RESCUING REBELS : A Question of Tolerance : Legal authorities aggressively confront youths at risk for joining gangs. But others wonder if that approach is unnecessarily harsh.

Among all the risks teen-agers face, gang involvement may scare people the most, especially as stories about Los Angeles’ drug-related violence multiply.

One former gang member, 18-year-old Baltazar Lopez, a recent graduate of Channel Islands High School in Oxnard, worries that “we’re going to be another L.A. in Oxnard.”

In Ventura County, law enforcement officials said they are equally concerned about both white and Latino gangs.

“Of the people involved in gangs (in the county), only 5% to 10% are hard-core gang members,” said Matt Hardy, a deputy district attorney. “The neo-Nazi gangs--the skinhead types--are a particular threat to what law enforcement does. Their activities are a greater threat to our community because that kind of hatred and racism causes more hatred.”

Regardless of the type of gang, law enforcement personnel take what Ventura County Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Edwards characterizes as a “zero tolerance” approach.

Edwards, who oversees law enforcement efforts on the Community Gang Task Force, said the activities of youths who dress in gang clothes or associate with gang members are monitored by authorities.

And according to Hardy, gang members who break the law are dealt with promptly.

“The kids who commit violent crimes are locked up. To the ones who are marginally involved in violence, we give probation terms that help the police--no gang clothes, no use of beepers, no association with gang members,” Hardy said. “We’ve had cutbacks in the district attorney’s office, but gang cases get processed regardless of resources.”

“Zero tolerance” also applies to graffiti, the majority of which, Edwards said, is gang-related.

“Deterioration of the community begins with the presence of graffiti,” said Simi Valley Police Lt. Jon Ainsworth, who is in charge of the gang detail. “Cross-outs and paint-overs are a solicitation to fight.”

Penalties can be stiff for those caught painting graffiti. One recent offender was given an $800 fine, 80 hours of community service and three years probation.

The “zero tolerance” approach to gangs has its critics. Some advocates for youth feel it brands relatively harmless behavior as gang-related, with sad consequences.

Lonnie Miramontes, director of Community Services for El Concilio del Condado de Ventura, said the tracking of apparent gang members can be overdone.

“I’m not saying that it’s wrong,” Miramontes said. “Parents need to know what’s going on. But I think it can be overused. Kids are pulled over because of their clothes--maybe there are no violations. Being out on the street at 10:30 at night is not an illegal act. They are questioned about their destination and associates. A field interview card is created for them. If this happens often enough to a young person, he becomes one of the ones who is kept track of.”