American Notes CALIFORNIA

After Gloria Williams' 15-year-old son was accused of taking part in the gang rape of a twelve-year-old girl, Los Angeles police paid her a visit. They discovered what deputy city attorney Robert Ferber described as "a museum for gang memorabilia." There were gang graffiti on a bedroom's walls. There were snapshots of Williams posing with teenagers making gang recognition signs. Another photo caught her youngest son, 8, pointing a pistol at the camera.

Result: Williams, 37, became the first parent arrested under the Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, a six-month-old California law that compels parents to supervise and control their children or be charged with contributing to delinquency. Williams, free on $20,000 bail and denying guilt, faces a possible year in jail and $2,500 fine.