S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
551
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JEFFRIES -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing crimes relat-
ing to gang violence and the abatement of premises used for gang
activity
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new article 280 to
read as follows:
ARTICLE 280
OFFENSES RELATING TO GANG VIOLENCE
SECTION 280.00 DEFINITIONS.
280.05 GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION.
280.10 GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION OF MINORS.
280.15 COERCION OF A MINOR INTO CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.
280.20 GANG LEADERSHIP.
280.25 ABATEMENT OF PREMISES USED FOR GANG ACTIVITY.
280.30 PREEMPTION.
S 280.00 DEFINITIONS.
THE FOLLOWING DEFINITIONS ARE APPLICABLE TO THIS ARTICLE:
1. "CRIMINAL STREET GANG" OR "GANG" MEANS A FORMAL OR INFORMAL GROUP,
CLUB, ORGANIZATION, OR ASSOCIATION OF THREE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS WHO ACT,
OR AGREE TO ACT, IN CONCERT TO COMMIT GANG CRIMES.
2. "GANG CRIME" MEANS AN OFFENSE DEFINED BY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER: SECTION 125.15 (MANSLAUGHTER IN THE SECOND
DEGREE); SECTION 125.20 (MANSLAUGHTER IN THE FIRST DEGREE); SECTION
125.25 (MURDER IN THE SECOND DEGREE); SECTION 125.27 (MURDER IN THE
FIRST DEGREE); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY (SEX
OFFENSES); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE
(KIDNAPPING, COERCION AND RELATED OFFENSES); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00038-01-9
A. 551 2
ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FORTY (BURGLARY AND RELATED OFFENSES); ANY OFFENSE
DEFINED IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (ARSON); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN
ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE (LARCENY); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE
ONE HUNDRED SIXTY (ROBBERY); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED
TEN (PERJURY AND RELATED OFFENSES); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE TWO
HUNDRED FIFTEEN (OTHER OFFENSES RELATING TO JUDICIAL AND OTHER
PROCEEDINGS); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE TWO HUNDRED TWENTY
(CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES OFFENSES); ANY OFFENSE DEFINED IN ARTICLE TWO
HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE (GAMBLING OFFENSES); OR ANY ATTEMPT OR CONSPIRACY TO
COMMIT ANY OF THE FOREGOING OFFENSES.
S 280.05 GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION WHEN
HE OR SHE:
1. INTENTIONALLY SOLICITS, RECRUITS, EMPLOYS, CAUSES, ENCOURAGES, OR
CONSPIRES TO CAUSE ANOTHER PERSON TO BE OR REMAIN AS A MEMBER OF A CRIM-
INAL STREET GANG THAT REQUIRES AS A CONDITION OF MEMBERSHIP OR CONTINUED
MEMBERSHIP THE COMMISSION OF OR PARTICIPATION IN GANG CRIMES; OR
2. INTENTIONALLY MAKES ANY COMMUNICATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, CONSTI-
TUTING A THREAT TO PERSON OR PROPERTY OR TO ANY ASSOCIATE OR RELATIVE OF
THE PERSON BEING SOLICITED, RECRUITED OR RETAINED AS A MEMBER OF A CRIM-
INAL STREET GANG THAT REQUIRES AS A CONDITION OF MEMBERSHIP OR CONTINUED
MEMBERSHIP THE COMMISSION OF OR PARTICIPATION IN GANG CRIMES.
GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION IS A CLASS E FELONY.
S 280.10 GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION OF MINORS.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION OF
MINORS WHEN HE OR SHE:
1. INTENTIONALLY SOLICITS, RECRUITS, EMPLOYS, CAUSES, ENCOURAGES, OR
CONSPIRES TO CAUSE ANOTHER PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE TO BE OR
REMAIN AS A MEMBER OF A CRIMINAL STREET GANG THAT REQUIRES AS A CONDI-
TION OF MEMBERSHIP OR CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP THE COMMISSION OF OR PARTIC-
IPATION IN GANG CRIMES; OR
2. INTENTIONALLY MAKES ANY COMMUNICATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, CONSTI-
TUTING A THREAT TO A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE, TO PROPERTY, OR
TO ANY ASSOCIATE OR RELATIVE OF THE MINOR BEING SOLICITED, RECRUITED OR
RETAINED AS A MEMBER OF A CRIMINAL STREET GANG THAT REQUIRES AS A CONDI-
TION OF MEMBERSHIP OR CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP THE COMMISSION OF OR PARTIC-
IPATION IN GANG CRIMES.
GANG SOLICITATION, RECRUITMENT OR RETENTION OF MINORS IS A CLASS D
FELONY.
