Anti-gang bill passes full Senate

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A bill to help keep gang activity out of Indiana schools has passed the full Indiana Senate, with the help of a local senator.

Tippecanoe County prosecutor Pat Harrington said the bottom line is that gangs are everywhere in Indiana, including the Greater Lafayette area.

However, Senate Bill 352 would enable educators and law enforcement officials to address shifting trends in gang activity before it's too late.

"Gangs unfortunately recruit younger children in usually community parks, playgrounds and on school property," Harrington said. "It made sense to have a bill that focuses on education, intervention and prevention of gangs at the school level."

"It is clearly a growing issue not only in Tippecanoe County but the surrounding communities as well," State Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-7) said. "Frankly because Lafayette has been such a safe community and I think some folks view it as fertile territory whether it's for the drug trade or other things."

After numerous discussions with Tippecanoe County officials about the growing trends in gangs, Hershman authored Senate Bill 352.

He said the bill would allow the Indiana Safe Schools Fund to be used to provide educational outreach and training to school personnel concerning the identification and prevention of criminal gang activity.

Hershman said the bill models a similar bill in Maryland and was tweaked for the state of Indiana. If passed it would take effect in 2015.

"This allows Indiana to not have to re-invent the wheel but we can look at the best practices from other states and incorporate what the other states are doing in their schools, what programs work, bring them to Indiana, write them for Indiana and then have basically two years to enroll that program out," Harrington said.  

The bill has passed the full Indiana Senate by an overwhelming vote 50-0.

Hershman's bill now moves to the Indiana House of Representatives for further consideration.