North Carolina's fight against gang violence took a significant step forward as Governor Josh Stein inked Executive Order 21, revitalizing the Office of Violence Prevention and inaugurating the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force. This ambitious plan, detailed on the Governor's Office official website, aims to dissect and dismantle the root causes of gang-related activities by fostering collaboration across sectors.
The Governor, in his commitment to preemptive action "to keep people safe," emphasizes the necessity "to prevent violence from occurring in the first place." Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes, brings experience to the table, acknowledging the specialized training of probation officers and prison staff in dealing with gang-involved individuals. Dismukes, who will co-chair the task force, accentuated the need for providing "individuals with the support they need to live free of violence," a statement obtained by the Governor's Office asserts.
The newly formed task force will not just involve law enforcement but will also draw on the insights of education leaders, legal experts, mental health and substance use organizations, and even individuals who have extricated themselves from gang life. Caroline Farmer, Executive Director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, highlighted the importance of targeting "gang violence at its source," by extending more support to at-risk youth, according to the announcement from the Governor's Office.
Siarra Scott, Director of the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention, speaks to the necessity of maintaining "a public health lens" and utilizing "a data-driven, collaborative approach" in the fight against gang violence. Scott extolled the diversity of the task force's membership, recognizing it as an opportunity "to create strategic solutions to keep our communities safe," as reported by the Governor's Office.
Under Governor Stein's directive, the Office of Violence Prevention's Advisory Board is getting a fresh lease of life with a team composed of health professionals, government leaders, law enforcement officers, and community organizations. The office is tasked with propagating education and training to amplify localized, evidence-based strategies for violence prevention, with a particular focus on strengthening firearm safety and cross-sectoral partnerships across the state.
Alongside the task force, Governor Stein has appealed to the General Assembly to approve a budget incorporating increased compensation for law enforcement. This includes raises, joining bonuses and additional bonuses for transfers from other states, responding to the acute staffing deficits in law enforcement agencies throughout North Carolina. This call to legislative action is another facet of the Governor's broader initiatives aimed at bolstering public safety.
.jpg){kind=link}