FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2017

LAW ENFORCEMENT NETS 15 MINORS IN 7TH OC GRIP CURFEW SWEEP

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP) partnered with 13 law enforcement agencies to conduct a curfew sweep in the county. Last night, 130 officers patrolled the cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and detained 15 minors who were out past curfew and in violation of city laws. This annual event is hosted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), organized by OC GRIP, and works to heighten parental awareness and prevent local youth from joining or participating in gang activity.

The 15 minors were taken by police car to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) until their parents arrived and picked them up. Before releasing the youths, OCDA and OC GRIP representatives and officers met with the detained minors’ parents and discuss the dangers and legal consequences involved for those who violate curfew. Legal ramifications could include misdemeanor criminal prosecution with penalties ranging from fines up to six months in jail for the parent, or juvenile hall for the child, plus the associated financial costs. Parents and children also met with probation officers who provided helpful resources for substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, and family therapy.

“Nothing good happens between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., when you are a minor out on the streets without parental consent or supervision,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “Children who are out after curfew open themselves up to becoming victims of crime and we want to educate parents about the risks involved. I am very proud of the OC GRIP program and all they offer to our community,” said Rackauckas.

Curfew times vary by city, but begin at either 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. and last through 5:00 a.m. During this time, minors are prohibited from being out in public unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Exceptions are made for minors participating in employment, educational, or emergency activities. On-duty teams conducted the sweeps in areas with a high volume of gang and/or criminal activity during their regular patrol at no additional cost to taxpayers.

OC GRIP aims to prevent juveniles from being victims of or participants in gang crimes by identifying at-risk youth, increasing school attendance, and decreasing gang activity. The sweeps were hosted by the OCDA, OCSD, Orange Police Department, and the Orange County Probation Department. The participating agencies included police departments from Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Placentia, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Unified School District, Tustin, and Westminster. OCSD patrolled the Cities of Aliso Viejo, Dana Point, Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton, and north and south unincorporated Orange County.

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Susan Kang Schroeder

Chief of Staff

714-347-8408/714-292-2718

Michelle Van Der Linden

Spokesperson

714-347-8405/714-323-4486