Why did the Florida Legislature address the criminal street gang issue?
• To maintain public order and safety. • To respond to the ever increasing crime caused by street gangs that threatens and terrorizes peaceful citizens. • To stop this mounting criminal activity. • To provide for increased penalties for those found guilty of criminal gang involvement and eliminate the patterns, profits, and property helping criminal street gang activity, including street gang recruitment. What is a criminal gang? A formal or informal ongoing organization, association, or group that has as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal or delinquent acts, and that consists of three or more persons who have a common name or common identifying signs, colors, or symbols, including, but not limited to, terrorist organizations and hate groups. Who is a criminal gang associate? “Criminal gang associate” means a person who: • Admits to criminal gang association; or • Meets any single defining criterion for criminal gang membership described in subsection (3). “Crimin
