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Lawmaker Aims To Reduce Number Of Kids Recruited To Gangs

Florida Channel

A state lawmaker is hoping to reduce the number of children recruited to gangs.  A bill aimed at doing just that unanimously passed in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee Tuesday.

At the recommendation of state education and Department of Juvenile Justice officials, Republican Representative Clay Ingram has sponsored a bill making it a second degree felony for anyone to recruit a child under the age of 13 for a gang.

“The statement was made that if you can get a kid to 13-years-old and he hasn’t joined a gang, then your chances of that kid not getting involved in gang violence are significantly increased," said Ingram.

"And, so that in essence is the attempt of this bill is to increase penalties for people who try to recruit kids into schools, keep gang members away from schools, and get kids to that critical age of 13-years-old, not having gotten involved in something like this.”

The bill (HB 407) also increases the penalty from a second degree misdemeanor to a first degree misdemeanor for a formerly convicted gang member who trespasses in a school zone. 

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on twitter @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.