To curb gang activity in California,local courts and law enforcement created a special injunctions process that permits the arrest of known gang members for small infractions--in hopes of preventing more violent crimes.But to be really effective,arresting officers needed timely information to help them make good decisions and follow proper procedures.
The answer was a mobile-data system that puts"information at an officer's fingertips to make an arrest,"says Ed Ivora,an administrative analyst and head of technology at the Long Beach Police Department.
A gang injunction is a court order making it illegal for known gang members to loiter together,possess spray paint or commit other small crimes in a pre-defined"safety zone."If a police officer sees such behavior,he can make an arrest.But first,the officer must verify that the person has been served the court papers.
