12 hours “Defending Gang Cases”
October 27 & 28, 2005.
Holiday Inn, Anaheim, CA
I.    Conceptual Approach: Debunking the Law Enforcement Model.           (1.5 hours)      

A.     First, there was the neighborhood.
B.     What is a gang?
  • Legal vs Law Enforcement vs Behavioral Science definition.
  • Law Enforcement’s “gang” terminology and what it means.
  • Gangs vs Tagging Crews vs Party Crews.
C.     Gang vs. Criminal Street Gang.
D.     Is the war on gangs a war on youth?
II.   Gang Law                                                                                            (1.5 hours)      

A.     Penal Code 186.22
B.     Prop. 21
C.     Criminal prosecution theories:
  • Aiding and abetting.
  • Natural and probable consequence.
  • Conspiracy theory.
III. Juvenile Gang Law                                                                                (1.5 hours)      

A.     Burden of proof.
B.     Obtaining juvenile records and protecting your client’s records.
C.     Interviewing juvenile witnesses.
D.     Serving subpoenas on juvenile witnesses.
IV.  Prison Gangs                                                                                       (1.5 hours)

A.     Who are they? How formed, when and why?
B.     Shot-callers versus soldiers.
C.     Intake procedure and housing decisions.
D.     Prison gang investigations and record keeping.
V.  Eyewitness Cases                                                                                 (1.5 hours)      

A.     Suspect description: (M, H, 20-23, bald, wearing dark colored baggie clothing).
B.     In field show ups, line-ups, photo six packs, individual photo showings.
C.    The devil and the doubt are in the details.  How a thorough interview can make a difference.
VI. Field Work                                                                                           (1.5 hours)      

A.     Planning your trip and your interview; what to take and what to leave behind.
B.     Breaking down barriers and building rapport.
C.     Gathering intelligence from defendant.
D.     Common sense approach to Investigator safety.

VII. Predicate Acts, F.I.s, and Records.                                                     (1 hour)

A.     What part do they play in the case.
B.     Do you investigate them, how and why?
C.     What records to look for and how to obtain them (school, work, phone, probation, parole).
VIII.  The Human Story.                                                                             (2 hours)         

A.     Who is your client, how did they get there?
B.     Creating a compelling narrative about your client.
C.     Demonstrative evidence and court exhibits.
D.     Mitigating circumstances and community support.
E.     How investigators make a difference in sentencing.