People v. Prunty

Opinion

CUÉLLAR, J.

Penal Code section 186.20 et seq., also known as the California Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act (the STEP Act or *67Act), was enacted in 1988 to combat a dramatic increase in gang-related crimes and violence. The Act imposes various punishments on individuals who commit gang-related crimes—including a sentencing enhancement on those who commit felonies “for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang.” (Pen. Code, § 186.22, subd. (b) (section 186.22(b)), italics added.)1 A criminal street gang, in turn, is defined by the…