Gang Injunctions & Civil Abatement in Los Angeles
A gang injunction in Los Angeles is when the City Attorney’s Office with approval from a judge issues a restraining order against specific gang members of a particular gang. With information gathered from police officers, a judge will grant a restraining order against identified members of a gang, in essence suing them. In the lawsuit, the actual gang members are mentioned, and they are forbidden to engage in a host of activities, some of which are already illegal such as selling drugs, vandalizing property and possessing weapons. Other activities that they are restricted from doing have included associating with other named gang members, curfew or riding bicycles. Each gang injunction must define a geographic area where these activities are restricted known as a “safety zone.”
Los Angeles first started experiencing with gang injunctions in the early 1980s in Pomona, West Covina, and E. LA, but the injunction against the Play Boy Gangster Crips in 1987 is when these civil abatement strategies first gained national attention. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenged the constitutionality of the injunctions and city attorney James Hahn was forced to modify his lawsuit. Since then, several injunctions have been implemented in LA County including in Inglewood against the Crenshaw Mafia Bloods, in Los Angeles against 18th Street and the Harpys, and in Norwalk against the Orange Street Locos to name a few. There have been just over 30 injunctions in LA County. The ACLU has continued to take the position that gang injunctions violate civil rights and in a report published in 1997 the ACLU has claimed that they are not that effective in abating crime.
The popularity of the injunctions have seen places such as San Diego and San Jose, California, San Antonio, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois to adopt similar strategies against their gangs. Although the California Supreme Court ruled that the city of San Jose may implement gang injunctions when it overturned a 1995 appellate court decision in the ACLU case, People v. Acuna, because of the vague language of Chicago’s 1992 anti gang ordinance, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1999 that it was unconstitutional and challenged individual freedoms (see Chicago v. Morales).
In the San Diego injunction, the California appeals court stated that gang members can keep their pagers and cited that restricting pagers for any purpose violates ones freedom of speech.
ARTICLES on GANG INJUNCTIONS
2013
– Gang injunction granted in Echo Park, September 26, 2013
– Activists and law enforcement square off over gang injunctions, September 14, 2013
– Gang injunction foes fail to win support of Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, September 4, 2013
– Does Echo Park need a gang injunction?, August 18, 2013
– Community activists storm LA court to oppose gang injunctions, August 21, 2013
– New City Attorney to study proposed Echo Park area gang injunction, July 23, 2013
– Gang injunction curfews in Los Angeles are now illegal to enforce, July 12, 2013
– Gang Injunction Clears Hurdle in Santa Barbara, July 11, 2013
– City Attorney seeks court injunction against six Echo Park area gangs, June 18, 2013
– Imperial police seeks gang injunction, April 20, 2013
– Judges Show Unease With Orange Gang Injunction (Pasadena), April 10, 2013
– Grape Street Crips on gang injunctions & possible peace with East Coast Crips, March 1, 2013
2012
– Oxnard streets are getting safer, July 13, 2012
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2011
– New outdoor mural in Fruitvale inspired by gang injunction defendants, August 14, 2011
– LA County wins 16-square-mile gang injunction (La Puente), July 22, 2011
– Oakland gang injunctions win narrow support from City Council, May 18, 2011
– Gang-injunction debate continues, May 17, 2011
– ACLU Wins Gang Injunction Suit, but Ruling Won’t Affect San Juan, S.C., May 12, 2011
– Russo resigns, Oakland City Council to vote on gang injunction strategy, May 4, 2011
– Baldwin Park Police Department doubles size of gang unit amid continued violence, May 1, 2011
