Oakland is set to enforce a gang injunction against one of Oakland’s toughest gangs, North Side Oakland (NSO), who are known for drug sales, robberies, and homicides. If the injunction is approved by a judge it will create a safety zone of about 100 blocks between Berkeley, Emeryville, and Telegraph Avenue. The injunction will also prohibit NSO and its members from any “gang” activity and from creating a "public nuisance" in that zone. There are rules gang members will have to obey while being in the safety zone.

Gang members cannot:
  • Associate with other gang members in public
  •Confront, intimidate, or assault witnesses
  •Possess graffiti/vandalism tools
  •Recruit members to their gang
  •Trespass
  •Possess any drugs

Breaking one of these regulations will be considered contempt of court. Violators would face a criminal misdemeanor which means six months in jail and a fine of $1,000.

City Attorney John Russo described NSO as a criminal enterprise that needs to be stopped "They have terrorized our community, intimidated witnesses and recruited young people and children to their criminal enterprise. They are part of the malevolence that has crippled our city for decades and continues to hold Oakland back today."

Oakland Police Chief Batts sees the injunction as a tool to win back the streets of Oakland. Check out what City Attorney Jon Russo and OP Chief Anthony Batts had to say on this issue.