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Gang History Gang Injunctions
Gang History Gang Injunctions
Spook isaderogatorytermusedtowardBlackpeople.Duringthe1940s,theKuKluxKlanalso emergedinLA.ThefirstBlackandLatinogangswereinresponsetothesewhitegangs.The gangsactedasprotectionforBlackandLatinoneighborhoods.IncidentssuchastheZootSuit Riots,inwhichwhitemarinesattackedLatinozootsuiters,ledtoahigherdegreeoforganization inthegangsofbothBlacksandLatinos. The1960s AftertheWattsRiotsof1965,whiteflightledtomuchofSouthLAandthesurroundingareas becomingmostlyBlackorLatino.Thisalsoledtothesomeofthegangsbeginningtofighteach, astherewerenolongeranywhitegangs.ThiswasalsothetimeoftheCivilRightsMovement. Gangsalmostcompletelyendedduringthistime.MostofthegangsbecameinvolvedintheCivil RightsMovement.ManygangmembersjoinedorganizationssuchastheBlackPantherParty andtheBrownBerets.ThesegroupswantedBlackandBrowncommunitiestocontrol businesses,employment,education,andthemediaintheirareainsteadofhavingthesethings controlledbyrichwhitepeopleandorganizations.TheBlackPantherPartyandtheBrown Beretswantedtoactasacommunityarmy,andorganizedpeopleagainstpolicebrutalityand racism.AgoodexampleofthiswasBunchyCarter,originallyamemberofaSlausonstreet gang.HebecametheleaderoftheBlackPantherPartyinLA.Streetgangscompletelystopped asorganizationssuchastheUSOrganization,theMalcolmXFederation,theBlackPanthers, andtheBrownBeretsflourished.
membersoftheseorganizationswereoutrightassassinatedbythegovernment.The governmentcalledthistheCOunterINTELligencePROgram(COINTELPROforshort).Asthe BlackPantherPartyandtheBrownBeretsbegantodissolve,streetgangscameback.The BloodsandtheCripsquicklyformed.TheCripsstartedoffashavingtwosets,theEastSideand theWestSide.MostoftheBloodsetsstartedoffasCrips,andthenbecameBloodsasthesets begantoarguewitheachother.Theybothstartedfirstwiththesameideasofcommunitypower astheBlackPanthershad,butwithouttheleadershipofthePanthers,bothstreetgangsquickly spiraledoutofcontrol.Aroundthesametime,the18thStreetLatinogangbegantoformandhad asimilarhistory.DifferentSureno(Southern)gangsbegantoformattheMexicanMafia,aprison gang,brokeintotwogangstheSurenos(Southerners)andtheNortenos(Northerners).What startedasasmallganginNorthernCaliforniatoprotectLatinosinjailendedupbeingoneofthe longestrunninggangwarsinCalifornia.Therewereseveralattemptsattrucesduringthistime, butallofthemwerebrokenupbypolice. 1980s The1980ssawahugeincreaseinthenumberofgangs.AlloftheideasoftheBlackPanther PartyandtheBrownBeretswerecompletelylostbythistime.Thegangswereexclusively focusedonterritoryandcrime.ThebeginningoftheCrackEpidemiconlyworsenedtheeffect, asthenumberofgangsetsincreasedintothehundredsandspreadoutthroughoutthecountry. TheneighborhoodsofSouthCentralbecameveryseparatedatthistime.Inmanyareas,each blockhadadifferentgang,andsomeblockshadmorethanonegangonthem. 1990s Astheinfluenceofgangsspiraledoutofcontrolwiththeintroductionofdrugstothecommunity, theearly1990ssawsomeofthehighesthomicideratesever.However,therewasamajordrop inhomicidesaftertheLARiots.Muchofthishastodowiththegangtrucethatwasestablished amongtheprojectsinWatts.In1993,therewasalsoamajortruceamongLatinogangstoend drivebys,andthekillingofinnocentpeople.Althoughthe1990sbeganverybadly,itendedwitha declineinthenumberofgangrelateddeaths. 