News from Representative Randy Ramey District 55 - Republican
	Contact	1883 N. Neltnor Blvd. (Rt. 59)	213-N Stratton Building
		West Chicago, IL 60185	Springfield, IL 62706
	Phone:	630-876-0703	Phone : 217-558-1037
	Fax:	630-231-3742	Fax:  217-558-1037
		STATEREPRAMEY55@aol.com
For Immediate Release
Date: Aug. 16, 2006

Ramey Supports Legislation to Decrease Gang Violence

Carol Stream, IL - State Rep. Randy Ramey (R-Carol Stream) is supporting a new 11-point legislation plan to adopt stiffer penalties for gang activity as part of an ongoing strategy to decrease gang violence in Illinois.

"The impact of gangs is becoming more widespread in every city in the nation," Ramey said. "This new plan focuses on what we can do locally and state-wide to reduce gangs, impose stiffer penalties, and keep gang members from recruiting youths on our school grounds."

Emphasis of the legislation package is placed on stopping gang members from recruiting students on school grounds to attend or participate in a gang meeting or event. Other parts of the package include:

• Increasing by one level every criminal penalty imposed for acts of kidnapping, assault, battery, robbery, arson, or unlawful use of weapon.
• Strengthening aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by non-felon gang members from a Class 4 felony to a Class 2 felony.
• Increasing prison time for repeat gang-related felony offenses
• Requiring state registration of career gang offenders
• Requiring all delinquent juveniles to be placed in a gang workshop detention education program.
• Requiring the State to collect and analyze DNA samples from convicted felons with 30 days of sentencing.

Just last month, a report by the Chicago Crime Commission indicated gangs are increasingly setting up shop in the suburbs due to a crackdown on gangs by Chicago Police. The report also found that Chicago-area gangs were engaging in more white-collar crime and increasingly working with instead of against each other to make more money.

"I believe this is an important issue in every community and I will push the various parts of this legislation during the next session," Ramey said. "Safety is not a partisan issue. I hope to work with legislators on both sides of the aisle to continue devising ways to keep our streets from gangs."

For more information, contact Rep. Ramey at (630) 876-0703.

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