The City Attorney believes that schools absolutely must be a safe haven for children. As a result, the Office has recently announced two groundbreaking initiatives to ensure the safety of all children throughout the day.

The Initiatives

Safe School Zones – With City Attorney Delgadillo’s recommendation, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) declared every school in the district a Safe School Zone, subjecting any person committing a crime in this area to stiffer penalties. The initiative also gives school officials, law enforcement and LAUSD security the power to ensure that only enrolled students or those with official school business are allowed onto school grounds.

LA SAVES – City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo stands firm in his commitment to stopping gun violence near schools, so, in conjunction with the Safe School Zones, Delgadillo launched LA SAVES – “Los Angeles Strategy Against Violent Environments near Schools.”

How They Work

Safe School Zones – Under the program, bus stops and all areas within 1,000 feet around the school are now considered violence-free zones. The proposal allows school administrators, school police and local law enforcement to require any individual whose presence or acts interfere with the conduct of education to leave immediately or be arrested. The initiative also subjects violent offenders with prior criminal records to progressive penalties for new offenses. A first violation will result in up to an additional six months in jail and a $500 fine added to the sentence on the original charge.

LA SAVES – Partnering with the LAPD and LA County Probation Office, Delgadillo’s Gun Violence Unit works to identify and pursue armed offenders and those who have been convicted of offenses involving firearms who currently live near schools. LA SAVES will bring regular inspections to school communities in order to remove dangerous convicted criminals who fail to show up for hearings, or are found to have other conviction and/or probation problems.

Why They Matter

When children are unable to study because their minds are focused on outside danger then we have failed them. Similarly, our school grounds should always be a safe haven for our children and now, the neighborhoods surrounding our schools will be safer as well. By designating our schools as “Safe School Zones” and by implementing LA SAVES, we send a powerful message to the community that we will not tolerate crime in and around our schools. In its first year, the LA SAVES program has resulted in the arrest of 46 felons, many of those being known gang members, the rescue and the rescue of 49 children, as well as the confiscation of narcotics, weapons, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Safe School Zones

With City Attorney Delgadillo’s recommendation, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) declared every school in the district a Safe School Zone, subjecting any person committing a crime in this area to stiffer penalties. Under the program, all areas within 1,000 feet around the school, including bus stops, are now considered violence-free zones. The initiative allows school administrators, school police and local law enforcement to require any individuals whose presence or acts interfere with the conduct of education to leave immediately or be arrested. Safe School Zones also subjects violent offenders with prior criminal records to progressive penalties for new offenses.  A first violation will result in up to an additional six months in jail and an additional $500 fine.