People v. Gardeley

Opinion

KENNARD, J.

At issue in this case are certain provisions of the Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, also known as the STEP Act, enacted by the Legislature in 1988. (Pen. Code, § 186.20 et seq.) Underlying the STEP Act was the Legislature’s recognition that “California is in a state of crisis which has been caused by violent street gangs whose members threaten, terrorize, and commit a multitude of crimes against the peaceful citizens of their neighborhoods.” (Pen. Code, § 186.21.) The act’s express purpose was “to seek the eradication of criminal activity by street gangs.”…