Governor Josh Stein has signed Executive Order 21, establishing the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force within the Governor’s Crime Commission and continuing the Office of Violence Prevention. The move aims to address public safety and reduce gang violence across North Carolina.
“To keep people safe, we need to do everything we can to prevent violence from occurring in the first place,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am proud to advance these initiatives to seek out the root causes of violence, including gang violence. We must bring law enforcement, health professionals, and community organizations to the table to create safer communities.”
Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes will co-chair the new task force. She highlighted the importance of specialized training among probation officers and prison staff who work with individuals involved in gangs. “Many probation officers in our communities and staff in our prison facilities are specially trained to work with people who are involved with gangs. Their expertise will be key in our prevention efforts,” Dismukes said. “I am proud to co-chair the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force so that we can provide individuals with the support they need to live free of violence.”
The Executive Director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, Caroline Farmer, emphasized focusing on supporting vulnerable youth and equipping law enforcement agencies: “We must target gang violence at its source, and that means providing more support to vulnerable youth and giving law enforcement the resources they need to address violence,” Farmer said. “This task force will bring together the varied perspectives we need to help young people turn away from joining a gang.”
Director Siarra Scott of the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention called for a collaborative approach based on data: “As we work to address the issue of gang violence, it’s important that we continue to apply a public health lens and take a data-driven, collaborative approach,” Scott said. “We all have a role to play in our communities to prevent gang violence. This task force will bring together a variety of leaders with different expertise and experiences and give us the opportunity to create strategic solutions to keep our communities safe.”
The Office of Violence Prevention will continue under an advisory board made up of health professionals, government officials, law enforcement officers, and representatives from community-based organizations. The office plans initiatives focused on firearm safety, expanding partnerships across sectors statewide, as well as offering training for local communities on strategies informed by evidence.
The newly formed Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force will include members from law enforcement, education leadership, legal fields, mental health organizations, substance use groups, as well as individuals who have left gangs. Its main goal is reducing gang activity throughout North Carolina with particular attention given to preventing youth involvement.
These actions align with Governor Stein’s broader efforts around public safety in North Carolina. He has also urged lawmakers in the General Assembly to approve a budget that would raise pay for law enforcement officers while offering bonuses for new hires or those transferring from out-of-state agencies—measures intended to address staffing shortages among state and local police.
More information about Executive Order 21 can be found here: Advancing Safety In North Carolina Through The Office of Violence Prevention And The Gang Prevention And Intervention Task Force.
