Ferguson: County wisely invests emergency criminal justice reserves to address gang violence

September 6, 2011

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Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson, Chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee, released this statement following today’s adoption by the Council of a funding package investing additional resources to combat gang violence in King County:

“I am pleased my colleagues unanimously agreed today to approve investing in additional resources to combat the growing gang violence problem in King County.

“This is an issue I have been working to address all year as Chair of the Council’s Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee. In February, I wrote a letter to Executive Constantine expressing my support to invest resources from the $1.5 million criminal justice reserve fund for the Prosecutor’s anti-gang unit. Following the recent gang-related shooting in Kent, many of my Council colleagues echoed the message that the County needs to act by using that reserve to address the problem and protect the public.

“Two weeks ago, I held a briefing in the Council’s Law and Justice Committee regarding gang violence and strategies for addressing the growing problem, which was described as an ongoing gang war in our region. Following that briefing, we affirmed our commitment to keeping kids and communities safe. Today’s action helps fulfill that commitment.

“I am also pleased that the funding package includes investments for services that help provide better futures for our youth and prevent them from becoming involved in gangs. One theme of the briefing in the Law and Justice Committee was that resources for deputies and prosecutors are not enough; prevention and intervention services are critically important to quelling gang violence.

“Along with my colleagues Councilmembers Larry Gossett and Kathy Lambert, I serve on the Center for Children and Youth Justice’s Suburban King County Coordinating Council on Gangs. Led by former State Justice Bobbe Bridge, the Coordinating Council is working to promote a comprehensive response to gangs in which community organizations, law enforcement, and local government work together to develop strategies that reduce youth violence and gang activity.

“As a member of the Coordinating Council and Chair of the Law and Justice Committee, I will continue to highlight the need to address gang violence and to keep our kids and communities safe.”