Gang Bang.

• Author: Garza, Mariel
• Position: Santa Monica, California harsh crackdown on gangs - Brief Article

If you're a gang member, it's hard enough to hang out on the streets, what with all the police scrutiny and gun-toting rivals. But for 35 alleged members of the Crips in the Venice section of Los Angeles, a court order issued in July has made it tougher still just to walk out the door.

Earlier this year, the city filed a civil suit against the men and got a ruling from a Santa Monica, California, superior court judge enjoining them from engaging in certain activities in a "safety zone" comprising the gang's traditional turf. Much of the proscribed behavior is not criminal per se, but believed to be "pre-criminal." For instance, the men can't carry even legal weapons or ammo in Venice. They are also under a 10 p.m. curfew and barred from having pagers, signaling to cars while walking down the street, hanging out with known gang members, and being on private...