Combating Gangs: Better Coordination and Performance Measurement Would Help Clarify Roles of Federal Agencies and Strengthen Assessment of Efforts
GAO-09-708
Published: Jul 24, 2009. Publicly Released: Jul 24, 2009.
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Highlights
The Department of Justice (DOJ) estimates that the United States has about a million gang members. While state and local agencies have primary responsibility for combating gang crime, the federal government has key roles to enforce laws and help fund programs to provide alternatives to gang membership for at-risk youth. GAO was asked to examine federal efforts to combat gang crime. This report addresses (1) the roles of DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in combating gang crime and the extent to which DOJ and DHS agencies coordinate their efforts with each other and state and local agencies; (2) the extent to which DOJ and DHS measure their gang enforcement efforts; and (3) how federal grant funding is used to administer or support activities to reduce gang-related crime. GAO reviewed federal agencies' plans, resources, and measures and interviewed federal, state, and local officials in 15 localities with federally led anti-gang task forces representing varying population sizes and locations.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice | To strengthen federal agencies' coordination of anti-gang efforts; help reduce gaps or unnecessary overlaps in federal entities' roles and responsibilities; and assist the department, Congress, and other stakeholders in assessing federal gang enforcement efforts, the Attorney General should direct DOJ law enforcement agencies that lead or participate in the headquarters-level anti-gang coordination entities--including National Gang Targeting, Enforcement, and Coordination Center (GangTECC), National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC), the Anti-Gang Coordination Committee, and the MS-13 National Gang Task Force--to, in consultation with DHS, reexamine and reach consensus on the entities' roles and responsibilities, including identifying and addressing gaps and unnecessary overlaps. |
In September 2011, the Department of Justice reported that the Anti-Gang Coordination Committee (AGCC) held quarterly meetings to share information among all of the relevant headquarters-level entities and to identify overlaps and gaps in related efforts. The agency noted that various members of the AGCC worked together to address some coordination/communications issues between GangTECC, the National Gang Intelligence Center, and the MS-13 National Gang Task Force. The Department of Justice also indicated that it merged GangTECC within an existing organizational unit, which allowed GangTECC to better coordinate and deconflict gang cases and to share operational information with partner agencies. As a result of these actions, this recommendation is closed as implemented.
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| Department of Justice | To strengthen federal agencies' coordination of anti-gang efforts; help reduce gaps or unnecessary overlaps in federal entities' roles and responsibilities; and assist the department, Congress, and other stakeholders in assessing federal gang enforcement efforts, the Attorney General should develop a departmentwide, strategic-level performance measure for the department's anti-gang efforts. |
In fiscal year 2009, we reviewed federal efforts to combat gang crime. We reported, among other things, that agencies' efforts to measure results of federal actions to combat gang crime have been hampered by lack of departmentwide DOJ performance measures for anti-gang efforts. On September 29, 2011, the Department of Justice provided information regarding ongoing efforts to develop performance measures for violent crime task forces. The Department of Justice reported that it expects to develop the performance measures by June 2012. In November 2012, the Department of Justice indicated that it was working to obtain the necessary materials from subject matter experts in multiple components. In April 2014, the Department of Justice sent GAO correspondence stating that the department undertook an assessment effort to develop a departmentwide performance measure, however, dissimilarities in the missions and functions of the components made it challenging to develop a departmentwide performance measure. The department noted that it would not be adopting a departmentwide performance measure, so the recommendation is closed as not implemented.
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| Department of Justice | To strengthen federal agencies' coordination of anti-gang efforts; help reduce gaps or unnecessary overlaps in federal entities' roles and responsibilities; and assist the department, Congress, and other stakeholders in assessing federal gang enforcement efforts, the Attorney General should direct Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA) to periodically review gang-related case information entered by U.S. Attorney's Office (USAOs) into the case and time management systems to ensure more accurate and complete reporting of USAOs' gang-related cases. |
In September 2011, the Department of Justice provided a November 2009 memorandum that evidenced a requirement for U.S. Attorneys to timely and accurately enter gang-related case information in case and time management systems. As a result, this recommendation is closed as implemented.
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| Department of Justice | The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security should jointly ensure that ICE is part of the process for reviewing and approving the creation of new anti-gang task forces. |
In September 2009, the Department of Justice reported that on July 17, 2009, the agency invited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be a member of the Anti-Gang Coordination Committee's Task Force Review Subcommittee. In September 2011, the Department of Justice provided a memorandum that evidenced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's participation in the approval of six newly established task forces. As a result, this recommendation is closed as implemented.
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| Department of Homeland Security | The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security should jointly jointly develop a common or shared definition of "gang" for use by DOJ, DHS, and component agencies for reporting purposes. |
In May 2011, the Department of Justice reported that a common law enforcement definition of gang was formally adopted by DOJ, DHS, and component agencies per the GangTECC/National Gang Intelligence Center Charter which was signed on July 23, 2010 by the Deputy Attorney General and participating agencies. In December 2012, the Department of Justice provided an August 7, 2009 memorandum that evidenced FBI's instructions to field offices regarding use of a common definition. As a result, this recommendation is closed as implemented.
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| Department of Justice | The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security should jointly jointly develop a common or shared definition of "gang" for use by DOJ, DHS, and component agencies for reporting purposes. |
In May 2011, the Department of Justice reported that a common law enforcement definition of gang was formally adopted by DOJ, DHS, and component agencies per the GangTECC/National Gang Intelligence Center Charter which was signed on July 23, 2010 by the Deputy Attorney General and participating agencies. In December 2012, the Department of Justice provided an August 7, 2009 memorandum that evidenced FBI's instructions to field offices regarding use of a common definition. As a result, this recommendation is closed as implemented.
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| Department of Homeland Security | The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security should jointly ensure that ICE is part of the process for reviewing and approving the creation of new anti-gang task forces. |
In September 2009, the Department of Justice reported that on July 17, 2009, the agency invited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be a member of the Anti-Gang Coordination Committee's Task Force Review Subcommittee. In September 2011, the Department of Justice provided a memorandum that evidenced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's participation in the approval of six newly established task forces. As a result, this recommendation is closed as implemented.
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AccountabilityCrime preventionCrimesData collectionEvaluationFederal agenciesFederal fundsFederal grantsstate relationsGangsGrants to local governmentsLaw enforcementLaw enforcement agenciesPerformance measuresProgram evaluationProgram managementStrategic planningInformation sharingProgram coordinationProgram goals or objectivesProgram implementation