– Baldwin Park mulls gang injunction as prosecutors move forward with plans for La Puente area injunction, March 29, 2011
– Hayward lawmakers to hear update on gang injunction program, March 20, 2011
– Police agencies may copy Ogden’s gang restraining orders, March 5, 2011
– Gang Injunctions to Be Filed Soon, March 3, 2011
– Lawsuit takes aim at Los Angeles gang injunctions, February 14, 2011
2010
– Gang problem not serious enough for injunction, Sheriff says, October 28, 2010
– North County Comes To Grips With Gang Problems, Oct 6, 2010
– Ogden police enforcing gang restraining orders, Oct 5, 2010
– Injunction singles out 2 Visitacion Valley gangs, Oct 1, 2010
– Ogden court to make decision on controversial gang plan, Sept 27, 2010
– Resource officers keep schools safe, build rapport with students, Aug 22, 2010
– Judge OKs Oakland gang injunction, June 3, 2010
– Oakland Gang Injunction approved: Opt-out clause added to proposal, May 28, 2010
– Oakland gang injunction is a false solution, May 26, 2010
– Solano County court decision on permanent gang injunction must wait, May 2, 2010
– DA, Sheriff work to Eradicate Gangs in Cutler and Orosi (Tulare County, CA), April 27, 2010
– Oakland Gang Crackdown: Friend or Foe to Community?, April 15, 2010
– Injunction bars gang members from LA’s Skid Row, April 7, 2010
– Video: San Jose city leader wants to expand gang injunctions, Feb 25, 2010
– Oakland to ask court for injunction against gang, Feb 18, 2010
– Video: Witness LAPD attempting to enforce a gang injunction, Feb 14, 2010
2009
– Injunction targets San Bernardino gang, Dec 21, 2009
– SM police chief defends lack of gang injunction, Dec 9, 2009
– Duarte officials afraid neighbor’s gang injunction will strengthen a gang in their city, Nov 23, 2009
– Kay Bee from Crenshaw Mafia Blood talks about peace in Inglewood, Nov 17, 2009
– ACLU Sues OC over Gang Injunction, Sept 23, 2009
– Gang database: Just how accurate, how fair?, Sept 20, 2009
– LAPD to focus anti-gang efforts on South L.A., Aug 25, 2009
– Gang injunction splits Hawaiian Gardens, Aug 1, 2009
– Attorney wants judge disqualified in Solano County gang injunction case, July 6, 2009
– St. Paul police sue to keep gangs away from Rondo Days, July 1, 2009
– Judge disqualified in gang case, July 3, 2009
– Gang injunctions have helped in some counties, June 29, 2009
– Suing for Peace, June 28, 2009
– Plan to modify L.A. gang injunctions splits lawmakers along party lines, June 26, 20
– LA city attorney seeks gang injunction at school, June 16, 2009
– Injunction won’t get rid of gang, June 12, 2009
– With crime in decline, a fragile sense of hope, June 7, 2009
– Judge grants injunction against Barrio Van Nuys gang, June 3, 2009
– In an Unprecedented Move, DA Dismisses Bulk of Gang Injunction Cases in Orange, May 27, 2009
– Judge approves DHS gang injunctions, May 15, 2009
– City attorney has Barrio Van Nuys gang in his cross hairs, May 6, 2009
– Civil gang injunctions and other legal tools for preventing crime: an overview, May 1, 2009
2008
– Norteño safe zone permanent, May 6, 2008
– Anti-gang injunction evolves mixed feelings, April 27, 2008
– Street gang members served an injunction, March 21, 2008
– Gang members notified of safety zones, March 15, 2008
– LA Daily News: Court ban on gangs effective, devisive, January 12,2008
2007
– Injunction issued against Riverside gang, August 25, 2007
– From social club to street gang, March 21, 2007
– Judge grants an injunction against L.A. street gang, February 28, 2007
– Injunction to be filed against 204th street gang, January19, 2007
2006
– Judge ok’s Southside Chiques injunction, October 24, 2006
– S.F. attorney wants to create gang free zone, October 23, 2006
– Gang Injunction: 300 black men targeted, October 20, 2006
– O.C. Oxnard Police, DA considers second gang injunction, July 15, 2006
– L.A. city atty. seeks injunction against gang, June 02, 2006
– Injunction has community feeling handcuffed, April 28, 2006
– L.A. gets federal grant to fight gang violence, April 01, 2006
– On paper, leaving a gang is difficult, March 23, 2006
2005
– West Sac’s catch-22, December 21, 2005
– New study says gang injunction provides short term benefits, September 29, 2005
– L.A. implements gang injunctions, August 23, 2005
