Gang Activity

In America, nearly half of all violent crimes are gang-related. Unfortunately, Georgia communities are not immune to this type of organized crime, and member recruitment is on the rise. According to the Georgia Gang Investigators Association (GGIA), there are an estimated 71,000 validated gang affiliates and over 1,500 suspected gang networks across the state. In fact, in a 2018 survey conducted by GGIA, 157 counties reported a rise in gang activity and 155 school districts reported suspected gang activity. 

Even more concerning, criminals are now using social media as a recruitment tool to specifically target a younger audience.

Gang Prosecution Unit

With the support of Governor Brian Kemp and members of the General Assembly, Attorney General Chris Carr created Georgia’s first statewide Gang Prosecution Unit. This new Unit has secured 32 convictions and indicted a total of 135 people since July 1, 2022. The Attorney General's Gang Prosecution Unit is based in Atlanta, with regional, satellite prosecutors and investigators in Albany and Augusta, Georgia.

At the end of the day, the law-abiding people of our state deserve freedom from fear, and to do so, we must re-dedicate ourselves to disrupting all gang networks that are infiltrating our communities with violent crime and will stop at nothing to turn a profit.

Georgia Anti-Gang Network

The Office of the Attorney General is committed to working with and further supporting our law enforcement officials – federal, state and local – on multi-jurisdictional issues, such as criminal gang activity.

In July 2018, Attorney General Chris Carr brought together several local, state and federal partners to discuss their current efforts to address criminal gang activity. Following a productive and informative first meeting, the group decided to continue its work as the Georgia Anti-Gang Network with a focus on the following areas:

• Strengthening multi-jurisdictional investigations and prosecutions;
• Improving intelligence-sharing capabilities;
• Stopping recruitment; and
• Identifying proven and effective prevention programs.

Attorney General Carr appreciates all members of the Georgia Anti-Gang Network, including:

• Office of Governor Brian Kemp
• Georgia Bureau of Investigation
• Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
• Georgia Department of Community Supervision
• Georgia Department of Corrections
• Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
• Georgia Department of Public Safety
• Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency
• Georgia Public Safety Training Center
• Governor's Office of Planning and Budget
• Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia
• Georgia Gang Investigators Association
• Georgia Sheriffs' Association
• Fulton County Sheriff's Office
• Atlanta Gang Initiative
• Cobb Judicial Circuit
• Formulytics
• U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia
• U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia
• U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force
• Homeland Security Investigations (Atlanta Office)
• U.S. Marshals Service Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force
• U.S. Postal Inspection Service (Atlanta Office)