NCJ Number
147586
Journal
School Safety Update Dated: (November 1991) Pages: 6
Date Published
1991
Length
1 page
Annotation
The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office has developed an injunction to be used in fighting gang activity, particularly the public nuisance created by gang drug dealing.
Abstract
The Civil Gang Abatement allows the community and police to gather information for use in persuading a judge that a local street gang poses a dangerous public nuisance. The prosecutor then persuades the judge to prohibit the gang from engaging in all other activities that are associated with gang membership but not necessarily illegal, such as wearing pagers, approaching pedestrians and motorists, wearing gang colors, and gathering at known drug sales locations. Police have held neighborhood meetings to explain Civil Gang Abatement procedures and to mobilize community support. Police are also using situs abatement laws to force property owners into taking action to discourage gang and drug activity on their property. Loitering statutes have been used effectively by schools to counteract drug dealers and to discourage outsiders on campus. The U.S. Senate has passed a crime bill which provide funds for a major education, prevention, and treatment effort involving youth gangs and youth drug dealers. The bill must now be considered by the House of Representatives.