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Civil Injuncation: A Preemptive Strike Against Gangs

NCJ Number
171204
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 66 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1997) Pages: 11-15
Author(s)
J R Cameron; J Skipper
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
As part of a team effort with citizens, city officials, and the local prosecutor's office, the Redondo Beach Police Department (California) used the civil injunction in a successful preemptive strike against gang-related crime.
Abstract
Members of the North Side Redondo (NSR) Gang, a particularly violent and troublesome gang, had been using Perry Park as an informal headquarters for NSR activity; and in the judgment of the police, the park had become the single most significant factor in the growing strength of the gang. The police department decided to use an approach that had proved moderately successful in curbing gang activity in other jurisdictions: filing a civil injunction against the gang members. A civil injunction is a lawsuit that, if granted by the court, requires or limits certain actions by the defendants; an injunction serves as a protective order for the city. In this case, the city of Redondo Beach would sue NSR gang members, proving that they were a nuisance and thereby restricting their activity through a court order. The order sought by the city would prohibit named gang members from conducting specific activities in Perry Park and the surrounding 24-block area. Many of the prohibited acts would normally be legal. For 5 months the police department's Gang Enforcement Team collected evidence to prove that a problem existed in Perry Park and surrounding areas because of the activities conducted by specific gang members. The 250-page document produced by the team helped the prosecutor convince a judge to issue a temporary restraining order. Early statistical analysis shows a significant decrease in gang activity in and around Perry Park since the restraining order was granted.