– Oxnard Police, DA considers second gang injunction, July 15, 2005
– Judge grants perliminary Vista gang injunction, July 1, 2005
– Anti-gang injunction made permanent, June 2, 2005
– Questions delay ruling on injunction, May 3, 2005
– Judge to rule on injunction within weeks, March 26, 2005
– Permanent gang order is urged, March 3, 2005
– Anit-gang strategy is called a success, March 23, 2005
– Judge bars 3 gangs around South L.A. park, February 1, 2005
– Injunction erodes hope, January 30, 2005
– Oxnard solution is flawed, January 30, 2005
– There’s a better way to deal with gangs, January 30, 2005
– Witnesses identified for injunction trial, January 30, 2005
– Oxnard man loses request to be removed from gang injuction judge says evidence proves gang ties, January 5, 2005
– Gang officers find weapons cache, January 4, 2005
– Police consider limiting gang with “safety zone”, January 23, 2003
2004
– Injection of justice into vein of tyranny, December 14, 2004
– Result of injunction: Crime way down, November 28, 2004
– Experts say mean streets lead to unhealthy children, August 15, 2004
– Information distorted to promote injunction, August 15, 2004
– Wilmington Gang injunction caused crime statistics to plunge, August 12, 2004
– Your letters: Oxnard gang injunction, August 3, 2004
– Colonia Civil Rights Coalition organize to fight injunction, August 1, 2004
– Injunction facts, July 31, 2004
– Police Serving Notice of Gangs, June 9, 2004
– Public defender to enter injunction fight judge says four people can get their argument heard in court, July 9, 2004
– Judge hints gang injunction will be permanent, July 9, 2004
– California; Gang Ban is cutting crime police says, June 19, 2004
– Oxnard gang ruling delayed, May 25, 2004
– Many unconvinced of need for injunction, May 23, 2004
– Venture County builds case against gang, may 23, 2004
– Injunction targets gang as a whole, May 15, 2004
– Gang unfazed by law, injunction targets see rise in crime, March 6, 2004
2003
– L.A. targets two gangs with restraining order, March 3, 2003
– Media district included in LAPD gang injunction, December 2003
– Oceanside gang injunction extended, November 8, 2003
– Do gang injunctions work, November 15, 2003
– An injunctions price tag, November 15, 2003
– Gang drug dealing targetted in revamped Hollywood, November 8, 2003
– How the so-called war on gangs is strippping the rights of a whole community, October 26, 2003
– Judge extends limits on gang: injunction placed on the members of Center Street group, September 13, 2003
– Police consider limiting gang with safety zone, January 12, 2003
– City targets gang in Nickerson Gardens, August 29, 2003
– Cooley, Delgadillo seek gang injunction in Watts, August 28, 2003
– D.A. -city attorney seeks injunction against street gang in Nickerson Gardens area, August 28, 2003
– Flying the Flag: The debate over the latest gang crackdown, July 18, 2003
– City attorney Delgadillo secures permanent injunction against KAM criminal Street gang, January 23, 2003
2002
-Injunction takes aim at Northeastern L.A. gang, December 20, 2002
-Oceanside police pursue two more gang injunctions, December 8, 2002
-Logan Heights gang members prohibited from congregating, November 1, 2002
–Delgadillo says he is seeking gang injunction to give area hope, October 8, 2002
-LAPD steps up against gang rage or, with a super squeeze, July 29, 2002
-19 year old father lastest gang victim, July 26, 2002
-Judge’s decision against gang members will stand, June 5, 2002
-A town fights gangs by obtaining right to sue them, May 20, 2002
-Gang members fight action, March 23, 2002
-Area put off-limits to Valley gang members, February 26, 2002
-Judge lifts injunction against gang member, February 21, 2002
-PVE police meets with surfrider foundation, January 17, 2002
-Judge makes injunction permanent, January 12, 2002
2001
-Supervisor Knabe announces gang injunction against East Side Longos, November 30, 2001
-LAPD slaps Pacoima gang with injunction, October 6, 2001
-Seond set of gang injunctions signed, September 8, 2001
-New begining for Perry Park, August 16, 2001
-Suspected gang member speaks out, August 12, 2001
-What is the state of gang injunctions in the wake of the Rampart scandal?, August 5, 2001
