MC HENRY COUNTY’S STATE’S ATTORNEY BIANCHI TAKES AGGRESSIVE MOVE AGAINST STREET GANGS
February 11, 2012
For Immediate Release:
Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, announced today that his office has filed a civil lawsuit against the Latin Kings street gang under the Illinois Street Gang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act. While the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office has previously prosecuted individual gang members, this initiative seeks to destroy the infrastructure of the gang and promote zero tolerance of gang-related activity. The Act, passed in 1993 by the Illinois General Assembly, recognizes that the activities of street gangs operating throughout Illinois present a clear and present danger to public order and safety; a danger which no society should be required to endure without recourse.
Gangs continue to survive, ever present in our streets, parks and schools. This injunctive lawsuit is a strong tool to combat the existence of street gangs and thwart gang-related criminal activity. The lawsuit seeks to classify Latin Kings members as members of a “street gang,” as defined by the Act, and seeks to stop identified gang members from associating with each other, possessing or discharging firearms, using, possessing, delivering or manufacturing illegal or controlled substances, directing or participating in assaults and batteries, and applying gang graffiti to public or private property. In addition to injunctive relief, monetary damages, and any other relief considered equitable and proper by the court are sought.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney would like to thank the City of Harvard, and all Harvard Police detectives, officers, and staff for their dedication to public safety, hard work, preparation, and cooperation with the State’s Attorney’s Office. We hope that this collaboration will encourage further cooperation amongst various law enforcement and community agencies to bring an end to street gangs in our communities.
4 comments:
Money (aka revenue) to cover the costs of all the lawsuits against him and Nygren?
Though this is nice to hear, this is about 15 years to late for us that live in "Hoodstock"!
Kind of like closing the barn door after the horses have escaped.
I hope it's not all splash and no dash.
I foresee huge serious Constitutional issues and legal expense. What if I wear red or blue in Harvard (or in Woodstock), and some eager-beaver cop with an attitude toward me (hate to say it, folks, but they are there) decides for himself about my "intent"?.
If a gang member can't have anything that could be used to "throw gang signs", what will they have to do about their hands? "OK, bud, you are under arrest for having hands."
I'm with the ACLU on this. Prosecute criminal behavior and avoid the civil arena on this.
Who is going to be considered a gang according to some governmental entity...the Mormons,Evangelicals, the Cahtolics, the Jews. Who is going to make the call to make them a "gang"...the Attorney General, the President...I don't know...do you. Be careful.
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