2000andBeyond Today,gangrelatedhomicidesareatanalltimelow.Manygangmembershavefound themselvesinjailduetoahugepolicefocusonreducingthecrimerate.Atthesametime,there hasnotbeenalargedecreaseinthenumberofgangs.Today,thepoliticalnatureofgangshas beencompletelylost.Formanypeople,gangsfillsomesenseoffamilyorbelongingthatwas missingintheirlife,however,ithascomeataprice. Lawsthatspecificallytargetgangmembers Sections186.20186.33oftheCaliforniaPenalCode:Thischapterisknownasthe"California StreetTerrorismEnforcementandPrevention(STEP)Actandrelatesspecificallytostreet gangs.Thepurposeofthischapteristocombattheonsetofviolentstreetgangswhose membersthreaten,terrorizeandcommitamultitudeofcrimesagainstthepeacefulcitizensof
SDPDpolicyondocumentingagangmember TheSanDiegoPoliceDepartmentsStreetGangUnitpolicyrequiresthatanindividualmaybe "documented"asagangmemberwhen: Heorshehasthreeseparatecontactswithpolicemeetingoneormoreofthecriteria listedbelow,or Onecontactwiththreeormoreofthecriterialistedbelow. CriteriafordocumentingaGangMember Subjecthasadmittedtobeingagangmember Subjecthasbeenarrestedaloneorwithknowngangmembersforoffensesconsistent withusualgangactivity Subjecthasbeenidentifiedasagangmemberbyareliableinformant/source. Subjecthasbeenidentifiedasagangmemberbyanuntestedinformant Subjecthasbeenseenaffiliatingwithdocumentedgangmembers Subjecthasbeenseendisplayingsymbolsand/orhandsigns Subjecthasbeenseenfrequentinggangareas Subjecthasbeenseenwearinggangdress Subjectisknowntohavegangtattoos
listedinPC186.22f). GANGINJUNCTIONS Whatarethey? Ganginjunctionsarecivilcourtordersthatattempttoaddresscrimebyusingalower legalstandardthanrequiredbythecriminaljusticesystem,resultinginseriouscivilliberties violations.Lawenforcementusethemasatooltolabelpeoplegangmembers andrestricttheiractivitiesinadefinedarea.Ganginjunctionsmakeotherwiselegal,everyday activitiessuchasridingthebuswithafriendorpickingaspouseupfromworklateat nightillegalforpeopletheytarget. AganginjunctionisobtainedbytheCityattorneyorDistrictattorneywhoasksajudgetodeclare thataparticulargangisapublicnuisanceandimposepermanentrestrictions onthetargetedindividualsdailylives. RestrictionsofGangInjunctions Associate UseGangHandSigns WearGangClothes UseDrugs PossessorSellDrugs DrinkorPossessAlcohol PossessWeapons Fight HaveGraffiti/VandalismTools CommitGraffiti/Vandalism Trespass BlockFreePassage ShootGuns Intimidate HaveContrabandinCars HaveBurglaryTools ActasLookouts Litter Urinateinpublic MakeLoudNoise ViolateJuvenileCurfew
GangInjunctionsinSanDiego
VarrioPosoleLocosOceanside,January11,2011 CenterStreetGangOceanside,May24,2010 WestsideGangEscondido,March22,2010 DiablosGangEscondido,March22,2010 WestsideGangEscondido,September5,2007 DiablosGangEscondido,September5,2007 VarrioSanMarcosSanMarcos,November28,2007 OldTownNationalCityNationalCity,October31,2005 VistaHomeBoysVista,September30,2005 EastsidePiru(a.k.a."Skyline")SanDiego,May14,2004 VarrioPosoleLocosOceanside,March2,2004 CenterStreetGangOceanside,December3,2003 LoganRedStepsSanDiego,April10,2003 NestorSanDiego,July15,2002 DiablosEscondido,July13,2001 WestsideEscondido,July13,2001 LindaVista13LindaVista,March23,2001 VarrioMesaLocosOceanside,June1,2000 VarrioSanMarcosSanMarcos,November1,1999 VarrioPosoleLocosOceanside,November25,1997
