Ganging up at the Shore
A State Police survey on gangs released today indicates that gang activity continues to increase throughout the state, not only in cities but in suburbs and rural areas as well - including towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
Gang presence was reported in 43 percent of the state's municipalities, up from 33 percent in 2004. Gang activity, as reported by police chiefs, was present in 22 of Monmouth County's 53 towns and 11 of Ocean County's 33 towns. The increases were largely fueled by the Bloods - the largest of the state's gangs.
In the Central Region of the state, which includes Monmouth and Ocean counties, the proportion of municipalities with gangs that mentioned the presence of the Bloods increased from 67 percent to 92 percent - an increase partly attributable to sharp changes in the proportion of municipalities in Ocean and Monmouth counties reporting a Bloods presence.
In Ocean County, the report said, mentions of the Bloods rose from 31 percent to 100 percent of the towns with gangs. In Monmouth County, mentions of a Bloods presence increased from 50 percent to 90 percent.
The Monmouth County towns in which a gang presence was reported were Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Belmar, Eatontown, Englishtown, Freehold Borough and Township, Keansburg, Keyport, Long Branch, Hazlet, Highlands, Interlaken, Matawan, Middletown, Neptune City and Township, Red Bank, Union Beach and West Long Branch.
The 11 Ocean County towns were Brick, Jackson, Lacey, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor, Manchester, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River, Stafford and Toms River.
The report said most of the gang activity involved drug offenses, aggravated assaults and theft. "The serious violence associated with popular perceptions of gangs is a comparatively rare and relatively isolated occurrence. In fact, dramatic or extremely violent gang crime constitutes a small proportion of total crime attributed to gang members." Thirty-two municipalities reported occurrence of gang homicides within the past twelve months."
Gang presence was reported in 43 percent of the state's municipalities, up from 33 percent in 2004. Gang activity, as reported by police chiefs, was present in 22 of Monmouth County's 53 towns and 11 of Ocean County's 33 towns. The increases were largely fueled by the Bloods - the largest of the state's gangs.
In the Central Region of the state, which includes Monmouth and Ocean counties, the proportion of municipalities with gangs that mentioned the presence of the Bloods increased from 67 percent to 92 percent - an increase partly attributable to sharp changes in the proportion of municipalities in Ocean and Monmouth counties reporting a Bloods presence.
In Ocean County, the report said, mentions of the Bloods rose from 31 percent to 100 percent of the towns with gangs. In Monmouth County, mentions of a Bloods presence increased from 50 percent to 90 percent.
The Monmouth County towns in which a gang presence was reported were Aberdeen, Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Belmar, Eatontown, Englishtown, Freehold Borough and Township, Keansburg, Keyport, Long Branch, Hazlet, Highlands, Interlaken, Matawan, Middletown, Neptune City and Township, Red Bank, Union Beach and West Long Branch.
The 11 Ocean County towns were Brick, Jackson, Lacey, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor, Manchester, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River, Stafford and Toms River.
The report said most of the gang activity involved drug offenses, aggravated assaults and theft. "The serious violence associated with popular perceptions of gangs is a comparatively rare and relatively isolated occurrence. In fact, dramatic or extremely violent gang crime constitutes a small proportion of total crime attributed to gang members." Thirty-two municipalities reported occurrence of gang homicides within the past twelve months."
posted by Randy Bergmann at 10:38 AM
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