Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced the dismissal of all active gang injunctions on Tuesday, impacting 317 individuals across the county. This move aligns with recent shifts in California law and follows a 2022 Assembly Bill that redefined gang-related activities. The injunctions, some in place since 2006, targeted 13 gangs in cities like Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Fullerton.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Spitzer emphasized that the injunctions were never meant to be permanent but to correct criminal behavior. Gang injunctions are civil court orders that restrict individuals from certain activities, like wearing specific clothing or associating with gang members, within designated areas.
The decision came after legal pressures from the Peace & Justice Law Center, which argued that the injunctions were racially biased and violated the California Racial Justice Act. Sean Garcia-Leys, the center’s executive director, noted that these orders disproportionately targeted Latino groups while ignoring white supremacist gangs.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office consulted with local law enforcement before deciding to dissolve the injunctions. The dissolution is “without prejudice,” allowing for future injunctions if needed. Spitzer stated that these injunctions served their purpose and that the office will continue focusing on gang crime prevention through initiatives like the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP).
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