Authorities held a strategy session Monday to address gang activity in Cincinnati. WLWT Eyewitness News 5 's John London reports that the meeting involved homicide investigators, school resource officials and youth services. Attendees focused on what criminal activities can be prosecuted under a state criminal gang law, in order to strengthen the sentence against criminals.
Officers study graffiti to learn more about Cincinnati gangs.
London reports that the law became effective in 1999, and so far, it has been used in five indictments and two convictions. Cincinnati police said that while the April riots did not produce more gangs in the area, the unrest made the gang activity more visible. London reports that since the riots, police have counted 42 shootings, and that three of them have been directly linked to gang activity. Police are starting to examine records and develop a strategy to try to link recent shootings with gang members. If they're successful, they can take some gang leaders off the streets for several years, as opposed to several months for drug violations, the offence for which police normally pick up gang members.