A judge Monday approved preliminary injunctions against two gangs in Placentia, a first for the city and the 14th and 15th against gangs in Orange County.
County officials served 23 people in one criminal street gang and 28 others in another group. Orange County Superior Court Judge Peter Wilson enjoined seven people alleged to be members of the gangs.
On Jan. 19, the attorneys will return to court to determine which ones will be permanently enjoined and which defendants will be given an option to object and fight being named in the injunction.
The civil matter, which is filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, regulates gang activity such as where and when the members congregate and what they wear.
Last year, the county filed a civil action against Santa Ana street gangs, with three people still contesting their inclusion.
Many gang members are reluctant to go through the whole legal process to contest their inclusion in the injunctions because it involves a public denunciation of their association with the group, which may lead to repercussions, according to Placentia police Chief Ward Smith and Assistant District Attorney Tracy Miller.
“They might as well pack up and move somewhere else” if they do so, Smith said, adding that many gangs are “multi-generational.”
“They are violent and large in number,” Miller said.
Opponents packed Wilson’s courtroom for a hearing this afternoon, contending the injunctions are often used as a tool for gentrification and lead to aggressive policing that includes increased searches in schools, raids of people’s homes, and probation, parole and immigration checks.
Smith, however, said many other residents are thanking police for implementing the gang injunctions. He said it is another law enforcement tool used to fight gangs, and those who do not belong to or associate with gangs will see a boost in their quality of life and will not be subjected to any extra law enforcement scrutiny.
Deputy District Attorney Lisa Grossma said anyone who is enjoined must go through a formal and informal process to get out of the injunction. The formal process includes petitioning the court and showing evidence that the defendant no longer is involved with the gang, she said.
Informally, anyone named in an injunction may ask prosecutors for help getting out of it if they can demonstrate they no longer are involved with the gang, Grossman said.
Miller said prosecutors only target named people in the injunctions and do not generically go after anyone else who has been identified with an association with the groups.
There are now gang injunctions in place in Garden Grove, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Fullerton, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Stanton and now Placentia.
— Wire reports