WhatsatStake? Ganginjunctionsraiseanumberofcivillibertiesconcerns,bothforspecific,targeted individuals,aswellasanycommunitymemberwholivesinorvisitsthedesignatedarea. Oneofthemosttroublingaspectsisthattheyoftengivepoliceoverlybroaddiscretionto labelpeoplegangmemberswithouthavingtopresentanyevidenceorevencharge someonewithacrime.Policearelefttorelyonthingslikewhatsomeonelookslike,wherethey live,andwhotheyknow.Asaresult,thereisagreatpotentialforracialprofiling,withaparticular impactonyoungpeopleofcolor.Despitethedocumentedexistenceofwhitegangs,no Californiaganginjunctionhastargetedawhitegang. Peopletargetedbyganginjunctionsarenotguaranteedtheirlegalrighttobenotifiedor giventheopportunitytodefendthemselvesincourtpriortobeingboundbyrestrictionsofthe injunction,noraretheyprovidedwithanattorney. Additionally,manyganginjunctionsdonotprovideaclearwayoutforpeoplewhoare eithermistakenlyidentifiedasgangmembersorforthosewhohaveturnedtheirlivesaround. Thismeansthattheinjunctioncouldfollowthemtherestoftheirlife,whichcan makeitmoredifficulttoavoidgangactivity. Aretheyeffective? Ganginjunctionsareanineffectivelawenforcementtoolthatdoesnotaddresstherootproblems ofcrimeandviolence.LosAngeleshasnumerousganginjunctionsmorethananyothercity, yetlostmorethan10,000youthtogangviolenceinthelast20years.NewYorkisamajorcity withthepotentialforseriousgangproblems,yetin2005LosAngeleshadmorethan11,000 gangrelatedcrimes,whileNewYorkfaced520.Whathasbeenshowntoworkatreducing violenceandgangactivityisfundingsocialservices,suchasganginterventionandprevention programs,providingjobsandjobtraining,andprovidingbettereducationalopportunitiesfor youngpeople. NegativeImpactofGangInjunctions CONSTANTSTOPS,PATDOWNS,ARRESTSANDPERMANENTCRIMINALRECORDS: Everyonenamedinaninjunctionfacesregularpolicestops,questioning,patdownsandarrests. Thisimpactshowtheyareseeninthecommunitywhetherornottheyareanactivegang member,theygainareputationforbeingdangerous.Cyclinginandoutofcourtandjailcanbe constant,andtotallydisruptstheirsenseofsecurityandstability.Eachconvictionadds misdemeanorstoarecord,impactingapersonsabilitytoaccessorkeepjobs,schoolor housing.Furthermore,S.D.Countyjailsareseverelyovercrowded,violent,unhealthyandfilled withneighborhoodandracepolitics.Theconstantcontactwiththesystemforcesmanypeople furtherintogangpoliticsandviolence,itdoesntofferawayout.Injunctionsmakeitmuch
harderforpeopletobreakfromthestreetsorthesystemandmoveonwiththeirlifeinapositive way. EMPLOYMENT,HOUSINGANDSCHOOL:Withtheconstantpolicestopsandfrequent violationsforpeoplenamedininjunctions,mostpeoplecycleinandoutofjail.Manypeoplelose jobsafteronlyafewdaysofabsencefromwork.Employmentdiscriminationisarealityfor anyoneconnectedtothesystem.Manyjobswonthirepeoplewithcourtorsysteminvolvement nearlyalljobsincludequestionsaboutpastconvictionsontheirapplications.Collegesandhigh schoolshavestrictpoliciesonattendance,andlockupalsocausesyoutofallbehindinyour schoolworkandloseyourfinancialaid.Explanationsaboutmissingdaysatworkorschooldue toarrestaredifficulttocommunicateespeciallywhenpeoplehavelittletonoexperiencewith