Councilwoman Green Calls Upon The Kentucky Senate To Put An End To House Bill 169

Photo: Louisville Metro Council

Councilwoman Jessica Green (D-1) Chair of the Louisville Metro Council’s Public Safety Committee, is calling on Senators of the Kentucky General Assembly to put an end to House Bill 169, the so call Gang Violence Prevention Act.

“This legislation is a duplication of existing statutes.  We already have criminal syndication, complicity, and conspiracy statutes on the book. These statutes frequently aid law enforcement and prosecutors who work everyday to keep our communities safe.

HB 169 seeks to gain political points, with little concern to the cost of taxpayers, already existing law, or how this legislation has the ability to hyper-criminalize certain neighborhoods.  This legislation would take away the discretion of prosecutors and judges in sentencing, which is such an important part of the system.

Justice and Public Safety Secretary John Tilley says that Kentucky’s prisons and jails will be out of room by May of 2019, if not before then, if things do not change.” says Green. “I encourage the Senate to vote no and if it should make to Governor Bevin’s desk, he should have his veto pen handy and use it.”