DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) –
The arrest of 43 members of the Heartless Felons Gang is just the start of a crackdown on violence at the Juvenile Detention Center according to the County Prosecutors Office.
Unprovoked attacks against staff and other juveniles have been promoted by the gang as a way to move up in the group. 19 Action News recently aired videos of many of the attacks. The videos, in part, prompted the crackdown.
In the past a juvenile assaulting someone was charged with only a misdemeanor and served virtually no additional time for the crime. That will change. Now they will be charged for their gang affiliation, much like a Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations violation or RICO.
It will allow juveniles to be bound over to adult court where they will face years in prison rather than receive slap on the wrist after slap on the wrist.
READ MORE: 19ActionNews.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News
Crackdown on Violent Juvenile Defenders Prompt Charges was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
