The Legislature it taking aim at the growing problem of gangs, with a Senate panel today voting unanimously to stiffen penalties against people affiliated with gang activity.

Endorsed by the Senate Judiciary Committee, the anti-gang program, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican, creates a first-degree felony for anyone caught organizing, financing or supervising criminal gang activity. The punishment is up to life in prison.

The legislation (SB 76) also would allow a court to order an injunction prohibiting known gang members from congregating at their hangouts and increase penalties for other gang-related activities, such as promoting gangs through electronic communications.

The gang problem has particular potency in Palm Beach County, the site for numerous high-profile, gang-related killings in recent years. One gang shooting at the Boynton Beach mall on Christmas Eve 2006 drew national attention for days.

“We have an epidemic of violence going on,” said Atwater, the incoming Senate president whose district includes much of coastal Palm Beach and Broward counties.

The effort appears to have support in both chambers of the Legislature, but whether the anti-gang efforts will get any state funding in an extremely lean budget year is an open question.

“If this is such a big issue, which I think it is, we need to devote more resources to it,” said Senate Democrat Leader Steve Geller of Cooper City.

-- Josh Hafenbrack

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