thepoliceorcourts,letalonegangsuppressionpolicies,anddontunderstandthatgang injunctionviolationsarentfornewcrimes,butforassociatingwithotherpeople,missingcurfews orhangingoutonyourblock.Foremployersandschoolofficials,yourexplanationsofconstant policecontactandarrestsstarttosoundlikethoseolddogatemyhomeworkexcuses.In addition,ganginjunctionarrestscanalsoleadPublicHousingandSection8toevictyou,and evenyourentirefamilyandlimityourabilitytogetintohousing.Becauseinjunctionscauseso manypeopletolosetheirjobs,housingorschooling,theyoftenforcepeoplebackontothe streetsinordertosurvive.Injunctionsmakeithardforpeopletogetandkeepalegitimatejob, attendschoolandmaintaintheirhousing. FAMILYUNITYANDCONNECTION:Ganginjunctionsprohibitassociationwithothergang membersevenifthoseallegedgangmembersarealsofamilymembers.Itbecomesa commonoccurrenceforpeopletobestopped,questioned,friskedandevenarrestedwithinthe safetyzonethegeographicareathatmakesuptheinjunction.Thefactthatfamilyorfriends liveinthesamehouseorsameneighborhooddoesnotprotectpeoplefromviolation.Parents havebeenarrestedvisitingtheirsmallchildren.Teenagershavebeenarrestedvisitingtheir parents,unclesorcousins.Itiscommonforfamilygatheringsbirthdays,Christenings,even funeralstoberaidedandthosenamedininjunctionsviolated.Ultimately,ganginjunctionssplit familiesapart.Therearewaystopreventviolencewithoutinjunctionsthatbreakfamiliesand communitiesapartandisolatealreadyvulnerablepeople. COMMUNITY:Peoplewhohavebeeningangsorhavetrustedrelationshipswithgangmembers haveanimportantroletoplayinbuildingpeaceinourcommunities.ItusuallytakestheOGsto talkpeopleoutofviolence,removegunsfrompeopleshands,orbringneighborhoodstogether tobuildandmaintaintrucesandceasefires.But,beingnamedinaninjunctionmakesthis importantworkimpossible.Interventionworkersfacebeingarrestedanytimetheyassociate withanotherallegedgangmemberintheinjunctionarea.Inaddition,schools,recreationand youthcentersusuallycanthireorevenallowpeopletovolunteerwhohaveconvictionsandare afraidtoworkwithpeoplenamedininjunctions.Injunctionsseverelylimitpeoplesabilitiesto buildcommunitysafetyandyouthprogress .THREATOFDEPORTATION:TheS.D.CountySheriffsnowchecktheimmigrationstatusof
everyoneenteringacountyjail.Anyonewhoisundocumentedfacestransfertofederaldetention anddeportation.Peopleconvictedofviolatinginjunctions,canbedeportedeveniftheyarehere legally.InjunctionsmakestayingintheU.S.muchmoredifficult,andincreasesthelikelihood thatchildrenwillbedividedfromtheirparents. Whatcanyoudo? Inmanyinstances,organizedoppositiontoganginjunctionsonlybeginsonceaproposed ganginjunctionhasbeenfiledincourtHowever,theCaliforniaSupremeCourthasheldthatgang injunctionsareconstitutionaldespitewellfoundedconcernsabouttheviolationofindividual rights.Accordingly,opposingaganginjunctionincourtatbestresultsinlimitingthetermsand scopeoftheganginjunctionandhistoricallyhasnotpreventedaganginjunctionfrombeing issued. Communitieshaveanessentialroleinorganizinginadvanceofaproposedgang injunctionbeingfiledincourt.Activitiesopposingganginjunctionsmayinclude: Publiceducationregardingganginjunctions,includingwhattheyare,theproblemstheypose, andtheneedforrealsolutions. Politicaloppositiontargetingcityofficials,includingtheCityAttorney,theChiefofPolice, membersofCityCouncil,andtheMayor. Politicalpressuretoadoptpreventionandinterventionsolutionsforacommunitytostopthe