Governor Josh Stein participated in the first meeting of the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force, an initiative focused on reducing gang violence and promoting safety across North Carolina. The task force was established in August and is tasked with finding ways to create safer communities by decreasing gang activity and supporting youth in achieving productive lives.
“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.”
Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction and co-chair of the task force, stated, “I am ready to hit the ground running as co-chair of the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force. 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.”
Siarra Scott, Director of the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention and task force co-chair, added, “We’ve put together a very well-rounded, interdisciplinary task force with leaders from many different backgrounds and areas of expertise. 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 task force is comprised of law enforcement officials, education leaders, legal professionals, representatives from mental health and substance use organizations, and individuals who have left gangs. It will also identify proven violence prevention strategies to enhance the safety of families in North Carolina.
As part of his broader public safety efforts, Governor Stein has urged the General Assembly to pass a budget that would increase pay for law enforcement, offer bonuses to new hires and out-of-state transfers, and fund violence prevention programs. These measures are aimed at addressing staffing shortages and providing support for first responders and community crisis intervention.
The task force is led by co-chairs Leslie Cooley Dismukes and Siarra Scott. Ex officio members include Eddie M. Buffaloe, Jr., Secretary of Public Safety; Mo Green, State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Jeff Jackson, Attorney General; William L. Lassiter, Deputy Secretary of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; Erik Lindahl, Assistant US Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina; and Dr. Dev Sangvai, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Additional members represent various counties and professional backgrounds throughout the state.
