Gang Hotline

Do you have information about gang activity in your community and are afraid to call the police? Please call (619) 533-4874. This is an anonymous line and your name will be kept confidential. Your information will be passed on to appropriate authorities. Thank you for your concern and help.

Positive Activities

To keep your children engaged in positive activities, view a list of local recreation sites (PDF).

Local Churches have programs for your youth. We have provided information for you research what best fits your family. View this list (PDF).

For more information please visit:

• Directory of Adolescent Services (PDF)
• Resources for Parents: A list of activities and organizations that can support you. (PDF)
• Parent Guide to Gangs (PDF)
• Guía para padres en español, por favor presione aquí (PDF)
• Violence Prevention / Intervention - San Diego County Office of Education
• El Ministerio de Educación del Condado de San Diego tiene un excelente sitio de Internet para profesores

For details about how San Diego documents gang members, please read: Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Gang Documentation (PDF).

Family Resources

Is your child struggling in school? Are you looking for family counseling services? Building Bridges Together has a resource line that can help you: (888) 843-5800 (toll free).

Commission on Gang Prevention & Intervention Resource Guide
Our Community Resource Guide (PDF) is a dynamic document that is frequently updated. It is sorted by communities and zipcodes. You are welcome to give us feedback and updated information at gangcommission@sandiego.gov Thank you for your support.

General Information

• Truancy and Curfew Information
• San Diego County Office of Education (Gang Information)
• San Diego County video to help Parents understand the gang culture and recruitment.
• Parents and teachers looking for help with Cyber bullying may likely find this online toolkit helpful.
• San Diego is a member of the 13 City Gang Prevention Network. This active organization is a good source of information and research.
• Harlem Children's Zone. An interview with Geoffrey Canada. Click on "Full Episode."
• Building Bridges Together
  - Parents Adolescent Community Education (PDF) - call (858) 282-0903 for details.
• Local recreation sites (PDF)
• Directory of Adolescent Services (PDF)

Graffiti is Not Art

Graffiti is not art; it is vandalism. It is prohibited when done without permission of the property owner. Furthermore, San Diego Municipal Code Section 54.0405 requires that property owners keep all walls, buildings, fences, signs and other structures and surfaces visible from the public right-of-way free of graffiti.

In November 2000, the San Diego City Council amended the City's Graffiti Ordinance to revise the official definition of "graffiti" as follows:
"Graffiti means any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, picture, or design that is sprayed, marked, cut, posted, pasted or otherwise affixed, drawn or painted on any surface of public or private property."

To report graffiti please call 9-1-1 and visit the Reporting Graffiti Web page for details on rewards for reporting graffiti.

For more information visit the City's Graffiti Control Program Web page.

The City's Citizens Review Board

The City of San Diego Citizens Review Board created a video designed to take some of the mystery out of the Board process. A traffic stop scenario sets the stage to describe the investigation and review process we have in the City of San Diego. The 12-minute video is accessible on this website, http://www.sandiego.gov/citizensreviewboard and click on "Watch Video About..."