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State Violent Crime Enforcement Teams and Coordinating Council. Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs. Background. Drug Task Forces began in 1988 with federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds.
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State Violent Crime Enforcement Teams and Coordinating Council Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs
Background • Drug Task Forces began in 1988 with federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant funds. • Purpose: Integrate federal, state and local drug enforcement agencies and prosecutors to conduct effective multi-jurisdiction investigations and prosecutions. • MN Gang Strike Force created and funded by legislature in 1997 • Purpose:Identify, investigate, arrest and prosecute gang members engaged in illegal activity.
2005 Legislative Changes To improve outcomes and coordination, the 2005 legislature: • Appropriated funding for multi-jurisdictional drug task forces due to declining federal funds. • Established Metro Gang Strike Force. • Created Gang and Drug Oversight Council. • Created Position of Statewide Gang and Drug Coordinator to provide oversight & support.
2010 Legislative Changes • Following Metro Gang Strike Force Investigation, the 2010 legislature: • Established Violent Crime Enforcement Teams (VCETs). • Required each team to be certified by Commissioner of Public Safety. • Created Violent Crime Coordinating Council (VCCC). • Directed the Attorney General to serve as Liaison to the Councils of Color. • Added external audit and review and resolution of audit findings to the role of Statewide Coordinator.
Certification Requirements • Must be under the operational command of one participating agency. • Must have adequate staffing to support all activities including bookkeeping and evidence handling. • Must comply with any conditions deemed necessary by Commissioner of Public Safety. • Must have governing board comprised of at least 6 members-including one prosecutor to: • Advise on training for successful prosecutions & lawful handling of seized evidence, property. • Ensuring proper reporting of seizures to the state
Current Operations • $4.2 GF and $300,000 federal Byrne JAG • 23 funded task forces in 65 counties • Over 200 investigators from 115 agencies • Additional 53 agencies provide non-personnel support • Operations conducted under joint powers agreements
2012 Performance Measures • For calendar year 2012, task forces reported: • More than 7,000 active investigations (7,138) • 3,903 arrests (84% were felonies) • 1,922 search warrants executed and 426 consent searches • 867 weapons seized • 27 meth labs discovered • Conducted nearly 500 (470) prevention presentations for community groups attended by more than 15,000 people (16,799) • Attended 813 training courses for a total of 10,958 POST hours.
Trends • Increase in quantity & purity of heroin seized • Increase in overdose emergencies and deaths • Increase of unlawful use and sales of prescription drugs, especially opiates • Dramatic increase in use of synthetic drugs and the challenge of adapting law to constantly changing chemical formulas • Inappropriate use of methadone • Increase in packaged marijuana transported from California, Washington and Colorado
Staff Oversight Activities • Statewide Gang and Drug Coordinator (SWC) and State Program Administrator: • Conduct site visits and operational assessments to ensure compliance • Complete financial reconciliations of reported expenses • Conduct audit reviews and follow-up • Support the work of the VCCC and sub-committees • Provide technical assistance and training
Violent Crime Coordinating Council (VCCC) • VCCC began December 2010 • Primary duty: “develop an overall strategy to ameliorate the harm caused by gang and drug crime within the state of Minnesota” • Develop and update Operating Procedures and Policies Manual. • Develop grant criteria and review process. • Develop process to collect and share investigative data. • Develop monitoring protocols and standards for VCETs. • Develop policies to prohibit the improper use of personal characteristics to identify individuals for law enforcement, prosecution, or forfeiture actions.
VCCC Structure • Comprised of 19 voting members designated in statute: • Director of the Office of Special Investigations-DOC • Superintendent of BCA • Attorney general and two county attorneys • Four chiefs of police & four sheriffs • United States attorney • Tribal Officer & four citizen members • Current Leadership: • Chair – Sheriff James Jensen, Dodge County • Vice Chair – Chief Michael Goldstein, Plymouth PD
VCCC Activities • Meet on bi-monthly basis • Discharge statutory duties through the use of a committee structure: • Data and Information Committee • Governance and Legislation Committee • Professional Standards Committee (adhoc audit sub-committee) • Community Engagement and Prevention Committee • Provide direction and oversight to VCET
VCCC Accomplishments • Recruited citizen representation and implemented communication strategies to inform and solicit input. • Reviewed performance data and monitoring reports for all the task forces. • Reviewed and amended the Task Force Operating Procedures and Guidelines Manual. • Assisted OJP in developing grant application and review process and approved 2012 funding.
VCCC Accomplishments • Developed the Minnesota nine-point gang criteria. • Reviewed VCET audits and follow-up reports. • Contributed to the development of the Department of Human Service’s State Substance Abuse Strategy. • Established the Community Engagement and Prevention Committee and surveyed VCETs on their involvement with local community groups.
VCCC Accomplishments • 2011 & 2012-Two major initiatives: • Solicited significant public and law enforcement input in order to promulgate objective gang criteria • Embarked on a strategic planning process to: • understand current and emerging violent crime and drug trends. • identify key stakeholders. • determine priorities and recommendations for a strategic framework and tactical plan. • “Key Elements of A Statewide Strategic Framework”
VCCC Goals • Facilitate implementation of effective investigative information sharing systems. • Support prevention & intervention efforts. • Recommend areas for technical assistance and training for VCETs to ensure compliance with the Operating Procedures and Policy Manual. • Pilot a roundtable model in select VCET jurisdictions.
2011-2012 Audit Process • Office of the State Auditor (OSA) conducted “Agreed Upon Procedures” audits of all VCETs • Focused on seizure and forfeiture practices and confidential funds • Reviewed random samples of transactions and documentation • All audits completed by February 2013
2001-2012 Audit Process • Audit requirement put in place the structure to monitor, identify and correct problems. • Findings are serious, but not comparable to issues with Gang Strike Force. • Most errors procedural, result of poor documentation and/or bookkeeping. • No hint of personal gain or illegal activity.
Audit Response to date • Professional Standards Committee reviewed all audits • Training provided at annual commander’s training by OJP staff • Commissioner’s letter of expectation sent to Advisory Boards • VCETs with findings submitted written corrective action plans to OJP • Interim Coordinator followed-up with VCETs
Audit Response-Future • OJP staff will conduct comprehensive site visit and assessments in next six months • Compliance results will be reported to Commissioner and VCCC • Assessments will impact future funding • Second Round of Audits by OSA begin Fall 2013
“Best Practices” Operation • Oversight structure, Operations Manual & data collection efforts were recently recognized by National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) as national best practices in task force operations. • Staff presented at National Forum • Staff participated in national webinar • NCJA has developed a monograph
Thank You • Contacts: • Interim Statewide Coordinator • Brian Marquart • 651-201-7338 • State Program AdministratorKristin Lail • 651-201-7322