Bill Overview
Title: Gang Activity Reporting Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of Justice to report on gang activity, reporting, investigation, and prosecution.
Sponsors: Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-1]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals involved in or affected by gang activity
Estimated Size: 8000000
- The bill specifically targets gang activity which is a significant issue in various countries worldwide.
- The individuals directly involved in gang activities will be the primary focus due to increased law enforcement action.
- Communities with high gang activity may experience changes in safety, law enforcement presence, and possibly socioeconomic conditions.
- Public and private sectors managing data and research on criminal activity may also be impacted.
- Families and social networks of gang members could also be indirectly affected by increased legal and investigative pressures.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a population directly involved or affected by gang activity. This includes gang members, their families, the communities where they operate, and law enforcement.
- A budget constraint means that only a fraction of the target population can be directly impacted in the first years, so many may not see immediate changes.
- Urban areas with higher gang prevalence, such as Los Angeles and Chicago, are likely initial focus areas, although rural areas with emerging gang problems may also gain attention.
- Given that policy effectiveness depends on the Justice Department's capability to enhance gang tracking and prosecution, immediate changes in self-reported wellbeing are likely more psychological and social rather than economic.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the policy might decrease gang activities slowly if people are aware they're being watched more closely.
- I worry that it might just drive activities more underground or lead to more aggressive policing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Community organizer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased reporting could empower communities to support one another better.
- We need more than just legal action; there must be a social support network for true change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It might feel safer if gang activity decreases, but it’ll take time to see a difference.
- I'm worried about increased police presence and how it affects daily life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Law enforcement officer (Oakland, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any increase in resources and accountability is good for public safety.
- Policies should balance proactive policing with community engagement strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Farmer (Rural Alabama)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope it helps us deal with the newcomers causing problems.
- It's crucial that rural communities receive attention as well.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired teacher (Boston, MA)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reporting is a crucial step, but broader societal changes are needed to reduce gang influence.
- We need community politicians and stakeholders to create preventive measures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Software developer (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Not personally affected, but it's good to see actionable policy on social issues.
- Hope similar initiatives can be applied to other crime types.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Social worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a start, but there's a need for more integrated approaches addressing root causes.
- More programs are needed to support youth before they join gangs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Graphic designer (Houston, TX)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Feels safer since moving away from previous neighborhood; hopes all areas experience similar security improvement.
- Believes increased reporting could help prevent young people from entering gang life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Researcher on criminal justice (Seattle, WA)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy offers an opportunity to gather insightful data on gang activity trends.
- It's vital that the data collected leads to informed, effective criminal justice reforms.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $10500000 (Low: $8400000, High: $12600000)
Year 3: $11000000 (Low: $8800000, High: $13200000)
Year 5: $11800000 (Low: $9440000, High: $14160000)
Year 10: $13000000 (Low: $10400000, High: $15600000)
Year 100: $25000000 (Low: $20000000, High: $30000000)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of gang activity reporting heavily relies on inter-agency cooperation.
- The ongoing operational costs of maintaining a database infrastructure may rise over time.
- Legal challenges and privacy concerns regarding data collection and usage could impact policy success.