Los Angeles County – the birthplace of heavy-handed police tactics like S.W.A.T. teams, helicopter patrols and gang injunctions – is embarking on an effort that could make the nation’s most populous county a model for using a lighter touch with juvenile offenders.
Residents of San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood have long complained of their youth being targeted by police. In response, community advocates and law enforcement came together to create a restorative justice program. The program has generated both praise and criticism.