-Politics in the steet, the debate that matters on gang injunction, May 25, 2001
-ACLU wins higher legal standards for gang injunctions, May 10, 2001
-Hahn, Villaraigosa exchange increasinly bitter accusations, April 27, 2001
-Hahn begins TV ads in Mayoral race, February 25, 2001
-ACLU fights limits on gang members, February 14, 2001
2000
– Police Crack Down on Gang-Ridden Park, October 25, 2000
– Supervisor Knabe Presents City of Long Beach with $95,000 for Gang Prevention Efforts, August 30, 2000
– Gang Injunctions Trample Some Basic Rights, June 13, 2000
– Phoenix Loses Gang Battle in Court Ruling, June 7, 2000
– DuPage judge rejects anti-gang injunction, May 27, 2000
– Gang Member Sentenced for Violating Injunction, May 26, 2000
– Gang Injunction Gunfight, January 31, 2000
Bill Seeks Legal Aid for Targets of Gang Orders, January 13, 2000
1999
– Hearing on Shatto Park Gang Injunction Delayed, December 9, 1999
– Enforcement of Gang Injunction Delayed Again, Dec 9, 1999
– Civil Suit Targets Public Activities of Suspected Gang, October 15, 1999
– Injunction Junction, October 14, 1999
– ACLU-SC Voices Support For District Attorney’s Decision to Halt 18th Street Gang Injunction, Sept 21, 1999
– Rampart Probe May Put Gang Injunction at Risk, September 19, 1999
– Alleged gang members forbidden to mingle, September 9, 1999
– Ending the Roundups, June 21, 1999
– Two men first to be sentenced under anti-gang law, June 15, 1999
– High Court Voids Chicago Loitering Law Aimed at Gangs, June 11, 1999
– Chicago Mayor Criticizes U.S. Court Gang Ruling, June 10, 1999
– Gangs Can Congregate, June 10, 1999
– Injunction Targets Culver City Gang, June 4, 1999
– Injunction isn’t Enough, May 30, 1999
– Gangs unusally target victims, but now the city of Los Angeles is targeting gangs in a lawsuit aimed at getting rid of them, March 30, 1999
– Chained Gang, January 15, 1999
1998
– Chicago Law Targeted at Street Gangs Up for Review, Dec 9, 1998
– Superior Court Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction in Gang Case, Dec 1, 1998
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California appeals court strikes down ban on carrying pagers, Oct 28, 1998
– L.A. attempts to curb gang activity against Compton Varrio Tortilla Flats, Sept 1, 1998
– A Notorious Swath of Drugs and Violence, August 14, 1998
– Judge Approves Injunction Against Harpys, August 8, 1998
– Local district attorney in Corpus Christi wants to create similar law preventing people from gathering, July 8, 1998
– Suspected Gang Members Get Restraining Order Subpoenas in Texas, July 3, 1998
– Injunction Targets Hollywood Gang, the Mara Salvatrucha, April 14, 1998
1997
– Police in Los Angeles are finding that reams of paperwork can stop gang violence, Nov. 11, 1997
– Judge Puts More Heat on 18th Street Gang, August 29, 1997
– L.A. to Gang Members: Don’t Even Whistle, Aug 14, 1997
– L.A. tries to hold back 18th Street Gang with tough measures, Aug 7, 1997
– Judge Bans 18th Street Gang, July 11, 1997
– Injunction Issued Against Long Beach Gang, June 10, 1997
– City tries gang ban , July 11, 1997
– Gangbusters: Enjoining the Boys in the ‘Hood, May-June 1997
– ACLU Report Says Gang Injunction Failed to Reduce Crime, May 28, 1997
– Culver City Gang Faces Injunction, May 20, 1997
– High Court Upholds San Jose’s Anti-Gang Injunction, March/April 1997
– Court upholds right to restrict gang activity, February 1, 1997
State High Court Allows Injunctions, Jan 31, 1997
1996
– California Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to San Jose Anti-Gang Injunction, October 29, 1996
1995
1994
1993
– Unusual Anti-Gang Injunction Leads to Conviction of Man for Having Pager, August 26, 1993
1992
– Great moments in free assembly, The San Fers and Shakin Cats, Jan 27, 1992
– For Safe Parks, Put Gangs on the Peace Path, Jan 20, 1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
– Rethinking gang’s rights vs. our rights, Feb 5, 1988
1987
– Judge Raps City Atty.’s bid to nuetralize gangs, Dec. 11, 1987
– Court Rejects City Attorney’s bid to curb westside gangs’s movements, November 6, 1987
1983
– Los Angeles gangs heeding court order to erase graffiti, Feb 13, 1983