Governor Josh Stein has signed Executive Order 21, introducing new measures aimed at improving public safety and reducing gang violence in North Carolina. The order continues the work of the Office of Violence Prevention and establishes a Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force within the Governor’s Crime Commission.
“To keep people safe, we need to do everything we can to prevent violence from occurring in the first place,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I am proud to advance these initiatives to seek out the root causes of violence, including gang violence. We must bring law enforcement, health professionals, and community organizations to the table to create safer communities.”
Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes highlighted the expertise of probation officers and prison staff who are trained to work with individuals involved in gangs. “Many probation officers in our communities and staff in our prison facilities are specially trained to work with people who are involved with gangs. Their expertise will be key in our prevention efforts,” Dismukes said. “I am proud to co-chair the Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force so that we can provide individuals with the support they need to live free of violence.”
Caroline Farmer, Executive Director of the Governor’s Crime Commission, noted that supporting vulnerable youth is essential for addressing gang activity. “We must target gang violence at its source, and that means providing more support to vulnerable youth and giving law enforcement the resources they need to address violence,” Farmer said. “This task force will bring together the varied perspectives we need to help young people turn away from joining a gang.”
Director Siarra Scott from the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention emphasized a collaborative approach: “As we work to address the issue of gang violence, it’s important that we continue to apply a public health lens and take a data-driven, collaborative approach,” Scott said. “We all have a role to play in our communities to prevent gang violence. This task force will bring together a variety of leaders with different expertise and experiences and give us the opportunity to create strategic solutions to keep our communities safe.”
The Executive Order also reestablishes an Advisory Board for the Office of Violence Prevention composed of health professionals, government officials, law enforcement representatives, and members from community-based organizations. The office plans initiatives focused on firearm safety education, expanding partnerships across sectors statewide, as well as providing training for local communities on evidence-informed strategies for preventing violence.
The newly formed Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force will include members from law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, legal fields, mental health services, substance use organizations, as well as individuals who have left gangs behind. Its main objective is reducing both gang presence and impact throughout North Carolina by focusing especially on keeping young people out of gangs.
These actions are part of broader efforts by Governor Stein’s administration aimed at enhancing public safety across North Carolina. He has also called on lawmakers in the General Assembly for increased funding for law enforcement salaries along with bonuses designed for new hires or transfers from other states—measures intended specifically to address ongoing staffing shortages among state and local police forces.
More information about Executive Order 21 can be found here: Executive Order 21: Advancing Safety In North Carolina Through The Office of Violence Prevention And The Gang Prevention And Intervention Task Force.
