The Task Force held hearings throughout the State and received testimony from representatives of small and large cities, schools, social service agencies, government, business and industry, community organizations, and a broad range of criminal justice agencies. Judicial and other criminal justice personnel addressed the need for more efficient court processes and consistent sentencing and probation conditions for gang and drug offenders. Representatives from social service agencies and community organizations stressed the need for prevention and intervention programs. In addition to public hearings, the Task Force surveyed district attorneys, police chiefs, sheriffs, and probation officers to solicit their ideas. The Task Force found that some communities are literally held hostage by increased gang involvement in drug trafficking and that prosecution units specializing in gang and drug cases are successful in targeting and incarcerating serious gang and drug offenders. Intensive supervision of gang and drug probationers/parolees is a successful approach to monitoring their activities, specialized treatment of gang and drug offenders in correctional facilities is effective, and gang crime suppression activities improve law enforcement's ability to prevent other crimes. Recommendations to prevent criminal activities by gangs focus on such areas as the development of a statewide gang information system, stricter laws for serious gang and drug offenders, streamlined court proceedings, Federal support, education, employment, community-based programs, and parental and adult role models. The extensive recommendations are categorized according to law enforcement, prosecution, corrections, probation/parole, the judicial system, California's executive and legislative branches of government, local government, school programs, community-based organizations, business and industry, and the media. Supplemental information on the Task Force's organization, findings, and recommendations are appended.