HARRISBURG, October 25, 2012 – - Anti-gang legislation that includes an amendment by state Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne/Carbon/Monroe) that toughens penalties for those who prey on children by forcibly recruiting juveniles under the age of 16 to join a gang was signed into law earlier today by Gov. Tom Corbett.
October 25, 2012: Legislation that’s aimed at cracking down on criminal gangs in Pennsylvania was signed into law today by Gov. Corbett. Here’s more with Senator Yudichak who led the effort to get the tougher penalties bill through the state legislature and who attended today’s bill-signing ceremony in Harrisburg.
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“Today is a great day for the many communities around the Commonwealth that have seen a dangerous increase in gang activity – this law strongly states that here in Pennsylvania, we will not tolerate gang activity and we will prosecute gang members recruiting our children to the fullest extent of the law,” Yudichak said.
House Bill 1121 increases sentences for crimes committed in support or promotion of gang activity and makes gang recruitment a crime. Yudichak’s amendment also broadens enforcement tools by treating gang recruitment by jailed gang members with the full force of the law.
Yudichak thanked Gov. Corbett for signing the legislation into law and also commended the work of his fellow legislators from Northeast Pennsylvania, Senators John Blake and Lisa Baker and state Reps. Sid Kavulich and Tarah Toohil, as well as the Senate Republican leadership of Senators Dominic Pileggi, John Rafferty, Ted Erickson and John Gordner.
The bill signing took place at Whittaker Hall on the campus of Harrisburg Area Community College. House Bill 1121 will officially become law 60 days from today.
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