MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GANGS & JUVENILE JUSTICE (INTERIM)
Thursday, February 26, 1998
9:00 am
The University of Texas at El Paso
Neill Auditorium, First Floor, Business College
500 West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Gangs &
Juvenile Justice (Interim) was held on Thursday, February 26,
1998 at The University of Texas at El Paso, at El Paso, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Royce West Senator Mike Moncrief
Senator Robert Duncan
Senator Chris Harris
Senator Jon Lindsay
*****
The Chair called the meeting to order at 9:10 am. There being
a quorum present, the following business was transacted.
The following members arrived after the roll was called:
none.
Senator West made opening remarks, as did Senators Duncan,
Lindsay and Harris.
Captain Ralph Mitchell and Captain Larry Wilkins, Sheriff's
Department: Captain Mitchell and Captain Wilkins spoke about
some new approaches the sheriff's department has been using to
combat the gang problem in El Paso. One approach has been
through the civil courts by filing nuisance action against
known gangs and gang members. Another approach has been Unite
El Paso which keeps schools open after 3:30 p.m. This is a
collaborative effort between the El Paso Sheriff's department,
the El Paso school system, and the actual communities of El
Paso. The program provides mentors and role models for
students. There is also an emphasis on parental involvement.
The officers provide services rather than security. Each
program is molded to fit the school. Depending on the
program, some campuses are opened until 10:00 p.m. The
program has had a dramatic effect on these campuses. The
program gives youths the opportunity to clean up their own
communities. This program should be a part of all communities
in El Paso. This cannot take place without the collaborative
effort between teachers, officers, and counselors.
Representative Joe Pickett: Representative Pickett spoke
about the difficulties of prosecuting gang members when they
are the only witnesses to a crime. Representative Picket
spoke about drafting legislation that would be based on
chapter 71 of the Penal Code, the organized crime and criminal
activity statute. Representative Picket recommended allowing
the conviction of a gang member without corroborating
testimony from a witness, if that witness is a member of the
same gang. He stated that party witness corroboration should
be enough to convict.
Luis Sarinana, City Councilman: Mr. Sarinana stated that the
root cause of most gang related problems is due to the
abundance of families that are headed by single parents. He
believes there is a need for religion in schools. He also
spoke about the need to reach children at an early age. He
went on to state that 30% of the drugs that enter the U.S.
come through El Paso. Of that 30%, 16% of those drugs stay in
El Paso. Mr. Sarinana stressed the need for additional funds
to combat the drug problem in the El Paso area.
Marcos Lizarvaga, Assistant District Attorney: Mr. Lizarvaga
recommended a change in the accomplice witness corroboration
statute. He would like to see the statute used to target gang
activity. If a change is not feasible, he would like to see a
complete repeal of the statute. He also recommended that
juvenile records be opened for gang intelligence purposes.
Joe Madrid, counselor: Mr. Madrid stated that there is a
need for: 1) the development of gang prevention and
intervention programs; 2) specialized counseling centers; and
3) development of special drug and gang courts. He also
stressed that if the above-mentioned programs are
implemented, the state must make sure that the guidelines
developed are workable.
Ricky Espinoza, student/gang member: Mr. Espinoza spoke about
his life in a gang. Mr. Espinoza stated that there is a need
for: 1) prevention and intervention programs; 2) sports
programs; 3) after school programs; and 4) regulation of the
video game industry.
Elizabeth Aliva, mother: Ms. Alba spoke about her son that
was stabbed in the back and paralyzed at a nightclub in Mexico
by an American gang member. The person who committed the
stabbing was not prosecuted because the crime was not
committed in America. Recommendations:
1) develop gang intervention programs for gang members as well
as families; 2) community outreach; 3) create a national youth
curfew; 4) create a new movie rating system; and 5) change the
extradition statutes.
Claudia Aleman, student/gang member: Recommended: 1) a $3
user fee on rolling papers, the proceeds to be used for youth
programs; and 2) require interpersonal skill courses for all
children in the school system.
Chilo Madrid, Counselor: Mr. Madrid spoke about his life
experiences and how the youth of today need direction. He
also recommended regulating the video game industry.
Judge Deanna Burnett, Carrolton Municipal Judge: Judge
Burnett spoke about the opportunity the state has in making
positive changes at her level. Judge Burnett would like to
see the development of rehab and community service programs.
Judge Burnett would also like the ability to send young
offenders to rehabilitative programs in lieu of fines. The
Judge also stated that many judges in her position do not have
the ability to enforce contempt orders on juveniles. The Judge
suggested that the municipal court system should develop early
intervention programs because this is where juveniles first
come in contact with the court system. Judge Burnett
recommended: 1) giving municipal courts access to juvenile
court records; 2) give municipal courts jurisdiction over
juveniles who commit two Class C Misdemeanors; 3) assistance
with locating prevention and intervention programs; and 4) to
provide more marshals to enforce warrants.
Art Provengh, General Counsel, El Paso County Juvenile
Probation Department: Mr. Provengh spoke about the need for
vocational training to assist juvenile offenders in their
search for work when they enter the general population. He
also spoke about a program which relocates families of gang
members to HUD homes. These families assist with making
repairs to their homes.
George DeAngelis, Assistant Chief, El Paso Police Department:
Officer DeAngelis spoke about the programs the police
department has developed in the El Paso area. Officer
DeAngelis presented statistics that indicate a decrease in
gang activity in El Paso. Officer DeAngelis stated the
following reasons for the drop in gang activity in El Paso:
1) intelligence; 2) investigation; 3) enforcement; 4)
education; and 5) diversion and prevention programs. Another
reason given for the drop in gang activity in El Paso is the
Drive by Shooting Response Team which has been credited for a
38% reduction in drive by shootings.
