Keeping North Carolinians Safe: Governor Stein Addresses First Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force Meeting
(RALEIGH) Today Governor Josh Stein joined the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force’s first meeting to discuss how his administration is working to keep North Carolinians safe and prevent violent crime. The task force, established in August through Executive Order 21, is charged with identifying solutions to create safe communities across North Carolina by reducing gang violence and helping young people reach a productive and fulfilling adulthood.
“North Carolina has recently had several tragic reminders of the need to keep people safe and prevent violence,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I look forward to working with the Task Force members to identify and put into place real solutions to make North Carolina safer.”
“I am ready to hit the ground running as co-chair of the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force,” said North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary and co-chair Leslie Cooley Dismukes. “To move the needle on gang violence, we must stop it before it begins. Gang intervention is critical inside prison walls and for people on probation, parole, and community supervision. Our NCDAC team lives and works in every North Carolina community, and we are committed to making each one safer.”
“We’ve put together a very well-rounded, interdisciplinary task force with leaders from many different backgrounds and areas of expertise,” said Director of the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention and co-chair Siarra Scott. “I am looking forward to getting these great minds together to think critically about how, collectively, we can holistically and sustainably address gang violence in our state.”
The Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force focuses on reducing the presence and impact of gang activity in North Carolina, including keeping young people out of gangs. The Governor is also tasking it with identifying proven violence prevention efforts to keep North Carolina families safe. It brings together law enforcement, education leaders, legal representatives, mental health and substance use organizations, and people who have successfully left gangs.
The task force is part of Governor Stein’s ongoing work to keep people safe. Governor Stein has called on the General Assembly to pass a budget that includes raises for law enforcement and bonuses for new hires and out-of-state transfers to address staffing shortages in state and local law enforcement agencies. The Governor’s budget also funds violence prevention programs to break the cycle of reprisals and co-responder programs to address people in crisis in our communities and provide additional support to overburdened first responders.
Members of the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force:
Co-chairs:
Leslie Cooley Dismukes, North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary
Siarra Scott, North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention Director
Ex officio task force members:
Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., Public Safety Secretary
Mo Green, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jeff Jackson, Attorney General
William L. Lassiter, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Deputy Secretary
Erik Lindahl, Assistant US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina
Dr. Dev Sangvai, Health and Human Services Secretary
Task force members appointed by the co-chairs and crime commission:
District Attorney Jamie Adams
Ivy Bagley of Pitt County
Kevin Blackburn of New Hanover County
Capt. Scottie Chavis
Cierra Cobb of Guilford County
Sharon Frazier of Forsyth County
Michelle Hodges Guarino of Lee County
Jessica Hargett
Krystal Harris of Durham County
Chuck Hastings of Gaston County
Steven Holmes
David Johnson of Durham County
Ontario Joyner of Durham County
Keynon Lake of Buncombe County
Sheriff Ed McMahon of New Hanover County
Becca Palmer of Forsyth County
Danya Perry of Wake County
Dr. Dana Rice of Orange County
Nikki Shere of Mecklenburg County
Learn more about task force members here.
Are you tired of being bombarded by paywalls and pop-up ads when trying to read the news? Do you believe that access to reliable political news should be free and accessible to everyone? Then we urge you to support NC Political News, a weekly electronic political news outlet.
NC Political News is committed to providing high-quality, unbiased political reporting with columnists from all political sides. Unlike other news outlets, NC Political News is free to read and supported by businesses who purchase ad space on our website and in our newsletter, which goes out Monday through Friday at 7:00 am. This means that readers like you can access the news without being asked to pay a cent or dealing with frustrating advertisements.
However, to continue providing this valuable service, NC Political News needs your support. If you believe in the importance of accessible, free news, we urge you to click the image below. Any amount of support is appreciated.
Together, we can keep the news free and help ensure our state stays informed and connected.
