NASHVILLE — Legislation expanding state racketeering laws to apply to criminal gang activity is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam for his consideration.
The House today approved the anti-gang measure, sought by Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, on an 86-2 vote. Senators passed the bill Monday on a 33-0 vote.
“This is really some good legislation,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, told House members. “If you got any type of gang activity in your community this is going to give your law enforcement a tool to go after them. It’ll get the worst of the worst off the street.”
The bill expands the state’s current Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act to include criminal gangs. It alters the definition of “racketeering activity” to include the commission of or attempt to commit, conspiring to commit, or soliciting, coercing, or intimidating another person to commit a criminal gang offense.
Those convicted would face increased sentences of about three years to nearly 5 1/2 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
The state Department of Correction estimates it will increase state expenditures by about $109,800 annually with few affected. But city officials say that is based on current RICO statutes, and they anticipate police and prosecutors will be eager to take advantage of the law.
The Senate version was sponsored by Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson.
The bill was one of two that Littlefield asked local lawmakers to push in this year’s General Assembly. The second bill had a price tag of some $1.9 million, which was deemed too expensive.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
related articles »
NASHVILLE —The Senate today gave final approval to a Haslam administration bill that rewrites Tennessee’s little-used anti-gang laws by providing ...
Once Gov. Bill Haslam signs an anti-gang bill just passed by the Legislature, Chattanooga investigators and prosecutors will be able ...
NASHVILLE — Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield says the General Assembly's approval of his anti-gang crime bill will let police and ...
Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield's proposed anti-street gang legislation could be in for a rumble in the halls of the state ...
