Seventeen guidelines are intended to assist agencies in establishing a gang task force or gang intelligence unit within their jurisdiction, as well as those agencies that participate in a gang task force.
When properly organized, managed, and maintained, gang task force operations and gang intelligence units have emerged as two of the most effective law enforcement and justice system tools for reducing gang crime and community fear of gangs. The general principles that are critical to building, operating, and maintaining a successful task force or gang intelligence unit pertain to leadership, commitment, clear mission, communication, direction, evaluation, refinements, and sustainability. The 17 guidelines presented address the task-force model, participants, mission, and design; memorandum of understanding; policies and procedures; personnel; data collection; the intelligence process; case management; operational planning; critical-incident response; confidential informants; risk management; training; funding; and performance measurement. This document advises that these guidelines are not intended to be strictly followed because of their interconnectedness. The entity that initiates the task force and intelligence unit should develop a "skeleton" framework to use in stimulating interest from other participants and support from community stakeholder. This framework should be a living document that is continuously revised until all participants are identified and a consensus can be reached on the final mission, design, policies, and procedures. 20 references