criminalizationofindividuals,whileprovidingrealservicesandsolutionsthataddresstheroot causesofcrimeandviolence. TheCommunitysDemands 1.Wedemandcommunityinvolvementindecisionmakingandstrategiesaffectingour community.Wewillnotallowelectedofficialsorgoverningbodiestodisregardourconcerns andpermitlaws,ordinances,injunctions,and/orresolutionstobeimplementedinour communitieswithoutaninclusiveandrepresentativecommunitydecisionprocess.Wedemand thatcityofficialsattendtownhallmeetingsindirectlytargetedcommunitiesinordertoheara representativevoiceofthepeople.Communitymembersconcernsandplansmustbeincluded inanyproposedlaws,policies,etc. 2.Wedemandastoptoallproposals,theproposal,implementationandenforcementof GangInjunctionsinSanDiegoandtheremovalofallpeopleinacurrentganginjunction database. GangInjunctionsdonotaddresstherootcausesofviolence,suchaspovertyand, unemployment,.Weneedaccesstogoodjobs,qualityeducation,healthcare,mental healthservicesandaffordablehousinginordertomakeourcommunitiessafe. miseducation,
3.Wedemandthatsocialandviolencepreventionprogramsreceiveanequalorgreateramount offundingasyouthandadultincarcerationtheCityofSanDiegoinvestinpeople,notpoliceand prisons.WeinsistthattheCityofSanDiego:(1)Allocateagreateramountofresourcesto supportcommunitybased,ownedandoperatedalternativestothecriminaljusticesystems mechanismofarrest,prosecution,detentionandincarceration..(2)Investinyouthdevelopment, drugtreatment,recreation,jobplacement,tattooremoval,education,youthorganizing /leadershipand/orculturalartsprograms.(3)Separateyouthdevelopmentfromlaw enforcement:Donotrequirecommunityagenciestoshareprograminformation,filesoryouth progresswithlawenforcement,whichhashistoricallybeenutilizedtocriminalizeyouth.(4)Stop increasingfundingtopolice,probation,andsheriffsdepartmentpreventionandintervention programs.Redistributethesefundstocommunitybasedprograms,whicharelessexpensive andmoreeffectiveindevelopingyouthandreducingyouthviolence. 4.CeasethegentrificationofSanDiego.Wedemandaccesstoaffordable,safehousing.Our neighborhoodsarebeingfloodedwithcondominiumsandunaffordablehousingunitsthatdrive families,children,workingclassandpoorpeopleoutofSanDiego.Wedemandaffordable/ lowincomehousingthattakesintoaccounttheannualsalariesandcitylivingexpensesof familiesandworkingclasspeople,aswellasholdingthePlanningDepartmentaccountablein regardstotheenvironmentalimpactinacommunity.Wealsodemandtheseaffordablehousing unitsbeinclusiveofcommunityprogramsratherthanbeutilizedascorporatestorefronts.. 5.WewantanendtogangstertacticsusedbytheGangTaskForce.Wedemandthat policeofficersareheldaccountableforabusingtheirauthorityandusingrepressivetactics againstcommunitymembers.MembersoftheGangTaskForceusedisrespectfullanguage, threateninglyaimgunsatindividuals,droppeopleoffinrivalterritories,unfairlylabelpeople gangmembersincourtandinfalsifieddocuments,anddehumanizeindividualsthroughregular abuseofpower.Wedemandthatallpoliceofficersareheldaccountablefortheirabusive actionsthroughinvestigations,punishment,and/ortermination. 6.WedemandtheenforcementofSanDiegoceaseanyinvolvementwithI.C.E.
