Law Enforcement Programs

Alabama

Virtual Alabama

Alabama’s 3-D web-based database, the Virtual Alabama, funded by the federal State Homeland Security Grant Program, changed the way data is collected, stored, and retrieved. Created in response to Hurricane Katrina, the database is designed to get geo-spatial information to emergency responders. The goal is to centralize the state’s data inventory with the intent to identify missing or incomplete data and data overlap which has produced valuable information, improving efficiency and cost effectiveness.

Alaska

Rural Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force

With its Byrne JAG grant, Alaska will establish a new rural task force of five investigators, a civilian and a dedicated prosecutor, for rural domestic violence and sexual assault cases, including juvenile assault and internet crimes against children. The civilian position will be used to increase data analysis of evidence of these crimes.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Western Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Arizona

Quality Management Principles

In Arizona, the Phoenix Police Department’s Records and Identification Bureau applies eight ISO 9001:2000 Standard quality management principles to improve performance. The eight principles are: customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, factual approach to decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships.

California

Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force

Byrne JAG Recovery Act funding in California supports the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Recovery Act Program. This program involves six existing Human Trafficking Task Forces (located in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego and Westminster) and will establish three new human trafficking task forces in unrepresented regions of California. These task forces, made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement as well as prosecution agencies, work collaboratively with victim and social service organizations to identify trafficked victims and convict the perpetrators.

Safe Community Partnership Program

California’s Safe Community Partnership program is a state-level promotion of anti-gang violence strategies. Under the model, violent gang youth are called in to meet law enforcement officials, community members, and service providers who present them with a life-altering choice: put down their weapons and accept social service and employment assistance or face the law. In Salinas, gang-related shootings have been cut in half and homicides have dropped by 80 percent. From January to June of 2010, there were only 41 shootings compared to 80 in the first six months of 2009.

Colorado

Restorative Justice in Schools Project

Using Byrne JAG, the City of Longmont, Colorado Police Department, working in conjunction with school resource officers, will develop and implement a restorative justice in schools project. The group will explore the harm done by the offender's action and reach agreements to repair those harms, which may include formal apologies, restitution, community service, and other creative reparations. The offenders will leave with a written agreement, reached by consensus, which is monitored for completion and recidivism by Teaching Peace staff.

Evidence-Based Practices Implementation for Capacity (EPIC) Program

Colorado is using its Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds to establish a Multi-Agency Training Center on Evidence-Based Practices at the Colorado Department of Safety, which will cost-effectively improve public safety and reduce recidivism among adult offenders by developing and implementing a multi-faceted training initiative that expands Colorado's capacity to provide evidence-based offender supervision, case management and service practices. The unprecedented level of coordination and collaboration involved in the multi-agency partnership will ensure that the Training Center enhances the understanding of evidence-based practices in professional communities and among the public, brings a new level of skill and direction to criminal justice practitioners, and produces immediate and long-term benefits for the criminal justice system and the citizens of Colorado.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Western Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Connecticut

Prison Population and Community Supervision Analysis

Connecticut uses a monthly Prison Population and Community Supervision Report to monitor trends in the release of the incarcerated population to community supervision with an emphasis on parole and halfway houses. These statistics are then evaluated annually in a published recidivism study of releases. These reports are produced by the Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Management in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Correction and Board of Pardons and Parole.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Northeastern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Florida

Mobile Facial Identification System

The Pinellas County, Florida Sheriff’s Office has implemented a mobile facial identification system. Replacing the outdated mugshot system, a deputy on patrol can now take a digital photograph of the subject and have a search result within 20 seconds. The system has allowed investigators to identify subjects on social networking and gang affiliated websites. As a result, Pinellas County has seen a marked increase in arrests and in confirmation of identities.

Georgia

State Drug Task Force (SDTF)

Seven jurisdictions took part in Georgia’s effort to curb illegal, street level drug activity. The 10 month operation resulted in the filing of more than 400 drug-related charges making it one of the largest operations of this kind in Muscogee County. The State Drug Task Force (SDTF) is a multijurisdictional drug task force funded through Byrne JAG and state appropriations that utilizes its own trained undercover agents and state of the art equipment.

Illinois

Chicago CeaseFire

In Illinois, Chicago CeaseFire is an evidence-based public health approach to reducing shootings and killings. This method for reversing the violence epidemic uses highly trained street violence interrupters and outreach staff, public education campaigns and community mobilization. CeaseFire is one of the only empirically proven techniques to reduce neighborhoods crime.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Midwestern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Chicago Police Department’s Chicago Crisis Intervention Team

The Chicago Police Department’s Chicago Crisis Intervention Team for Youth program focuses on diverting youth from the juvenile justice system to mental health treatment. Illinois law enforcement personnel, school officials, community mental health system, consumer and family advocates, and other stakeholders collaborate to ensure youth receive appropriate services. The program educates school professionals on mental illness. To learn more about the team, click here.

