Yard Down

"Yard Down" is a book on the investigations on violent gang crimes that happen inside the walls of one of California's oldest prisons.

This book is about investigating prison gang crimes—the crimes gang members commit for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in association, with the specific intent to promote, further, and assist their criminal street gang. A story told by me, a retired experienced California gang investigator who has testified in San Joaquin County court nine (9) times as a gang expert. Come on this exciting journey and learn how to investigate prison crimes, what to do when you arrive at a crime scene, and some tactics on how to determine who is involved. How to talk and communicate with the gangsters. How to collect evidence, DNA, photograph, interview, document, Miranda Admonishment, how to set up a Simmons Lineup, and prepare your case for the Deputy District Attorney. Learn how to prepare a gang write-up, a Curriculum Vitae and how to testify in court as a gang investigator.

This book is about investigating violent gang crimes that happen inside the walls of one of California's oldest prisons, from the moment of the crime to the appearance and testimony in court. By reading this book, you will learn about and experience the dangers of working inside a prison. How to investigate gang crimes, build your case, learn techniques, work with the Deputy District Attorney, testify, and develop tactics to prepare yourself for your investigation. You will also learn how to interact with the gangsters on a day-to-day basis as well as how to react when a crime occurs. This is a story about my own personal journey, in my own words. I dedicated 27 years of hard work to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Ten of those years were devoted to working investigations. I've had the opportunity to testify nine times in San Joaquin County courts as a gang expert on three different gangs: Norteños/Northern Structure, Sureños, and Northern Riders. The cases I've worked have produced over 24 gang enhancement convictions and over 100 years of prison time for the convicted gang members involved in the cases.