Watch: Collaborating to Combat Gang Violence
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Irmo, S.C. (WOLO) — Monday marked the start to the Department of Corrections annual conference on gang violence.
Law enforcement agencies from across the state gathered at Midlands Technical College for three days filled with tips and techniques to combat gang violence in the community and prison.
Vincent Goggins, Commander of the Midlands Gang Task Force says in recent years gang activity in Richland County has shifted from drug and weapon trafficking to counterfeiting, tax fraud and human trafficking.
Despite the change in trend Goggins tells ABC Columbia they’ve seen a steady decline in gang membership since 2005.
He explains, “Then it was because it was something new, so you had the numbers, a lot more numbers then. Now it’s more, I choose to live that lifestyle.”
While membership is declining out on the streets, officials are seeing a stronger gang presence inside the prison system.
Elbert Pearson, Chief of Administration for Police Services says, “Everybody coming from all over the state all over the nation come into the prison system. You’re talking about white supremacists, brotherhood, you’re talking about your bloods, some neighborhood gangs all come to the prisons and try to control all the contraband coming in to the prison.”
Regardless of location, authorities say the solutions to gang violence are the same communication and training.
“A gang will lie dormant because we don’t know the signs and symptoms of that gang but when you start knowing the signs and symptoms and know how to identify them then you can identify them, assess the situation and deal better with it,” says Pearson.
