It is the intent of the Prince George's County Public Schools to maintain safe and orderly learning environments. The purpose of this policy is to prohibit gang activity and similar destructive or illegal group behavior on school property, school buses or at school-sponsored functions held on and off school property.
This policy also prohibits reprisal or retaliation against individuals who report gang activity and similar destructive or illegal group behavior or who are victims, witnesses, bystanders, or others with reliable information about an act of gang activity and similar destructive or illegal group behavior. A student may not threaten or prevent an individual from leaving a criminal gang, nor may a student solicit the individual to participate in a criminal gang. This Policy applies to all students enrolled in Prince George’s County public schools.
The Board of Education adopts the following definitions from the Maryland State Department of Education:
Gang – “Criminal gang” means a group or association of three or more persons whose members:
(a) individually or collectively engage in a pattern of criminal activity;
(b) have as one of their primary objectives or activities the commission of one or more underlying crimes, including acts by juveniles that would be underlying crimes if committed by adults; and
(c) have in common an overt or covert organizational or command structure.
Gang Activity – “Pattern of criminal gang activity” means the commission of, attempted commission of, conspiracy to commit, or solicitation of two or more underlying crimes or acts by a juvenile that would be an underlying crime if committed by an adult.
(a) Activities on or near school vehicles or property – A person may not threaten an individual, or a friend or family member of an individual with use of physical force or violence to coerce, induce, or solicit the individual to participate in or prevent the individual from leaving a criminal gang: (1) in a school vehicle, as defined under Maryland Law; or (2) in, or within 1,000 feet of real property owned or leased to an elementary school, secondary school, or county board of education and used for elementary or secondary education.
(b) Applicability – Subsection (a) of this section applies whether or not: (1) school was in session at the time of the crime; or (2) the real property was being used for purposes other than school purposes at the time of the crime.
The Board of Education hereby directs the Superintendent to develop an administrative procedure to address gangs, gang activity, and similar destructive or illegal behavior as well as procedures for investigation. The Board also directs the Superintendent to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the local State’s Attorney’s Office to foster coordination of gang prevention, intervention and suppression efforts.
The Board prohibits reprisal or retaliation against individuals who report suspected gang activity and similar destructive or illegal group behavior or who are victims, witnesses, bystanders, or others with reliable information about an act of gang activity and similar destructive or illegal group behavior in accordance with the Safe Schools Act of 2010.
Authority: The Safe Schools Act of 2010
Policy Adopted
6/20/11
Updated June 20, 2011
