Opinion: Gang Injunctions

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Kudos to City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo for creating a new system under which someone can have his name removed from a gang injunction. Since 1993, when gang injunctions came into popular use by law enforcement, not one Angeleno has managed to successfully challenge the system. And that can’t be because the city simply has not ever, absolutely, positively, categorically never made a mistake. So today’s new guidelines right a long-standing wrong.

Under the new program, alleged gang members no longer have to risk retaliation by publicly renouncing membership in the gang. Also, people can seek to have their names removed from an injunction through a hearing with officials in the city attorney’s office. This is a bit like having the city attorney’s office be prosecutor, judge and jury, but it is a step in the right direction.

Let’s see how well it works.