Norwalk Votes to Fine Parents of Lawbreakers

The City Council, in a move directed against gang activity, has decided to hold parents responsible when their children continue to break the law.

The council unanimously adopted an ordinance last week that would impose fines of up to $2,500 on parents of children under 18 who get into trouble with the law, including breaking curfew.

The ordinance will allow the city to file civil suits against parents or guardians of children who engage in gang activities, including graffiti writing, vandalism, fights, drug use and drug dealing.

In another anti-gang move, the council passed a law requiring landlords to evict tenants who use the residences for illegal drug dealing. Landlords who fail to take any action can be fined up to $5,000.

The council “is responding to citizens’ requests that we act more forcibly against gangs and drugs,” Mayor Grace F. Napolitano said.

“I’ve had people call me and say they feel like prisoners in their own homes because gang members are walking the streets. They tell me that their neighborhoods are being taken over by drug dealers,” Napolitano said.

Councilman Marcial (Rod) Rodriguez said the new laws “put more teeth in the job we are trying to do to combat gangs.”

Parents of gang members will be informed of their children’s crimes and will be taken to court if they fail to make any attempt to correct such behavior, Rodriguez said.

“We are saying to them, if they won’t take responsibility for their kids, it will cost them,” the councilman said.

The ordinance differs from the state’s 1988 Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, which provides for criminal prosecution of parents who fail to control or supervise their children, Assistant City Atty. Pamela Albers said.

“It is a supplement to the state law. Instead of jail, the punishment is monetary,” Albers said.

She said she believes Norwalk is the first city in Los Angeles County to establish such a fine on parents.

A 37-year-old South Central Los Angeles woman was arrested under the state law last year and accused of allowing her 15-year-old son to participate in a street gang. The woman could have been given a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Charges against the woman were dropped after it was discovered that she had completed a parenting skills class. She failed to tell authorities about the class.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California is challenging the constitutionality of the state law and has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Norwalk officials say they intend to be “flexible and reasonable” in administering the new law.

“If we find that we have a chronic problem (of gang-related activities) we will contact the parents and try to negotiate with them in bringing about a behavioral change (in the child),” Deputy City Manager Ernie Garcia said.

As an example, parents of children who constantly violate the city’s 10 p.m. curfew law will be contacted, Garcia said. The Norwalk curfew requires that children under 18 must be off the streets after 10 p.m. or be accompanied by an adult.

“We will not be stopping children on their way to football games or to the prom, but we will be concerned about loitering,” Garcia said.

Members of the Community Gang Impact Team, which is made up of five sheriff’s deputies and was formed in October, will keep the council informed of chronic violators, public safety director Kevin Gano said.

Napolitano said five city employees trained to work with gang problems will counsel parents and their children and try to find solutions before the city has to prosecute. “Through counseling, we hope to help find the gang kids jobs or help them get back in school,” Napolitano said.

There are approximately eight known gangs, with about 2,000 members in Norwalk, a city of about 90,000, sheriff’s officials said.

The sheriff’s Gang Impact Team made 245 arrests between Oct. 31 and Dec. 2 in city areas frequented by gangs, public safety director Gano said.

Gano said 121 of the arrests were for traffic violations, including speeding and failing to stop for signals. Other offenses included possession of marijuana and cocaine, burglary, automobile theft and rape.