Minn. Lawmaker Against Gang Databases

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - A Minnesota lawmaker wants law enforcement agencies to do away with criminal gang databases.

Most people know that gangs are dangerous to the general public and to law enforcement. Now, Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher says gang violence could explode any day.

“The violence you see in Texas and Arizona is coming to Minnesota, and in fact is already here,” said Fletcher.

But with the resurgence in gangs comes an amendment that, if passed, could eliminate gang databases used by police agencies across the state. Cops will tell you the information keeps people safe and that it's crucial to investigations, but state Senator Mee Moua has authored legislation to eliminate it.

“I think Senator Moua must have some kind of perverse support of these folks.”

To get in the pointer database, certain criteria have to be met, like a gross misdemeanor or felony conviction and three other identifying characteristics of gang membership. There is also a "gangnet" database that she says is for associates of gang members. Although no one has come forward to complain, she sees a major problem with keeping data on people as young as 14 without them knowing it.

Sot: 41:01 not because they've committed a crime but becuase they've been known to associated with peole who may be a known gang banger , there's just something fundamentally not right about that.
Senator Moua says she does understand the need for crime-fighting tools.

“This is not about putting any kind of burden on law enforcement,” said Moua. “I want to work with them.”