Maine

Safe Medicine Disposal for Maine (SDME) Program

The Safe Medicine Disposal for Maine (SMDME) Program is a statewide model for the disposal of unused household medications using a mail-back return envelope system. Established through state legislation and implemented in 2007 with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Program’s Aging Initiative, the program is authorized to handle both controlled and non-controlled medications. Maine, the third most rural state with a dispersed population, is experiencing a significant prescription drug problem. The collection and disposal of pharmaceuticals involves many professional, legal and regulatory agencies. Key project partners within Maine include the Benzodiazepine Study Group, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Office of Substance Abuse, the Department of Health, the Office of the Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney for District of Maine and the University of Maine Center on Aging.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Northeastern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Maryland

CompStat-On-Demand

The Maryland CompStat-On-Demand Program helps police agencies throughout the state develop and implement their own data-driven policing processes. Teams of experts are available “on demand” to conduct complete organizational assessments and make recommendations to law enforcement agencies regarding data collection and analysis, mapping, crime reduction strategies and accountability. Started in 1993 by the New York City Police Department, CompStat is a data-driven accountability process that has since been replicated in police departments around the country.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Northeastern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Violent Offender Warrant Reduction Initiatives Program

Maryland uses Byrne JAG Recovery Act monies for the Violent Offender Warrant Reduction Initiatives program to help local law enforcement agencies reduce arrest warrant backlogs for violent offenders. These initiatives are in place in fifteen jurisdictions throughout Maryland. Launched by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention in July 2009, it funds state and local law enforcement agencies to cover the costs associated with reducing outstanding warrant backlogs for offenders wanted for crimes of violence and for offenders under the supervision of the Division of Parole & Probation's Violence Prevention Initiative who are wanted for any offense. To learn more about this program, click here.

Missouri

Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force

Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force is a joint cooperative effort formalizing relationships between and among participating agencies in order to foster an efficient and cohesive unit capable of addressing the problem of crimes committed through the use of computers and the Internet within the Mid-Missouri area. These investigations include but are not limited to Internet enticement of children, child pornography, trafficking of children, trafficking of illegal narcotics to children, harassment, cyber bullying, terrorist threats, and other crimes facilitated through the use of computers, the Internet, or other electronic media, as well as the forensic examination of computers and other electronic media used to facilitate criminal activity.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Midwestern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here. 

Cybercrime Task Forces

Missouri is using Byrne JAG Recovery Act funds to support the continuation of 13 multi-jurisdictional cybercrime task forces throughout the state.  These task forces focus on crimes committed against children and provide educational training to area businesses, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and schools. To read more about one of these task forces click here.

Nevada

Southern Nevada Community Gang Task Force

The Southern Nevada Community Gang Task Force is a collaborative effort of 14 law enforcement jurisdictions and 150 community-based agencies focused on decreasing gang recruitment and crimes. Gangs decreased from 446 in 2002 to 292 in 2006 as a result of the programming. The three-pronged approach is a best practice of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Byrne JAG funded implementation for the first five years.

New Jersey

Neighborhood Crime Prevention/Intervention (NCPI) Program

New Jersey Byrne JAG funding is being provided for community based crime prevention and intervention programs to municipalities with high risk factors for violence and gang activity. The goals of the Neighborhood Crime Prevention/Intervention (NCPI) Program are to reduce and prevent neighborhood violent crime through multi-disciplinary community partnerships. The program design requires law enforcement, criminal justice officials, and community stakeholders to identify a specific problem in the community, analyze the factors contributing to the problem, and implement a program that is tailored to the site-specific crime issue. Funded programs are evidence-based and/or modeled on best practices strategies and engage the community-at-large in becoming actively involved in crime prevention through police/ community partnerships. Advisory boards and steering committees share information, contribute to the overall planning and/or implementation of the program and identify supplemental resources to strengthen the initiative.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Northeastern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

New Mexico

Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team

Byrne JAG funds are utilized to assist in the apprehension of individuals that are involved in violent crime, gang activity, and drug trafficking.  SWIFT agents locate and capture outstanding violent crime and narcotics-related fugitives throughout New Mexico. Large percentages of repeat offenders apprehended by SWIFT are involved in violent crime, gang activity, and drug trafficking. To achieve these goals, SWIFT collaborates with numerous law enforcement and judicial agencies in New Mexico, including: New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Corrections Department–Probation and Parole Division, United States Marshal’s Service, police departments, sheriff’s offices and district attorney’s offices. These are extremely targeted operations conducted domestically and internationally

