Arkansas § 5-74-102 - General legislative findings, declarations, and intent.

§ 5-74-102. General legislative findings, declarations, and intent.

The General Assembly finds and declares that it is the right of every person, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, or handicap, to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation, and physical harm caused by the activities of groups engaging in random crimes of violence, and committing crimes for profit and violent crimes committed to protect or control market areas or “turf ”. It is not the intent of this subchapter to interfere with the constitutional exercise of the protected rights and freedoms of expression and association. The General Assembly recognizes the right of every citizen to harbor and constitutionally express beliefs on any lawful subject whatsoever, to associate lawfully with others who share similar beliefs, to petition lawfully constituted authority for a redress of perceived grievances, and to participate in the electoral process. The General Assembly further finds that the State of Arkansas is experiencing an increase in crime committed by criminal gangs, organizations, or enterprises. These criminal gangs, organizations, or enterprises support themselves by engaging in criminal activity for profit, most commonly through the distribution of controlled substances and theft of property. These criminal gangs, organizations, or enterprises are becoming increasingly sophisticated at avoiding arrest and prosecution. With increasing frequency, criminals are using the property of another person which has been stolen, borrowed, leased, or maintained in another person's name to avoid detection and identification. This is particularly common among members and associates of criminal gangs, organizations, and enterprises. There is strong evidence that this increased sophistication is due largely to contact with other criminal gangs, organizations, or enterprises from other states. The General Assembly further finds that criminal gangs, organizations, and enterprises control their market areas by terrorizing the peaceful citizens in their neighborhoods with deliberate and random acts of violence. “Drive-by” shootings are becoming all too common in many Arkansas cities. One of the primary reasons for the increased homicide rate is the use of firearms by criminal gangs, organizations, or enterprises to control the crack cocaine market within their geographical “turf ”. The General Assembly further finds that in addition to the activity of street gangs, there are also other types of criminal organizations or enterprises operating in Arkansas. Some examples are garages that take parts from stolen automobiles, burglary or retail theft rings, and narcotics distribution organizations. The number of crimes committed by criminal organizations of all types is increasing. These ongoing organized criminal activities present a clear and present danger to public order and safety and are not constitutionally protected. It is the intent of the General Assembly to use as a model the federal continuing criminal enterprise statute, 21 U.S.C. § 848. This should provide law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and our courts with ample case law to guide in the interpretation of the language and the legislative intent. It is furthermore the intent of the General Assembly to focus the state's law enforcement agencies and prosecutors on investigating and prosecuting all ongoing organized criminal activity and to provide for penalties that will punish and deter organized ongoing criminal activity.