Gang injunctions

In an effort to combat gang violence in the City of Oxnard and provide the residents of Oxnard a safer community the Oxnard Police Department, with the assistance of the District Attorney's Office sought and was granted two gang injunctions against the two largest and most violent local gangs in the city. The current gang injunctions prohibit identified members of the Southside and Colonia Chiques Criminal Street Gang from engaging in certain acts that have been outlined in the gang injunction.

The Oxnard Police Department targets the most active members, who have demonstrated violent behavior and their willingness to put the community at risk with their actions. The Oxnard Police Department has used the gang injunction as one of their many options to reduce gang violence in the City of Oxnard. The gang injunction, along with the other programs and directed efforts, has been very successful in reducing gang violence in the City of Oxnard.

The gang injunction has an "opt out" clause that identifies how a gang member can be removed from the injunction. The "opt out" clause requires that the person not have any gang contacts, get any new gang tattoos, and not be arrested for a gang related crime in a five year period. They must also be gainfully employed. The Oxnard Police Department encourages these gang members to give up their "gang lifestyle" and outlines in detail how these members can accomplish this.

The gang injunction has no bearing on most of the residents in Oxnard, and only affects those persons identified as being "active participants" of the Southside and Colonia Chiques Criminal Street Gang. The gang injunction is used to disrupt the daily activity of those identified members in order to prevent and/or deter their "gang activity."

Please refer to the attached links that include "frequently asked questions," the "safety zones" for both injunctions, a copy of both injunctions, as well as numerous services that are provided in the County of Ventura that assist gang members in getting out of the "gang lifestyle" and their contact information. If you have further questions you can contact Sergeant Christopher Williams at (805) 486-6211 email: Christopherwilliams@oxnardpd.org or Senior Officer Alex Arnett (805) 486-6297 email: Alex.Arnett@oxnardpd.org