Officer Marylou Carrillo, El Paso Police Department: Officer
Carrillo gave an overview of the type of information gathered
for their gang files and associate gang files. She also
stated that some gangs are keeping certain gang members free
of criminal activity in order to purchase guns legally.
Lisa Ibaven, Student Body President, Bowie High School: Ms.
Ibaven spoke about the pressures juveniles face in their
everyday lives. Ms. Ibaven's recommendations were: 1)
prevention--identify at-risk students for mentoring; 2)
community service--not as a punishment; 3) intervention--peer
mentoring combined with community service; and 4) community
coalitions--crisis centers, programs for drugs and alcohol.
Roberto Carmona, Student, Bowie High School: Mr. Carmona
spoke about how communities have turned a blind eye on the
gang situation in their neighborhoods. He wants to see
communities take pride in their neighborhoods so that
residents have a sense of self worth. He also wants to see a
program developed that assist's former gang members and those
who want to get out of a gang find employment.
Albert Mejia, Student, Bowie High School: Mr. Mejia would
like to see the creation of more jobs for youths. He would
also like the state/city to set up contests to provide a
positive environment for taggers.
Alejandra Flores, Student, Bowie High School: Ms. Flores
spoke about providing jobs for youths during the regular
school year and summer. She also stated that alcohol is the
root cause of most problems in her neighborhood. The solution
to this problem would be to develop programs to combat the
teen alcohol problem in El Paso.
Ruben Pallares, Student, Bowie High School: Mr. Pallares
stated that there should be other activities for students to
participate in that would deter them from going to Juarez.
Jorge Rubio, Student, Bowie High School: Mr. Rubio spoke
about the problems that plague the world today. He wanted to
see the implementation of school uniforms.
Rosa Aguilar, CIS Student: Ms. Aguilar spoke about the Caesar
Chavez Academy, of which she is a student. The program gives
them a vast array of activities to participate in such as
leadership activities and sports.
Ignacio Madrid, CIS Student: Mr. Madrid spoke about the gang
problems at his school. Mr. Madrid did state that the school
which he attends has made a concerted effort to provide jobs
for those students who want to work.
Irene Hernandez, CIS Student: Ms. Hernandez spoke about how
CIS has helped her.
Jorge Torres, CIS Student: Mr. Torres recommended
recreational and alternative activities for students.
Priscilla Flores, CIS Student: Ms. Flores spoke about the
Caesar Chavez Academy and how the academy helped her turn her
life around.
Gunnery Seargent Cooke: Seargent Cooke recommended releasing
certain information to military recruiters in order to
determine if a recruit is or was a member of a gang. The
recruiter would only need to know whether the person in
question is a gang member. This would be a yes or no answer.
Jimmy Rodgers, County Extension Agent 4-H, Good News Program:
Mr. Rodgers gave an overview of the 4H Good News Program.
The program develops leadership skills in students that are
in alternative classes. One specific class is called
Strengthening Our Capacity to Care (SOCC), which focuses on
early intervention.
Pedro Zuniga, Project Change: Mr. Zuniga spoke about Project
Change which is currently in place at the Bel Air High School
campus. The program deals with hard core gang members. The
emphasis of the program is to provide good students with a
high standard of education. The program also assists gang
members who want help.
Ann Haverstick, parent, Family Pride Council: Ms. Haverstick
spoke about the need of educating children before entering
the public school system, as well as through graduation. Her
program PRIDE stands for Principles Responsibility Integrity
Discipline and Education. They are trying to reduce the
instances of teen pregnancy. Ms. Haverstick would like to
form a collaborative effort between PRIDE and the Children's
Trust Fund to educate parents.
Delores Ornelas Brito, parent/educator: Ms. Brito spoke about
her beliefs and respect for the country. She stated that
education is the vehicle one needs to get out of the barrio.
Ms. Brito stated that youth need positive role models in order
to make it in the world today. There is a need for
commitment, responsibility and pride in the community.
Henry Stokes, Teacher: Mr. Stokes spoke about the success of
his CYD prevention and intervention program. His program
provides job training, recreation, mentoring, and education
alternatives to gangs. Mr. Stokes believes the key to his
program's success is the inclusion of the community.
STAR Providers--
Edward Espinoza--
Adolf Knabe--
Sandy Rioux--
Each STAR Provider spoke about their program and services
provided for at-risk youths.
Judy Briscoe--Ms. Briscoe gave an update on commitments to the
Texas Youth Commission. At the present time TYC has accepted
more youth than projected. There are 7,000 youth including
those on probation that have been committed to TYC. At the
present time, TYC is not over capacity. Ms. Briscoe also
spoke about a prevention program called Parents as Teachers.
This program starts at the earliest possible stage of a
child's life. This program addresses all criteria that would
be indicative of a successful at-risk program. A program of
this nature would probably save the state about $4 billion if
implemented across the state. Private monies would provide
the bulk of the funds needed to fund this program. This type
of program would pay for itself after 20 years.
Denise Davis, Office of Court Administration: Ms. Davis gave
an update on the creation of a justice of the peace service
plan. A few justices have expressed interest in creating a
centralized clearinghouse that would collect information on
service providers in specific areas of the state. The Office
of Court is also conducting a survey to determine if there is
a need for additional court Master/Referee across the state.
The study was mailed to all the Chief Juvenile Probation
officers in Texas.
The committee recessed at 3:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Janna Burleson, Committee Director
Royce West, Chairman