Prevention Works just published an interesting article about a new way to combat gang activity by using civil injunctions. The injunctions are meant to keep gang members from gathering in public places. For example, if gang activity is know to happen on a certain street corner, a local business or a local citizen can file an injunction, making it illegal for gang members to gather on that street corner.

Although this might seem like a novel way to approach gang activity, I can’t help but wonder if it actually works. Of course, there are some logistical complications: “it is necessary to demonstrate a defined geographic area that is impacted by the gang and the selected gang must have identifiable members. When filing suit, notice of the suit must be provided to individual gang members. Attempts must be made to serve all members of the gang with the injunction; the injunction can only be enforced on members who have been served.”

To me it seems like a lot of work to track down every individual member of a gang, and serve them all separately to tell them it is illegal for them to be in a certain geographic area. And, in the end, it is just a piece of paper. If gang members do not already respect laws for more serious offenses, like drugs, assault, and murder, why would they respect a piece of paper that tells them to stay away from a certain area in fear of a misdemeanor?

What do you think? Could gang activity be curbed by the use of civil injunctions?

Source: http://ncpc.typepad.com/prevention_works_blog/2009/05/battling-gangs-a-novel-use-of-civil-injunctions.html

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