Attorney General McKenna speaks out on gang violence

Attorney General McKenna addressed the Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce.  According to the Yakima Herald:

McKenna came at an opportune moment to deliver his thoughts on the state's responsibility to address the issue.

Washington's top law enforcement official said he wants stiffer penalties for juveniles who commit gang crimes and a statewide anti-gang civil injunction.

While acknowledging the importance of law enforcement, McKenna also stressed the importance of funding more intervention and prevention programs to dissuade children from joining gangs.

"Let's start by cutting off the supply" of new recruits, he said. "You want to attack from the top and the bottom."

Read more about our office's 2007 proposal for anti-gang legislation, and our press release when those laws went into effect.

~Posted by Alex Binz~