PRESS RELEASE: February 14th, 2006

Commission on Children and Families’ (CCF)

Gang Identification and Prevention Forum

A Community Event

CHARLOTTESVILLE , VA —   

COME LEARN HOW TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO THE WARNING SIGNS OF GANG ACTIVITY IN YOUR AREA!

This event will help the community learn how to identify gang involvement as well as access local resources to prevent our children from getting involved in gangs.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The Forum will take place on:

Thursday, February 23^rd, 6-9pm

Monticello Event & Conference Center

201 Monticello Avenue

Charlottesville , VA 22902

Refreshments will be served.

A barrier to understanding and controlling gang involvement is knowing how to identify it.  According to the Virginia General Assembly a “criminal street gang” means any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, (i) which has as one of its primary objectives or activities the commission of one or more criminal activities; (ii) which has an identifiable name or identifying sign or symbol; and (iii) whose members individually or collectively have engaged in the commission of, attempt to commit, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of two or more predicate criminals acts, at least one of which is an act of violence, provided such acts were not part of a common act or transaction.

This event is being sponsored by the Charlottesville/Albemarle Commission on Children and Families, the Charlottesville and Albemarle Police Departments, the Charlottesville and Albemarle Schools , the Charlottesville and Albemarle Departments of Social Services, Weed and Seed, the 16^th District Court Services Unit, and the Charlottesville and Albemarle Commonwealth ’s Attorney’s Offices.

If you have any questions please contact Rory Carpenter:

Phone: (434) 872-4547 Email: rcarpenter@albemarle.org.

###