S 280.15 COERCION OF A MINOR INTO CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF COERCION OF A MINOR INTO CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY
WHEN, WITH THE INTENT TO CAUSE PHYSICAL INJURY TO A PERSON UNDER EIGH-
TEEN YEARS OF AGE, HE OR SHE CAUSES SUCH PHYSICAL INJURY TO A PERSON
UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING OR COERCING SUCH
MINOR TO JOIN OR PARTICIPATE IN A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO BENEFIT A CRIM-
INAL STREET GANG OR OTHER ORGANIZATION OF THREE OR MORE PERSONS WHICH
HAS A COMMON NAME, IDENTIFYING SIGN OR SYMBOL AND WHOSE MEMBERS INDIVID-
UALLY OR COLLECTIVELY ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
COERCION OF A MINOR INTO CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY IS A CLASS D FELONY.
S 280.20 GANG LEADERSHIP.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF GANG LEADERSHIP WHEN, AS A MEMBER OF A CRIMINAL
STREET GANG, HE OR SHE COMMANDS, COUNSELS, PERSUADES, INDUCES, ENTICES
OR COERCES ANY INDIVIDUAL TO COMMIT A CRIME WHERE THE PURPOSE OF SUCH
CRIME IS THE FURTHERANCE OF THE CRIMINAL OBJECTIVES OF SUCH CRIMINAL
STREET GANG.
GANG LEADERSHIP IS A CLASS D FELONY.
A. 551 3
S 280.25 ABATEMENT OF PREMISES USED FOR GANG ACTIVITY.
1. ANY PLACE OR PREMISES THAT HAS BEEN USED ON MORE THAN TWO OCCA-
SIONS, WITHIN A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING
A PATTERN OF CRIMINAL STREET GANG ACTIVITY, OR ANY REAL PROPERTY THAT IS
ERECTED, ESTABLISHED, MAINTAINED, OWNED, LEASED, OR USED BY ANY CRIMINAL
STREET GANG FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING CRIMINAL STREET GANG ACTIVITY
CONSTITUTES A NUISANCE, THAT SHALL BE ENJOINED, ABATED, AND PREVENTED,
AND FOR WHICH DAMAGES MAY BE RECOVERED, WHETHER IT IS A PUBLIC OR
PRIVATE NUISANCE.
2. ANY ACTION FOR AN INJUNCTION OR ABATEMENT FILED PURSUANT TO SUBDI-
VISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL PROCEED ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF
THE CIVIL PRACTICE LAW AND RULES, EXCEPT THAT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING SHALL
APPLY:
(A) THE COURT SHALL NOT ASSESS A CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST ANY PERSON
UNLESS THAT PERSON KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE UNLAWFUL ACTS
COMMITTED ON OR IN THE PREMISES;
(B) NO ORDER OF EVICTION OR CLOSURE MAY BE ENTERED;
(C) ALL INJUNCTIONS ISSUED SHALL BE LIMITED TO THOSE NECESSARY TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE RESIDENTS OR THE PUBLIC OR THOSE
NECESSARY TO PREVENT FURTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; AND
(D) SUIT MAY NOT BE FILED UNTIL A THIRTY-DAY NOTICE PERIOD OF THE
UNLAWFUL USE OR CRIMINAL CONDUCT HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE OWNER BY MAIL,
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS.
3. NO NOT-FOR-PROFIT OR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WHICH IS CONDUCTING
ITS AFFAIRS WITH ORDINARY CARE AND SKILL, AND NO GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY,
SHALL BE ABATED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISIONS ONE AND TWO
OF THIS SECTION.
4. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PRECLUDE ANY AGGRIEVED PERSON FROM
SEEKING ANY OTHER REMEDY PROVIDED BY LAW.
S 280.30 PREEMPTION.
NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL PREEMPT AN APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE OR
ADDITIONAL CHARGE PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, A CHARGE PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.06 (GANG ASSAULT IN THE SECOND
DEGREE), OR SECTION 120.07 (GANG ASSAULT IN THE FIRST DEGREE); OR
PREVENT A LOCAL GOVERNING BODY FROM ADOPTING AND ENFORCING LAWS CONSIST-
ENT WITH THIS ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL STREET GANG ACTIVITY AND CRIMINAL
STREET GANG VIOLENCE. WHERE LOCAL LAWS DUPLICATE OR SUPPLEMENT THIS ACT,
THIS ACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS PROVIDING ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES AND NOT AS
PREEMPTING SUCH LOCAL LAWS.
S 2. Severability. If any provision of this act, or the application
thereof to any person or circumstance, shall be adjudged by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such judgment
shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall
be confined in its operation to the provision of this act, or in its
application to the person or circumstance, directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.