State Violent Crime Enforcement Teams and Coordinating Council

1. State Violent Crime Enforcement Teams and Coordinating Council Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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”

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. “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

24. Thank You • Contacts: • Interim Statewide Coordinator • Brian Marquart • 651-201-7338 • State Program AdministratorKristin Lail • 651-201-7322