A bill to toughen penalties for gang crimes by allowing prosecutors to try teenagers as adults, allowing judges to impose consecutive, mandatory sentences and subjecting gang members to racketeering statutes was given final legislative approval today by the Senate.
The bill (S2940), sponsored by Sen. John Girgenti (D-Passaic), would create a new offense of “promoting organized street crime” for those convicted of organizing, supervising or financing criminal gang activity ranging from murder to drug trafficking to sexual assault.
“The level of violence incurred by communities from street-gang thugs requires swift and certain punishment,” Girgenti said. “It is proper for some juveniles to be tried as adults when the level of their violence against innocent victims requires incarceration.”
Another sponsor of the bill, Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), said the proliferation of street gangs calls for a strong response from the state.
“With this bill, gang members could get an extra 10 or 30 years added to a mandatory sentence for a violent offense,” he said.
The bill passed 38-0 and now goes to the governor for his signature. (NJ News)
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