Given Georgia’s gang crisis, most would believe that statewide law enforcement and prosecution would aggressively implement best practices for their anti-gang initiatives. Recent research by the Georgia Gang Investigators Association (GGIA), however, reveals a lack of consistency. Rises and falls in 2019 gang arrest rates illustrate.
Best Measures
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vic Reynolds has explained that the most reliable measure for anti-gang programs are calculations under the charging portion of Georgia’s anti-gang law, O.C.G.A. § 16-15-4 (“Street Gang Act”). GGIA has adopted Reynolds’ recommendation. All that is required is an examination of the arrests, indictments, and convictions under the Street Gang Act.
Best Practices
Without delving into all specifics, “Best Practices” under the Street Gang Act refers to using the Street Gang Act to its full potential in order to shut down entire gangs. This is consistent with purposes of the Street Gang Act, as set out in O.C.G.A. § 16-15-2, which explain the law is designed to defeat the gang “state of crisis,” seeks the “eradication” of gangs, and to do this by “focusing upon criminal gang activity and upon the organized nature of criminal street gangs.”
Failing to use the Street Gang Act as designed, benefits gangs and is a detriment to public safety which is why GGIA advocates and trains on Best Practices. That starts with a Street Gang Act-based investigations and arrest warrants.
GGIA’s Study
Recently, GGIA obtained statewide statistics of arrests under Georgia’s Street Gang Act for January 1, 2019 to October 1, 2019. When compared to 2018, the following trends immediately emerged:
- Non-Metro Atlanta gang arrests are trending up; and
- Metro Atlanta gang arrests are trending down.
Keep in mind that FBI has stated that 50,000 of Georgia’s estimated 71,000 gang members operate in Metro Atlanta.
Non-Metro Atlanta Gang Arrests Are Up
Any number of factors has led to the increase in gang arrests outside of Metro Atlanta. Those include but are not limited to:
- Greater acceptance of Gov. Brian Kemp’s and Attorney General Chris Carr’s anti-gang messaging;
- Extensive law enforcement and prosecution training on best anti-gang practices from GGIA and GBI during 2019 (more than 20 on-site training events in 2019);
- Wide-spread implementation of best anti-gang practices during 2019;
- Utilizing the standard, 3 factor measurement to evaluate anti-gang initiatives;
- More direct accountability institutionally and to the general public;
- Impact and influence of forceful anti-gang leader, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, Bobby Christine.
Why Metro-Atlanta Gang Arrests Are Down
Georgia’s four largest counties, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett, Street Gang Act arrests are on track for significant drops in 2019. A non-exhaustive list of contributors includes:
- Less acceptance of the anti-gang messaging from Governor Kemp and Attorney General Carr;
- Lack of jurisdictional training from GGIA or GBI;
- Historical resistance to implementing best anti-gang investigation and prosecution practices
How Bad the Numbers Are
While Georgia gang arrest rates are far too low, the disparity between the four major Metro-Atlanta counties and the rest of the state are extreme. The raw numbers do not even need to be adjusted to the metro Atlanta county or gang populations to prove it.
For the test period, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett totaled 293 Street Gang Act violation warrants. Chatham, Green, Rockdale, and Troup Counties totaled 307. Replacing Rockdale (arguably Metro-Atlanta) with Columbia takes that non-Metro Atlanta total to 302, still ahead.
Future Analysis
Later columns will most likely provide more detail and examination of these and related numbers. But while there is clearly more work to be done across this state, many of non-Metro Atlanta jurisdictions deserve tremendous credit for their embrace of best anti-gang practices. The statistics bear this out. The result is that their communities have benefitted.
Metro Atlanta leaders, on the other hand, should take heed. Necessary adjustments are needed, as soon as possible.
The gangs are not waiting. Neither are their victims.
Ray Ham serves as the Director of Education and Training for the Georgia Gang Investigators Association. The views expressed above are the author’s own and do not necessarily express those of the Georgia Gang Investigators Association.
