FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor Jim Hahn, who as City Attorney pioneered the use of gang injunctions, today said Los Angeles will develop a citywide gang injunction.

"I am putting gangs on notice: Los Angeles is off limits. A citywide gang injunction means gangs have nowhere to run and nowhere to hide in L.A," Mayor Hahn said. "Gang injunctions work. A citywide injunction will stop every gang member everywhere from getting together to plot against the people of Los Angeles."

Gang injunctions prevent gang members from gathering, disrupting their ability to organize, commit crimes and intimidate through their sheer numbers in one place.

"Because of afterschool programs, intervention programs and aggressive policing from Chief Bill Bratton, gang crime is down 24 percent," Mayor Hahn said. "But I won't be satisfied until gang crime is gone from Los Angeles."

Mayor Hahn also announced today the Los Angeles Project for Violence Prevention, a program Mayor Hahn said is intended to "stop the shooting."

The project consists of:

* Trained outreach teams of ex-gang members and others who would actively get involved to prevent shootings and who would be available for gang members to turn to before violence happens.

* Response teams that would hold peace rallies, vigils, community forums and other activities to let gang members and the city know that the community will not tolerate violence.

* Apartment watches and block clubs recruited to not only report crimes, but to get involved before gang violence occurs.

* "Wrap around" case management for at risk people to keep young women and men out of gangs, the gang life and illegal gang activity by offering comprehensive services including job placement, education, and drug and mental health counseling.

* Public education through a media campaign to let gang members and the public know about the resources the city offers to prevent violence and help people get their lives on track, and to let gang members know the consequences that a few seconds of violence can have – such as a lifetime of prison.

* Accountability reviews and standards to ensure results.

Currently, there are 22 gang injunctions in Los Angeles. Since Mayor Hahn brought new leadership to the Los Angeles Police Department, gang crime is down citywide, as is overall violent crime, which is down almost 20 percent. Mayor Hahn's Safer City Initiative aggressively targets gang hot spots and has delivered dramatic results in neighborhoods like Hollywood, where gang crime is down 60 percent, and MacArthur Park, where violent crime is down 40 percent. Also, Mayor Hahn expanded the LA's BEST afterschool program to give more than 20,000 kids a safe place to go during those crucial after school hours when they are most vulnerable.

###