The Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program (CNAP) began in 1997 and is coordinated under the supervision of the Office of the City Attorney. CNAP is a multi-agency task force, the first of its kind in the nation, charged with targeting the worst abandoned structures and nuisance properties plaguing Los Angeles neighborhoods.

CNAP is staffed by personnel from five core participating agencies: LAPD, City Attorney's Office, Department of Building and Safety, Housing Department and the Planning Department, collectively known as the Problem Property Resolution Team (PPRT).

Three of these agencies (LAPD, City Attorney's Office, and the Department of Building and Safety) had worked together since 1990 through the federal grant-funded FALCON (Focused Attack Linking Community Organizations and Neighborhoods) Narcotics Abatement Unit.

The participating agencies developed a coordinated, comprehensive approach to revitalizing buildings and neighborhoods with histories of pervasive narcotics activity. The FALCON Narcotics Abatement Unit has been integrated into CNAP.

In addition to traditional narcotics abatement cases, CNAP has developed strategies for abating other types of long- standing nuisance locations. CNAP is responsible for:

This program's major objectives are:

CNAP attorneys and building inspectors helped draft a "Vacant Building Ordinance". Effective September 30, 1999, the ordinance declares both vacant and unsecured or boarded buildings public nuisances. Additionally, the ordinance creates consequences if no action is taken by a property owner to eliminate the boarded building status.

The ordinance requires property owners, once their property becomes vacant, to submit a "Statement of Intent" describing their short-term and long-term plans for the property.

The ordinance also requires owners of vacant properties to:

CNAP uses a number of strategies to abate narcotics and other nuisances on private property. These include:

Identifying and Targeting Nuisance Locations and Identifying and Targeting Drug Offenders
LAPD reviews crime statistics and referrals to identify nuisance locations and narcotics and vice offenders.

Coordinating Multi-Agency Investigations and Formulating Long Term Solutions
Code inspectors, local police officers and specialized vice and narcotics I officers are consulted during the development of strategies for criminal and regulatory enforcement. Administrative procedures, such as boarding and fencing vacant buildings, and demolitions of nuisance buildings are enforced expeditiously to ensure that neighborhoods do not suffer the negative effects that a vacant property can generate. The Housing Department evaluates properties as well, to determine eligibility for financial assistance.

Evaluating Nuisance Remedies, Notifying Property Owners and City Attorney hearings
City attorneys and police officers examine possible remedies such as voluntary abatement, civil abatement, property seizure and forfeiture, and criminal prosecution. They determine which remedies would be most effective in abating particular nuisances. These profiles are presented to property owners at city attorney hearings.

Filing Civil and Criminal Lawsuits
City attorneys prepare abatement filings and review forfeiture cases against owners who fail to voluntarily abate nuisances at their properties. Prosecutors file criminal cases against property owners and tenants who fail to comply with orders issued by regulatory inspectors.