On January 9, 1992, the FBI announced the Safe Streets Violent Crimes Initiative (SSVCI). The SSVCI is an initiative designed to allow the Special Agent in Charge of each FBI field division to address street gang and drug-related violence through the establishment of FBI-sponsored, long-term, proactive task force focusing on violent gangs, crimes of violence, and the apprehension of violent fugitives.
The FBI has developed a model methodology to identify a community's crime problem and develop a strategy to address that problem.
SAFE STREETS MISSION
Safe Streets Task Forces (SSTFs) attack street gang and drug-related violence, as well as seek the most significant fugitives wanted for crimes of violence through the establishment of long-term, proactive and coordinated teams of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors.
The FBI has developed a National Violent Crime Strategy, National Strategy for Organized Crime/Drug Enterprises, and National Gang Strategy which serve as the frameworks for combating violence in America. Each of these strategies incorporates the task force concept with a comprehensive investigative and prosecutive focus.
Through the Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution/Confinement Statute, the FBI has traditionally been tasked with seeking the Nation's most sought after state and local violent fugitives. As part of the SSVCI, the FBI has joined forces with state and local agencies to apprehend violent fugitives that are wanted in association with violent criminal activity.
TASK FORCE COMPOSITION
As of March 31, 2002, the Safe Streets and Gang Unit (SSGU) has responsibility for 142 SSTFs in 48 FBI field offices. The breakdown of SSTFs is as follows:
• Violent Gang Task Force - 73
• Violent Crime Task Forces - 51
• Fugitive Task Forces - 3
• Major Theft - 15
SSTFs team 626 FBI Special Agents with 89 other federal Agents, and 960 state and local law enforcement participants.
BENEFITS TO STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES
The task force concept increases the effectiveness and productivity of limited personnel and logistical resources, avoids duplication of investigation and consequent wasteful expenditure of resources in matters of concurrent jurisdiction, and expands the cooperation and communication among federal and state law enforcement agencies.
SSTFs allow the application of sophisticated investigative techniques normally associated with complex organized crime and racketeering investigations. Such techniques are frequently not available to local police agencies.
The FBI is authorized to reimburse state and local agencies for the overtime worked by full-time members of SSTFs at a rate of $821.52 per month or $9,858.24 annually.
GANG INVESTIGATIONS
The FBI is identifying and targeting violent street gangs as a priority matter utilizing joint task forces. These task forces are applying investigative techniques and strategies which the FBI has successfully used to target traditional organized crime, including the development of a solid intelligence base, undercover operations, and the application of various electronic surveillance techniques.
The FBI is the principal federal agency charged with investigating criminal activity associated with violent street gangs.
By applying the same methods used in the successful war on traditional organized crime, SSTFs are developing racketeering and continuing criminal enterprise cases to remove the leadership and the most dangerous members of violent street gangs and seize their assets.
Street gangs and other loosely knit groups are responsible for a substantial portion of the increase in violent crime in the United States. The FBI has determined that gangs pursue their criminal enterprises through an array of violent criminal activity to include murder, extortion, kidnapping, assault, robbery and drug trafficking.
In numerous cities, FBI-sponsored task forces are targeting individuals or groups associated with the Mexican Mafia, the Bloods and Crips, Black Gangster Disciples Nation, Almighty Latin Kings Nation, Jamaican Posses, and other violent street gangs.
The investigation of other local or regional gangs involved in kidnapping, bank robberies, drug related murders, as well as intensified focus on the apprehension of dangerous fugitives continues to be a primary thrust of the overall violent crime strategy.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Community Outreach
is the portion of the Safe Streets Program which seeks to develop a partnership
between law enforcement and community leaders to coordinate community resources
and community action against violent crimes.