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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
November 18, 2007
Contact: Gia Storms
212.669.4813; 917.626.6757
Release #: 065-2007
New Gotbaum Report: NYC Youth See Growing Gang Activity in Schools
- Survey of 348 students finds concern over more gangs, more gang colors, and flags in schools -
MANHATTAN – New York City youth believe gang activity, including the presence of gangs, gang colors, and flags, to be on the rise in their schools and communities, according to a new survey released today by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. The preliminary report found that two-thirds of young people felt there are more gangs today than ever before through an analysis of 348 face-to-face interviews with students.
The New York City Police Department reported a spike of 62 percent in gang-motivated incidents in the first four months of Fiscal Year 2007. According to the NYC Department of Education, violent crimes committed by juveniles rose 11 percent from 2005 to 2006 – despite efforts to increase police presence in schools and penalties for gang-related violence.
Public Advocate Gotbaum said, “What we’re hearing from youth is that gang activity seems to be growing in our schools and communities. This administration has tried harsher punishments and more police in our schools and neighborhoods. But it’s not working. It’s time we look for alternative ways to deal with gang violence in our schools and communities.”
Public Advocate Gotbaum announced that her office will be holding a series of roundtable discussions with students, educators, community leaders, and elected officials on the issue of gang violence, culminating in new recommendations for how the city can respond to the issue.
The preliminary Gotbaum report found that:
-- Two-thirds of young people surveyed (233) felt there are more gangs today than there used to be;
-- Almost half of the respondents (166) considered gangs a problem in their neighborhood; and
-- More than two-thirds of respondents (236) said they noticed gang colors/flags in their school.
Congress is considering a new federal bill that would make gang-related street crimes punishable by up to 30 years in jail. The average cost of a year of juvenile detention for a single youth is $200,000.
The Office of the Public Advocate sent representatives to three summer job registration centers as well as three summer school sites to survey youth. The seven-question survey was administered face-to-face. Respondents were anonymous.
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