New Georgia Law Brags About 'Stopping' Gang Activity

In a WTVM news report this past February, a locally-produced assessment by businesses and the Georgia Department of Corrections found that Columbus and the Muscogee County Sheriff's Department had identified approximately 1,800 gang members in the city and surrounding local area.

It is well-known by now that "gangs" are not illegal, however, which means individual gang members are held responsible for crimes though the groups themselves cannot be expunged.

The report states "The assessment points out [former] Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon along with other city leaders said most of the homicides in 2021, a record year with 63 people killed, were domestic related opposed to being gang-related. According to the assessment, officers within the department said 80 percent of those homicides were gang related. The assessment also points to the department having a two-pronged approach to address violence, although it is not specific to gangs."

Senate Bill 44 mandates mandatory five-year prison sentences for gang-related offenses and 10 years for recruiting juveniles to commit crimes on behalf of gangs.

Question: How effective are prison sentencing structures, as related to curbing gang activity? Have we seen less gang activity and safer streets with more time served, or is there a better solution to solving gang issues besides the obvious?

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