New Mexico Gang Task Force (NMGTF)

Byrne JAG funds support the New Mexico Gang Task Force (NMGTF), the largest organized task force in the state that deals with gangs as a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency entity. Gangs have escalated from traditional neighborhood gangs to more mobile, violent, high-level criminal gangs operating statewide. In 2010, the NMGTF will host its 13th Annual Law Enforcement Conference for law enforcement officers in conjunction with the 6th Annual Community Seminar for non-law enforcement citizens. This conference provides federal, state, local, and tribal agencies with training and information to enhance interdiction and enforcement with the goal of reducing criminal gang activity, including narcotics trafficking.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Western Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

100 Days and Nights of Summer Traffic Safety Campaign

New Mexico was honored by the National Criminal Justice Association for its participation in the 100 Days and Nights of Summer Traffic Safety Campaign. Federally funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the program consisted of 100 DWI checkpoints conducted throughout New Mexico during the 100 days and nights of summer.

Read the NCJA Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Press Release here.

New York

Operation Integrated Municipal Police Anti-Crime Teams (IMPACT)

New York’s Operation IMPACT (Integrated Municipal Police Anti-Crime Teams) addresses the reduction of crime, particularly violent and firearm-related crime, in the 17 counties of New York State that account for 80 percent of the total crime outside of New York City. Operation IMPACT supports the development of strategies to address violent crime proactively based on crime data. This initiative develops active partnerships to maximize the resources of all levels of law enforcement and prevents duplication of efforts.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Northeastern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Crime Analysis Centers

New York’s Crime Analysis Centers are multijurisdictional centers located in four counties across New York State with leading-edge crime analysis capabilities. The goal for each center is to reduce Part 1 crime, with a particular emphasis on firearms violence. This is achieved through the comprehensive analysis of timely and accurate crime data, enhanced information sharing and focused and effective dissemination of analytical products. The New York Crime Analysis Centers have been honored twice for an innovative data sharing project that allows law enforcement agencies in four of the state’s urban centers to access and share millions of records, enhancing those agencies’ ability to fight crime. The two national awards were a Center for Digital Government 2009 Best of New York Award in the category of Best IT Collaboration Among Organizations and a 2010 Emergency Management Digital Distinction Technology Performance Award for Best Process Improvement.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Northeastern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

North Carolina

North Carolina Safe Communities (NCSC) Initiative to Reduce Group and Gang Violence

North Carolina uses Byrne JAG to support an initiative which focuses on deterrence of high-rate offenders and allows local law enforcement agencies to organize intelligence and respond swiftly to subsequent violence. The state also helps organize service providers to meet the needs of offenders who are deterred from criminal activity. The project supports resources and training and technical assistance for sites using focused deterrence within the North Carolina Safe Communities (NCSC) Initiative to Reduce Group and Gang Violence. Based on the finding that most violence is closely associated with groups of high-rate offenders, focused deterrence works to change the behavior of groups and the local network of groups by first identifying violent groups and the relationships between those groups. Representatives from the groups, many of which are under probation or parole supervision, are “called-in” to a meeting where they receive a “stop the violence or you and all members of your group will receive swift and certain punishment” message from law enforcement, community members and social service providers and are told to relay the message to others in their group. The success of focused deterrence rests on the relentless delivery of the promises made during the call-in sessions.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Southern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Gang Prevention and Intervention Pilot Program

North Carolina uses Byrne JAG funds to address critical gaps in the state's juvenile justice system. Through this project, DJJDP will develop a stronger continuum of youth gang assessment, evidence-based interventions, aftercare/reentry, community mobilization and street-level interventions in its youth development and detention centers. The Gang Prevention and Intervention Pilot Program works with youth and families in the community, in the facilities, and during reentry. The project also supports the development and implementation of a validated gang risk assessment system by local Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils (JCPC) which is used as a resource by the courts and DJJDP facility staff to improve gang recognition, intervention and prevention through evidence-based training and practices. This initiative will also provide gang-involved youth (who want and need protection from life-threatening peers) with safe housing and transitional life planning and security.

