor for any person who recruits another person to become a member of a criminal street gang will now be increased to a Class 6 felony, and an adult who recruits a juvenile to become a gang member now faces a Class 6 felony. Under McDonnell’s plan, this will be increased to Class 5. Technology will also now be included under the gang recruitment statute, along with an expansion of the gang participation statute to allow prosecutors to charge a separate offense for any felony committed on behalf of a gang.
In an interview with the Loudoun Independent, Press Secretary Crystal Cameron was asked what makes “Making Virginia a Gang-Free Zone” different from previous plans, McDonnell’s Press Secretary, Crystal Cameron, notes:
“The McDonnell proposal is based upon his experience with this growing problem in his capacity as Virginia’s Attorney General. McDonnell has seen and participated in what works in various places across the Commonwealth and understands that gang strategy is not a “one-size fits all,” but must include a comprehensive approach. The McDonnell plan is distinct because it blends local and regional efforts with a state strategy. The statewide approach adds new laws, dedicates specialized state resources, focuses attention on community models, and emphasis the need to address the gang population in our prisons. This plan also builds upon all of the effective initiatives that exist in Virginia to address gangs.”
McDonnell’s victory, and whether any version of this proposal survives to the implementation stage, remains in question. Ideas are free, but public safety has a price, and this plan may prove too costly to taxpayers in precarious times. Whether McDonnell successfully makes Virginia into a shining example for gang abatement or not—he has our attention concerning a growing epidemic capable of killing before it’s noticed—the living and breathing street gang.
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hi iam from sandeigo ca and live in p.g county maryland i was never in gangs i went to church and
played baseball football and went to college it all starts at home i live in lanham maryland which is
a middle class area out side of washinghton dc i am mexican american we have good hard working
people that live here lanham no it is not bad like other areas of the county but we do have gangs
d.d.p.dominicans dont play 18th street gang ms13 bloods and crips but we work hard with the police
to help them get these gangs and drug people of the streets it want a safe neighborhood not a bad one
most of the young kids are real nice and do go to school at want a much better life so over all the it
is not that bad but we have to do a little better job and love people more