Yesterday, Illinois State Representative Jim Durkin passed out of the House of Representatives, HB3009 a piece of legislation from that package. His legislation increases the criminal penalties for gang recruitment and changes the current requirements for proving coercion and physical force, making it easier to convict gang recruiters.
“In order to address the root of the problem and deter gang recruitment, we must be able to prosecute those who are poisoning our streets and killing innocent kids,” said Durkin. “A zero tolerance attitude on gang violence must be in place and this bill is a step forward.”
The bill now moves to the Senate for further debate.