People involved in gang-related crimes in the Bronx may soon face stiffer penalties.

A new bill was passed by the state Senate that would create harsher sentences for gang-related crimes. It was introduced by Assemblyman Peter Rivera (D-Bronx). The bill would create a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence for violent felonies and a mandatory minimum sentence of two to five years for nonviolent crimes.

The bill defines a gang as two or more people who share common characteristics and collaborate on a crime. Under the bill, judges would have the discretion to determine if a crime was gang related.