Southern California’s Focus on Gang Activity

Southern California political and law enforcement officials have increasingly focused on gang activity over the last five years, and sweeps of different areas and institutions have become more popular.  A recent three-day sweep of Santa Ana ended with 85 people being arrested by the police, many of whom were alleged gang members.  Police are also […]

Murder Down But Shootings Up in LA

Despite a well-publicized decrease in LA murder rates last month, shootings between June 29 and July 26 increased a dramatic 24% from the previous reporting period. While July marked the lowest number of homicides –19 — in Los Angeles since March 1970, 141 people were shot.
In California, gun and weapons charges are serious crimes that […]

Hate Crimes Increase in Los Angeles

Hate crimes in the Los Angeles area increased by 28% from 2006 to 2007, according to a recently released report by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. In 2007, 763 hate crimes were reported, a five-year high. Blacks were the most-targeted group, subjected to 39% (310) of hate crimes; followed by gays and […]

Gang Violence: A Target for Law Enforcement

The last few months have seen a huge rise in the attention put on gang violence in Los Angeles.  Racial issues, weapons, drug offenses and more are all a part of what law enforcement faces when it comes to gangs.  Police have begun focusing on how to deal with gang violence, and are cracking down […]

Battle for Los Angeles: How to Deal with Weapons Charges

Weapons are a serious issue in and around Los Angeles, with everything from guns, knives and even brass knuckles playing a part in a variety of crimes.  Not only does this up jail time for other felonies, but possession of a weapon can bring with it criminal charges in and of itself.
In spite of a […]

Gangs In California

California has long sought solutions to its gang problems, and has tried a number of different strategies. The most infamous of these is to serve injunctions against specific gangs, as Sacramento did against the ?Broderick Boys?, making it illegal for gang members to gather. As these strategies have met with varying success (for example, the […]