Governor Josh Stein has signed Executive Order 21, establishing new measures to address public safety and gang violence in North Carolina. The order continues the Office of Violence Prevention and creates 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 emphasized the role of trained probation officers and prison staff in prevention efforts. “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, highlighted support for youth and resources for law enforcement as critical components. “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,” she said. “This task force will bring together the varied perspectives we need to help young people turn away from joining a gang.”
Siarra Scott, Director of the North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention, called for a collaborative approach using data-driven strategies. “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 stated. “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 comprised of health professionals, government officials, law enforcement officers, and community-based organizations. The office plans initiatives such as promoting firearm safety, building partnerships across sectors statewide, and offering training programs aimed at helping local communities implement evidence-informed strategies against violence.
The newly formed Gang Prevention and Intervention Task Force will include representatives from law enforcement, education leaders, legal experts, mental health providers, substance use organizations, as well as individuals who have left gangs behind. Its focus is on reducing both gang activity and its impact throughout North Carolina by keeping young people out of gangs.
These steps are part of Governor Stein’s broader effort toward public safety improvement. He has also urged lawmakers in the General Assembly to approve budget provisions that would increase pay for law enforcement officers along with bonuses for new hires or transfers from outside North Carolina—measures intended to help fill staffing gaps within state and local agencies.
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.
