Anti-racketeering bill may advance in Kansas Legislature
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Kansas lawmakers are considering an anti-racketeering bill aimed at boosting sentences for convicted gang leaders.
The Wichita Eagle reports (http://bit.ly/X8qj1X ) that the Senate bill would create the Kansas Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, better known as RICO.
The statute would resemble the federal RICO law, which was enacted to combat the Mafia and allows prosecutors to charge gang members for engaging in a string of criminal activity, rather than for individual crimes.
There may be a vote on the measure today (Thursday) in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
A similar bill died in the House two years in a row but it's been updated with stricter provisions focusing mainly on serious felonies.
Wichita Police Lt. Scott Heimerman helped draft the revised measure, which he says is aimed at gang leaders.
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