Bicameral Gang Activity Reporting Act seeks greater reporting on gang-related crime

In an effort to gather more information for lawmakers and law enforcement on gang-related crimes, federal lawmakers introduced the Gang Activity Reporting Act last week to both the House and Senate.

“Increased crime and gang activity across the country is making us all less safe,” said U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA), who introduced the House version of the bill alongside U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). “The bipartisan Gang Activity Reporting Act will help ensure law enforcement has the necessary tools to prevent gang violence, stop gang recruitment, and keep our communities safe.”

As written, the bill would require an annual report based on collaboration between the U.S. Attorney General, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as state and local law enforcement, on the activity of gangs nationwide. Specifically, that report would need to include details such as juvenile involvement, any seizures of firearms or drugs from said gangs, or other items that might be useful in deciding how to combat and prosecute these gangs.

“Although criminal gang activity is the cause of nearly half of all violent crime, federal law enforcement isn’t sufficiently keeping track of critical gang-related data,” U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who introduced companion legislation in the Senate, said. “Our bill will ensure federal agencies have needed information and resources to reduce violent gang activity.”

Any report subsequently filed as a result of the legislation would need to cover the 10 fiscal year period preceding the date of its release. Numerical data and trends were highlighted as of particular interest to lawmakers, as well as the extent to which state-based reporting impacts federal data collection efforts.