Ohio

Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

The Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is was created to protect children from sexual predators who utilize technology to facilitate their crimes.  The Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary group of partners working to identify, locate, apprehend and prosecute child sexual predators. The Task Force is comprised of investigators from the following local, state and federal entities: Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Division of Police, Upper Arlington Police Division, Westerville Division of Police, Grove City Division of Police, Whitehall Division of Police, Grandview Heights Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The collaboration and cooperation between these partners allows Task Force members to utilize a more comprehensive and strategic approach in achieving their intended goal.  Formed in early 2009 the program was initially funded by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and is not funded by both state and federal JAG Programs and local appropriations from partnering agencies.  Task Force has been granted many distinguished awards for its hard work including the Ohio Attorney General’s “Distinguished Law Enforcement Group Achievement Award”, Homeland Security’s “Partnership for Public Safety Award”, and the United States Attorney General’s “Outstanding Prevention Strategy Award”. 

Tennessee

Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Center

Byrne JAG Recovery Act grant funding supports the University of Memphis, Tennessee’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Center, which provides training and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in dealing with crisis events and arrests of individuals with mental illness and substance abuse. Through a strategy that emphasized self-sufficiency and sustainability through high quality training, the Tennessee CIT program has already successfully trained law enforcement officers in Chattanooga/Hamilton County and communities in Tennessee. They are also in the process of offering technical assistance for CIT community development in at least six other communities across the state.

View the Presentation from the NCJA/BJA Southern Regional Workshop on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice here.

Utah

Identity Theft Reporting Information System (IRIS)

Utah’s Identity Theft Reporting Information System (IRIS) is a secured website that assists residents in reporting identity theft, provides educational resources for the community, and offers support to victims in the recovery process. IRIS determines patterns of criminal activity, links suspects with their criminal activity, identifies criminal organizations, determines jurisdictions, and identifies suspects. The database allows each report of indemnity theft to instantly be sent out to multiple jurisdictions throughout the state.

Virginia

Virginia Crisis Intervention Teams (VACIT) Coalition

Virginia uses Byrne JAG funds to support Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) that assist law enforcement agencies when they are called upon to respond to situations involving persons with mental health or substance abuse problems. Each funded CIT project is supported by a task force with representatives from law enforcement agencies, mental health service providers, local and regional jails, and local and state community corrections programs. Each CIT project has developed a protocol permitting law enforcement officers to release from custody persons whom they encounter in crisis situations when the crisis intervention team has determined the person is sufficiently stable. At least 25 percent of the local law enforcement agency’s patrol force receives specialized training in the handling of the mentally ill and substance abusing persons exhibiting signs of mental disorder.

Washington

Spokane County and Greater Puget Sound Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Task Force

The Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Crime Investigation and Prosecution Program (FFIT) was created to combine resources and information in order to reduce financial fraud and identity theft in Washington. Financial fraud and identity theft crimes are defined in RCW 43.330.300 as check fraud, chronic unlawful issuance of bank checks, embezzlement, credit/debit card fraud, identity theft, forgery, counterfeit instruments such as checks or documents, organized counterfeit check rings, and organized identification theft rings.  The Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Task Forces are the first of their kind in Washington. The Task Forces were initially formed in 2008 and received funding to begin their work in August 2009. 

The impact of financial fraud and identity theft crime has continued to escalate nationwide. According to the 2010 Identity Fraud Survey Report by Javelin Strategy & Research the number of identity fraud victims in the United States increased 12 percent to 11.1 million adults in 2009. This represents 4.8 percent of the U.S. population, adding up to a projected total of $54 billion in crime. 

The Financial Fraud and Identity Theft Task Forces are the first of their kind in Washington state. There are two task forces currently in operation: the Greater Puget Sound FFIT Task Force and the Spokane County FFIT Task Force. Each task force investigates financial fraud and identity theft cases, with special emphasis on larger and more complex regional, multi-jurisdictional cases including multiple suspects.

Task Force members include federal, state, county, and local law enforcement representatives as well as financial industry investigators dedicated to addressing financial fraud impacts on the private sector. Each Task Force meets regularly to share information regarding key suspects, crime trends, investigation status, and other important data. As a result, a number of significant FFIT cases are being investigated and prosecuted.

Multijurisdictional Narcotics Task Forces Peer Review Process

The state of Washington uses Byrne JAG funds to support multijurisdictional narcotics task forces. In support of the task force program, the Washington State Department of Commerce has developed a peer review system for providing oversight and ensuring the program’s integrity and effectiveness. The system draws upon policies and procedures of the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. The peer review system encourages the use of sound management practices, policies, and operating procedures in drug enforcement, and assesses the comparative effectiveness of each task force in terms of its productivity and impact on illicit drug trafficking in their respective regions.