For Release: Nov. 18, 2008
Contact: David Clementson
Email: dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Unveils Powerful Anti-Gang Video: ‘The Wrong Family: Virginia Fights Back Against Gangs’
Gang Footage in Video Comes from Virginia
Video Distributed to Law Enforcement Statewide For Use in Educating Communities, Parents, Local Leaders about Gangs
*Spanish Version Available Soon*
RICHMOND – In a continuing effort to educate Virginians about the threat posed by gangs, Attorney General Bob McDonnell introduced a powerful new video today.
The video will be used by law enforcement to educate communities, parents and local leaders about gangs, and how to keep Virginia children away from them. The video is filled with interviews with gang members, parents and members of law enforcement.
It also features stunning images of gang violence filmed or photographed in Virginia, and recovered during the course of law enforcement investigations.
“We have gangs in the Commonwealth,” Attorney General McDonnell said. “We need to confront the problem head on and provide our parents, school officials and citizen groups with the tools they need to understand the problem, and help us combat it. This is a powerful video. It takes viewers inside the gang world in Virginia. It teaches them how to keep children and young people far away from that destructive and violent world. If this video prevents just one child from joining a gang, it is a success.”
McDonnell continued, “This video will be shown across the Commonwealth, and it will open eyes and stimulate discussion. That is the purpose. Education, prevention and tough law enforcement is the best strategy to combat gangs and ensure a bright future for our children.”
The Office of the Attorney General was assisted in producing “The Wrong Family” by a broad coalition of organizations. They included: Police Departments in Arlington, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Norfolk, Petersburg and Richmond; the Virginia Department of State Police; the Virginia Department of Corrections; the Office of the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney; and the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. Several non-profit organizations also participated, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Virginia, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Richmond Midnight Basketball, and the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.
Congressman Frank Wolf noted, “I appreciate Attorney General McDonnell’s continued efforts in the fight against violent gangs in Virginia. This video will further support the efforts of our active gang task forces in northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley and help raise law enforcement awareness throughout the Commonwealth.”
Cal Ripken Jr, speaking on behalf of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, which assisted with the video, stated, “Anyone that works with youth should see this video. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is proud to work with the Office of the Attorney General and other law enforcement agencies as part of our Badges for Baseball program. Through Badges for Baseball we are able to provide Virginia’s young people with positive mentors and healthy out-of-school-programs."
Michael Herring, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond, added, “The message is powerful and sobering. In fact, the video delivers many of the points that we in law enforcement often struggle to convey, because we have not lived the tragedy of gang involvement.”
"Fairfax County has long recognized and acknowledged the presence and adverse impact of criminal gangs, and has adopted proactive prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies,” stated Fairfax County Chief of Police Dave Rohrer. He continued, “Training and the sharing of ideas and information among the broad spectrum of our law enforcement and criminal justice partners has been, and will be, the cornerstone of our collective effectiveness and success. Our Department was pleased to participate in the creation of this anti-gang video."
Dr Al Valdez, a nationally recognized expert on gang sociology and psychology, and former Gang Unit Supervisor in Orange County, California, stressed, "Street gangs are now reported in all 50 states. To understand what is happening in Virginia and how to minimize the impact of street gangs - watch this video! Everyone can help an at-risk-child by educating themselves about the realities of gangs."
“The Wrong Family: Virginia Fights Back Against Gangs” was produced using federal grant monies and funds seized from criminals. Metro Productions, a Richmond based company, produced the video for the Office of the Attorney General. The video runs 25 minutes.
The Office of the Attorney General is currently producing a Spanish version of the video for distribution in 2009.
