Reminder_of_Proper_Coding_of_Gang_Related_Crimes.pdf

CHIEF OF DETECTIVES NOTICE March 2, 3.8 TO: All FROM: Chief of Detectives SUBJECT: REMINDER OF PROPER CODING OF GANG-RELATED CRIMES 2022 Department Personnel At the end of 2021, Citywide victims shot increased 9.1% when compared to 2020. At the same time, gang-related victims shot decr...

CHIEF OF DETECTIVES NOTICE March 2, 3.8 TO: All FROM: Chief of Detectives SUBJECT: REMINDER OF PROPER CODING OF GANG-RELATED CRIMES 2022 Department Personnel At the end of 2021, Citywide victims shot increased 9.1% when compared to 2020. At the same time, gang-related victims shot decreased 6.0%. The disparity between the two numbers is likely due to inconsistent coding of gang-related crimes, particularly since the Cal Gangs System may no longer be used as a criterion to establish a crime as being gang-related. The Chief of Detectives previously published a notice reminding Department personnel the need to accurately classify and code gang-related crimes. This Notice also serves as a reminder to all personnel of the importance to properly assess crime to determine its connection to gang involvement. To ensure continued accuracy in capturing gang-related crime and arrests, it is critical that Department personnel are familiar with the definitions pertaining to gang-related crimes and properly coding gang-related reports with Modus Operandi (MO) Code “0906.” Without the ability to use the Cal Gangs System as a criterion to establish whether a crime being gang-related, thorough investigations by field personnel and detectives become even more critical to determine whether an incident should be coded as gang-related. BACKGROUND: Department Manual Section 4/269.10 states, “Any crime may constitute a gang-related crime when the suspect or victim is an active or affiliate gang member, or when circumstances indicate that the crime is consistent with gang activity.” Determining if a crime is gang-related is subjective in nature and is a result of the totality of the circumstances. Classification cannot be accomplished accurately without a high degree of gang expertise. This is especially true with the moratorium on the use of the Cal Gang System. PROCEDURE: A crime is determined to be gang-related when contained in the above manual section. Crimes consistent e e it meets with gang activity may include, but The suspect or victim has a gang tattoo(s); The suspect or victim has a gang moniker; one or more are not of the specific criteria limited to, incidents when: All Department Personnel Page 2 3.8 e A statement indicating gang involvement was made; e The suspect or victim demonstrated gang behavior; or, e Multiple suspects and gang MO were involved. Other indicators that a subject may be involved in gang-related activity include: e e e The suspect or victim is The suspect or victim is The suspect or victim is officers can specifically displaying gang symbols and/or hand signs; frequenting specific gang areas/locations; or, seen wearing gang dress that contain a specific symbol that articulate as indicative of gang membership. seen seen Note: In some cases, an officer may be required to have received specific training and/or be certified as a gang expert to determine that specific criteria are gang-related. The Area Gang Impact Team (GIT) Officer in Charge must approve the gang-related crime classification and ensure that all gang-related statistical crimes are MO coded “0906” in the Consolidated Crime Analysis Database (CCAD). In the rare circumstance, when the classification cannot be determined at the Area level, the Bureau Gang Coordinator must make the determination. When the Bureau Gang Coordinator cannot determine the classification, the Commanding Officer, Gang and Narcotics Division, will make the final determination. When the following violent crimes are determined to be gang-related, they will be monitored statistically by the Department to assess the level of gang crime in an Area. The gang-related statistical crimes must be coded with MO Code “0906” to ensure they are reported and accounted for. The statistically monitored gang-related crimes are: Murder; Attempted Murder; Felony Assault; Assault on a Police Officer (includes Battery, Assault with and Attempted Murder on a Police Officer); Robbery; Shots Fired into an Inhabited Dwelling; a Deadly Weapon Kidnap; Rape; Arson; Witness Intimidation (including Criminal Threats); Extortion; Carjacking; and, Violation of Gang Injunctions. As an example, if an active gang member commits a kidnap against his wife, based on Department’s criteria, the crime would include MO Code “0906,” even though the primary motive may be domestic violence. Conversely, if a former gang member who has been inactive All Department Personnel Page 2 3.8 for several years commits a street robbery to support his drug addiction, the crime would not include MO Code “0906” unless other specific gang-related criteria are indicated. Questions regarding this Notice should be directed to the Commanding Officer, COMPSTAT Division at (213) 484-6720. APPROVED: KRIS E. PITCHER, Deputy Chief Chief of Detectives DISTRIBUTION “D” DANIEL Chie DOLPH, Deputy Chief ff Office of the Chief of Police