Research shows there’s a spike in gangs in Georgia – and we’re at ground zero

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The number of gang members in Georgia has skyrocketed over the past six years, according to a study released Friday by a nonprofit group.

The survey found no increase in gang violence, but did find agencies reporting that gangs are responsible for about 65% of all crime in Georgia.

That matches what the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office told News 12.

The Richmond County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division tells us that gang violence is the cause of almost all violent crimes here – as well as less violent crimes such as bank fraud and car burglaries.

By 2024, Georgia will have more than 127,000 gang members and associates, according to the Georgia Gang Investigators Association.

That’s an increase of about 80% from the 2018 survey, which found about 71,000 members.

The number of violent gangs has also increased from 1,600 to more than 1,900, the study shows.

The increase is “significant and alarming”, the association said – and the figures are likely much higher. The study collected reported data from sheriff’s offices and law enforcement agencies in 86 of Georgia’s 159 counties, leaving 73 unrecorded.

“The rise in gang membership and violence is a clear sign that we must take more aggressive and collaborative action to address the growing influence of gangs in Georgia,” GGIA President Jose Ramirez said in a statement. “The findings in this study underscore the urgency of implementing comprehensive strategies to protect our communities and provide youth with alternatives to gang life.”

Ramirez said gang recruitment among youth is particularly concerning.

“They sell a gang lifestyle that ultimately becomes a psychological trap, under the guise of love, acceptance and power,” he said.

The research shows that gang violence occurs everywhere in Georgia, whether in a rural or densely populated area.

In Richmond County

The CSRA has been embroiled in a cycle of violent crimes that have claimed more than 180 lives in the past two years.

Underlying this crime is the drug and gun situation in Richmond County, Richmond County deputies told News 12 a few weeks ago.

Hundreds of pounds of drugs, hundreds of guns and millions in cash were found in Richmond County neighborhoods.

Investigators keep track of how much money, drugs and weapons have been seized during search warrants.

Data from the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office tells the story of what law enforcement is up against.

From 2018 to May 2024, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office seized $4,348,817 from search warrants alone. That also includes at least 1,152 guns and 226 vehicles.

In the past six years, more than 2,500 arrests and almost 2,000 crimes have been committed.

As for the drugs seized, 39 pounds have been recovered since 2021, when deputies began tracking fentanyl seizures.

Since 2021, that number has increased dramatically.

The total doubled between 2022 and 2023 and is on track to rise again this year.

Since 2018, investigators have seized more than 1,200 pounds of marijuana, 166 pounds of meth, 166 pounds of cocaine and nearly 6,000 oxycodone pills.

Throughout Georgia

In 2022, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr launched the state’s Gang Prosecution Unit, convicting 48 gang members to date.

“When it comes to protecting our children, we must double and triple our anti-recruitment efforts across the board, and we must continue to ensure that our law enforcement officers have the training and resources they need to build strong cases that ultimately leading to safer communities,” Carr said.

The investigation is based only on data made available to the nonprofit, Ramirez said. He believes a good next step would be for the state to keep data on gang violence, which would provide a more complete picture.

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