Wewantanendtopolice,sheriff,andI.C.E.collaborationsaswellasanydeportationraidsto ceaseinourcommunities.Anyonedeportedtocountrieswithzerotoleranceforgang involvementareindangerofbeingkilledbymercenariesandinternationalgovernments. TheCityofSanDiegoshouldunderstandandprotectthehumanrightsofanyoneundocumented andinriskofdeportation.TheCitymustrecognizethatmanyoftheseindividualsareforcedby economicandcivilconditionstocometotheUnitedStatesasaresultofUSinternational corporateexpansion. SanDiegoCountyDAsOfficePetitionforRemovalfromGangInjunctionEnforcement ThisformisforusebyapersonlivingintheCountyofSanDiegowhohasbeenservedwitha ganginjunctionandwhowantstheopportunitytodemonstratethatheorsheshouldnotbe restrainedbytheganginjunctionbecauseheorshenolongeris,orneverwas,agangmember. Eligibility TheSanDiegoCountyDistrictAttorneysOfficehasputinplaceareviewprocessfor thosepersonslivingintheCountyofSanDiegowhobelievetheywerewronglyserved withaganginjunctionbecausetheywerenotthenandarenotnowagangmember,or whowereproperlyservedbuthavesinceendedtheirassociationwiththegang.Thereview processisintendedtobeinformalanddoesnotrequirethefilingofanypaperswithacourtor anyappearancesbeforeajudge.Itdoes,however,requirethatyoueithersubmitacompleted versionofthisformtotheDistrictAttorneysOfficeorotherwiseprovideuswiththeinformation requestedbythisform. Aganginjunctionwillbeenforcedagainstyouonlyifyouhavebeenpersonallyservedwithit.To beeligibleforremovalfromtheganginjunctionifyouhavebeenpersonallyserved,youmust providesufficientinformationfortheDistrictAttorneysOfficetopositivelyconfirmthat: 1. Younolongerare,oryouneverwere,amemberofthegangnamedinthegang injunctionand 2. Youarenotnowacting,andyouwillnotinthefutureact,topromote,further,orassist anyoftheactivitiesprohibitedbytheganginjunctiononbehalfofthegangnamedinthe ganginjunctionand 3. Youarenotamemberofanyothercriminalstreetgang. TheReviewProcess ThereviewprocessisconductedbytheDistrictAttorneysOfficeandwillinvolvea reviewofalloftheinformationinyourpetition,aswellasanyotheravailableandreliable informationconcerningyourpastandpresentmembershipinorinvolvementwithcriminalstreet gangs.Youandotherpeopleyouknowwhomayhaveinformationrelevanttothereviewprocess maybecontactedforadditionalinformation.Youwillbeadvisedofthedecisiontoremoveornot
toremoveyoufromtheganginjunctionatyourhomeaddress,or,ifyoupreferforsafetyor conveniencereasons,atanotheraddress.Ifyourpetitionisdeniedandyouarenotremoved fromtheganginjunction,youmaysubmitanewpetitionwhenyouhavesignificantnew informationtoreportsupportingyourclaimthatyounolongerare(oryouneverwere)agang member. Confidentiality TheDistrictAttorneysOfficewillkeeptheinformationyouprovideinthispetition confidentialtotheextentpermittedbylaw.TheDistrictAttorneysOfficewillnotusestatements madeinthispetitiontoproveanyfactessentialtoprovinganycriminalchargetheDistrict AttorneysOfficemaybringagainstyouinthefuture.However,thisinformationmaystillbeused tocrossexamineyoushouldyoutestifyatatrialinacasebroughtbytheDistrictAttorneys Officeandshouldyourtestimonybeinconsistentwiththeinformationprovidedinthispetition . RepresentationbyCounsel Areyoucurrentlyrepresentedbyanattorney(whichincludesaPublicDefender)inanylegal proceedinginvolvingtheganginjunction,including(butnotlimitedto)aproceedinginwhichyou areaccusedofviolatingtheganginjunction:__Yes__No Becauseofethicalrulesapplicabletoallattorneys,ifyouansweredyes,yourpetitioncannotbe consideredunlessyourattorneycompletesandsignsAddendumNo.1attheendofthispetition. HowtoSubmityourPetition Onceyouhavefilledoutthisform,pleasemakeacopyofitforyourrecordsandsubmitthe original. BYMAILONLYto: SanDiegoCountyDistrictAttorneysOffice GangInjunctionTeam c/oGangProsecutionUnit 330W.Broadway9thFloor SanDiego,CA92101 SanDiegoPetitionformsavailablehere: http://www.sdcda.org/preventing/gangs/petitionforremovalfromganginjunction.pdf