Senator Feinstein Applauds “Operation Orion”
-Largest Gang Raid in Orange County History-
February 16, 2000

Santa Ana, Calif. - Following a pre-dawn sweep of Orange County gang members, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) commended local, state and federal law enforcement officials for their efforts to promote public safety. She also called upon her colleagues in Congress to finalize the Juvenile Justice Bill and send it to President Clinton for his signature.

The following are Senator Feinstein’s prepared comments:

“I applaud the efforts of the officers, agents, and attorneys who have made Operation Orion a success. Funded by a $1 million federal grant, Operation Orion has been in the works for about a year. It represents the largest arrest sweep in Orange County history.

My understanding is that 51 alleged criminals–including active gang members from some 12 different criminal street gangs in Santa Ana, Orange, and Anaheim–have been arrested. Once behind bars, gang members and other criminals who have been terrorizing the residents of the Santa Anita neighborhood can do no more harm. Residents who have been huddling indoors behind triple-locked doors and barred windows will be free to venture outside and reclaim their community.

I want to salute Mayor Pulido, Police Chief Walter, Sheriff Corona, District Attorney Rackauckas, Attorney General Lockyer, U.S. Attorney Mayorkas and the other fine men and women who have participated in this important effort. You deserve thanks for a job well done.

Crime rates–particularly violent crime rates–have dropped across the country. But there is one troubling trend: youth violence has increased dramatically. Criminal youth gangs have become a national problem, extending their virulent reach and bringing with them murder, drive-by shootings, drug sales, intimidation, and destruction and theft of property.

Gangs plague more than 4,700 cities in all 50 states. There are some 25,000 gangs with over 650,000 members, and the problem continues to spread. In Santa Ana alone, there are 42 active gangs, with 6,000 active members.

California “exports” more gang members than any other state. For instance, two of the largest gangs, the Bloods and Crips–with more than 60,000 members–are based in Southern California but operate in more than 119 cities in the West and Midwest. In fact, one recent survey found gangs claiming affiliation with the Bloods and/or Crips in 180 cities in 42 states.

The mere existence of gangs is a terrible social problem. Gang members are far more likely to commit crimes than non-gang youths, even those who may have grown up under similar circumstances. This is especially true for homicides; drive-by shootings; using, selling, and stealing drugs; auto theft; carrying concealed weapons in school; and intimidating or assaulting victims and witnesses.

We need to prevent our children from joining gangs. And, if they do, we need to get them out. Many youngsters join gangs at a time when many of their peers are just beginning to play Little League or other organized sports. The median age at which youths begin hanging out with gangs is 13 and the median age for joining a gang is 14. The typical age of first arrest of a gang member is 14.

A recent survey of 3000 law enforcement agencies showed that over 80% said that gang problems were getting worse in their area or staying the same.

I have been working to give law enforcement the tools it needs to wage this war. For example, I have helped lead the fight in the Senate to obtain additional funding for multi-agency task forces such as the one that put together Operation Orion.

I have been a strong supporter of the Community Oriented Policy Services (COPS) program, which has already funded more than 100,000 officers on the beat

and many innovative multi-agency projects such as Operation Orion. I believe that we need to extend COPS and fund more officers and more community policing initiatives.

In addition, I have proposed providing $100 million annually in federal aid for certain intense gang activity areas, so those communities can afford to create joint task forces with federal and local law enforcement and support community gang prevention efforts.

This proposal was included in the juvenile justice bill passed by the Senate in May 1999. It will mean more Operation Orions in Santa Ana, in other cities in California, and around the country.

I also proposed a number of other strong anti-gang measures, all of which were adopted by the Senate as part of the juvenile justice bill. These include:

• Increasing sentences for interstate drug gang activity;
• Making it a federal offense to recruit youngsters into a gang;
• Enabling federal law enforcement to prosecute gangs who cross state lines to commit gang crimes such as drive-by shootings; and
• Increasing penalties for transferring handguns to minors

Unfortunately, the juvenile justice bill has been locked in a House-Senate conference committee for more than 8 months. And there has been only one meeting so meeting so far.

I urge all of you to join me in urging Congress to finalize the juvenile justice bill and present it to the President for his signature.”