Roger L. Conner

In the following viewpoint, Roger L. Conner argues that gang injunctions, court orders that prohibit gang members from performing certain activities such as congregating in specific public areas, help reduce violence. Such injunctions should be upheld by the courts, Conner maintains, despite the protests of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which claims that the orders are unconstitutional. He asserts that injunctions are an effective form of intervention that make it harder for gangs to engage in criminal activity and recruit new members. Conner is executive director of the Center for the Community Interest, a nonpartisan organization that helps citizens regain control over public spaces and defends public policies that balance community responsibility and individual liberties.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What approaches are needed in the antigang effort...