Gang members getting max sentences; prosecutors hope word spreads
YAKIMA, Wash. -- Its Yakima County's new school-of-thought in the fight against gang crime: combat the power of gangs with the power of the law.
"These guys respond to this. When the stakes are high they might not want to do it. They might not want to go out and do the gratuitous drive-by,” said Yakima County Prosecutor, Troy Clements.
Troy believes gang members commit crimes to achieve power and respect. It’s why Clements argues the most-effective way to stop gang crime is for gang members to respect authorities.
"When they see somebody that's gone out and done something get 50 years for not maybe even killing somebody, but attempting to kill multiple, that's got to have an impact," Troy said "Because all these guys talk."
Recent changes in state law work in Yakima County's favor. Gang members can easily be given maximum sentences. A typical drive-by used to be about a two year sentence. Now it's almost 20.
However prevention groups aren’t sold on harsh punishments as the way to win the war on gangs. They believe it’s the last step in what works.
KIMA asked Madison House Director, Tony Baker, if he thinks slamming the books on criminals is the as effective as prevention.
“No. I think it's an unfortunate side effect of a lack of prevention,” Tony said.
Tony’s organization focuses on preventing youth from entering gangs in the first place.
"If we can provide a place for them just to come and be a part of something that's a family-feeling as well, they're not so inclined to be a part of a family that may be gang-related,” Tony said.
Getting rid of gangs in Yakima is not an easy solution. For now, prosecutors say their new approach is working.
"The difference in the suppression side is you can see results because people are getting sentenced,” Troy said.
"These guys respond to this. When the stakes are high they might not want to do it. They might not want to go out and do the gratuitous drive-by,” said Yakima County Prosecutor, Troy Clements.
Troy believes gang members commit crimes to achieve power and respect. It’s why Clements argues the most-effective way to stop gang crime is for gang members to respect authorities.
"When they see somebody that's gone out and done something get 50 years for not maybe even killing somebody, but attempting to kill multiple, that's got to have an impact," Troy said "Because all these guys talk."
Recent changes in state law work in Yakima County's favor. Gang members can easily be given maximum sentences. A typical drive-by used to be about a two year sentence. Now it's almost 20.
However prevention groups aren’t sold on harsh punishments as the way to win the war on gangs. They believe it’s the last step in what works.
KIMA asked Madison House Director, Tony Baker, if he thinks slamming the books on criminals is the as effective as prevention.
“No. I think it's an unfortunate side effect of a lack of prevention,” Tony said.
Tony’s organization focuses on preventing youth from entering gangs in the first place.
"If we can provide a place for them just to come and be a part of something that's a family-feeling as well, they're not so inclined to be a part of a family that may be gang-related,” Tony said.
Getting rid of gangs in Yakima is not an easy solution. For now, prosecutors say their new approach is working.
"The difference in the suppression side is you can see results because people are getting sentenced,” Troy said.
Screw tying to "rehabilitate"Â I say hammer them.
 @Sal King At $30,000 per year per prisoner times 50 years equals a cool $1,500,000 per gang banger. Me wonders who's getting hammered, the prisoner, ....... or the taxpayer?
 @Sal King Its not about rehabilitation. The goal is prevention. Prevent these kids from joining the gangs. get rid of the reasons they join. Which means giving them options.
Wow. How ignorant. Does Mr. Clements and his office really think that longer punishment's deter criminals from committing crimes? Is that Mr. Hagarty's way of deluding himself and justifying all of his mess ups?
These criminals commit these crimes because they are...Criminals. They lead lives where life doesn't mean a lot. Freedom doesn't mean a lot. The gangs operate as freely in Prison as they do Outside.
The ones who do care do not believe they get caught. Â
If you want to deter crime at that level, you need to show them that they WILL get caught, and they they WILL get convicted.Â
How many unsolved crimes do we have?
How many convictions get over turned on appeal for lack of evidence and prosecutorial misconduct?
How many "Not Guilty's" does his office produce every year? Lowest amount of convictions in the state. Maybe KIMA should look into THOSE numbers and then ask "Why?"
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And isn't this the same Mr. Clements who was just in the paper annoyed that the court of appeals told him that it actually expected him to produce EVIDENCE?
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We have enough police. The weakness is after the police catch the people.
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If I was a gang member, I'd be more afraid of being a victim of a drive by shooting or a drunk driver than I would be of these new sentences.
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Too bad that even though they get the "max" sentence, they get released early because there is no money for jails.
What a novel approach... use the power of the law! It's about time! How about targeting the leadership of these gangs using the RICO act? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racketeer_Influenced_and_Corrupt_Organizations_Act) How about setting "Gang -Free" zones around schools, similar to gun-free zones, targeting acts like gang grafitti, recruitment, intimidation, weapons possession, etc. providing further sentence enhancements for those acts committed within a specified distance from a school. Make a condition of any release from custody, like parole or suspension that the person cannot associate with other persons known to be in a gang with stiff penalties for doing so. Prevention activities are important but the effect of those won't be felt for years. Right now we have a segment of over 2,000 people living within our community who operate mostly outside of our laws. We need to deal with them in a way they will understand, so they find their criminal lifestyle just isn't worth the risk.
 @Lamont Cranston Well... number 1, RICO is a federal statute which means the Feds enforce and prosecute those cases, not the county prosecutor. Second, the Washington Supreme Court has held that restrictions on association are unconstitutional.Â