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The Drug Abatement Response Team (DART) was originally formed in 1989 to address the proliferation of narcotic-related problems throughout the City of San Diego. Until January 2005, DART prosecutors were part of the Code Enforcement Unit in the City Attorney's Office; however, City Attorney Michael Aguirre saw a need to expand the work of DART and created a stand alone unit. Today, DART prosecutors address a wide variety of crime-related public nuisances including prostitution, gangs, and properties but the majority of their cases still involve narcotics.
The principal members of the DART task force include the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) narcotic, vice and gang officers and inspectors from the Neighborhood Code Compliance Department (NCCD). If voluntary compliance cannot be achieved by working with the property owners, DART prosecutors obtain civil injunctions to stop the criminal or nuisance activity on the property. However, criminal and administrative judicial systems will also be used when appropriate.
DART prosecutors work with various city, county, state, private agencies, and departments depending on the specific problems that need to be addressed. As community prosecutors, they also attend community meetings to work with community members to learn their issues and concerns firsthand.
Please view the City Attorney’s Annual Report for more information.
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