In October 2020, a domestic violence task force arrested 18 fugitives in the Baton Rouge area.  In an effort to address the spike in domestic violence, the Baton Rouge Police Department, the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service are working on the "Stop the Loss" initiative to capture domestic violence suspects still on the street and to provide safety and offer services to victims of domestic violence.  The “Stop the Loss” initiative will be part of the new Baton Rouge Capital Area Family Justice Center, launched in October 2020. 

For more information about the "Stop the Loss" Initiative, please click here.

NEW!  Office on Violence Against Women
Funding Opportunity—Click here!

Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and
Stalking Grant Program 

Application Deadline:  March 31, 2021 

In November 2020, the Davenport Police Department launched a voluntary citywide database of security cameras that allows private citizens to register their security cameras that could be used to solve crime.  A number of people quickly signed up for this program, and the department hopes the program will be especially beneficial to its investigators.  The department also received a grant to help create a gun violence division to help it combat violent crime and acquire a system that can link shell casings to firearms.

For more information, please click here.

On November 25, 2020 (view official press release), Baltimore publicly announced its coordinated Group Violence Reduction Strategy, including its plan to implement a focused-deterrence program.  The announcement was done collaboratively with the Baltimore Police Department, the Mayor, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and the Office of the State’s Attorney, and the effort is being supported through grant funding and donations.  The plan’s three initiatives are to offer necessary support services to those who are vulnerable to committing crimes; revamp intelligence hubs so that law enforcement can accurately and better gather information; and hire a team of directors and coordinators to see the program succeed.

Navigating NIBIN Leads

The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) is a useful, evidence-based tool for law enforcement’s fight against violent gun crime.  As NIBIN continues to expand, more law enforcement agencies can take advantage of its important information.  With that expansion, however, comes an increase in leads developed by NIBIN, often overwhelming departments and law enforcement in a region.  Determining the investigative potential of these leads through effective triage is a critical piece to any successful NIBIN program.

This webinar presents a standardized and highly effective means to accomplish NIBIN lead triage in a very short amount of time.  Using geography, events, time, and solvability factors (GETS), departments can systematically triage NIBIN leads, saving hundreds of hours of criminal intelligence and investigative resource expenditures.

Lunch and Learn:  
Operation Save a Casing

This PSP Lunch and Learn event highlighted the Wichita, Kansas, Police Department’s Operation Save a Casing initiative, a Bureau of Justice Assistance-sponsored program that allows for local residents of a community to provide critical ballistic intelligence to law enforcement in the event that their firearms are stolen or lost.  This event provided an overview of the program and its implementation by the Wichita Police Department.

NFS Investigation Assessments:
Observations From the Field

PSP provides the opportunity for PSP sites to receive an independent assessment of their nonfatal shooting (NFS) processes and protocols.  These assessments are intended to provide the sites with a basis to increase their clearance rates, reduce violent offenses, enhance public safety, and decrease crime guns in circulation.  In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) fields an accomplished team of subject-matter experts to review and assess the requesting agency’s policies, procedures, and practices.  This webinar highlights commonalities found in NFS investigation assessments conducted by IIR and provides a generic overview of related observations.

Innovative Strategies for Investigating Criminal Organizations

Street-level violent gun crime has two consistent, demographic features:  a small percentage of a city’s population is responsible for an overwhelming majority of its violent gun crime and this small population operates in groups.  Yet, in violent gun crime investigations and prosecutions, it is most often the single event and the single suspect that are in focus.  This focus may overlook what is known and often leaves criminal organizations participating in violent gun crime free from accountability.

The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) further reveals the group aspect to violent gun crime by showing a pattern of criminal behavior shootings.  A more complex, but effective, approach to investigating individuals working together to engage in a pattern of violent gun crime is through conspiracy.  This webinar explores the surface issues, applying conspiracy strategies to violent gun crime.  It opens a discussion for thought to move toward innovative solutions.

"I enjoyed the course and the discussion on conspiracy. It is commonly apparent that gun violence is linked to conspiracy and multiple crimes/shootings."  — Webinar participant

Crime Strategies Unit:  Enhancing the Flow of Information and Intelligence

Ms. Eleina Thomas, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Supervisor of the Crime Strategies Unit, Cuyahoga County Office of the Prosecutor (Cleveland, Ohio)

The Crime Strategies Unit facilitates the flow of information among various units within the office as well as among the more than 56 police municipalities, other various law enforcement agencies in Cuyahoga County, and community groups.  This presentation highlighted efforts of the unit, with its ability to see crimes occurring countywide, acting as a central hub to ensure that vital information and intelligence are reaching the right agencies expediently.

Creating a Paperless DA’s Office

Mr. Robert Love, District Attorney for Randall County, and Ms. Amy Rhodes, First Assistant District Attorney (Amarillo, Texas)

In late 2013, in response to the passage of the Michael Morton Act in Texas, the office started the process of going paperless.  The transition was a challenge for many reasons.  Budget constraints and a resistance to change were challenges that the office was able to overcome; however, jurisdiction was one of its biggest challenges.  The largest city in Randall County is Amarillo, which is split into two counties.

Any transition to paperless had to also include a paperless transition by the sister county’s prosecution offices and several law enforcement agencies.  This presentation highlighted lessons learned and key takeaways from the experience.

Investigating and Prosecuting Allegations of Police Use of Force

Mr. Brian McVeigh, District Attorney, Seventh Judicial District, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties (Anniston/Oxford, Alabama)

This session highlighted how to establish pathways for neutral investigation and evaluation of use-of-force claims.  Key tips included the following:  have a plan in place, follow the plan, have a team in place to review the claims, use the grand jury to evaluate claims, and follow through on prosecution. 

Using Technology to Process Large Volumes of Evidence

Mr. Patrick Muscat, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Deputy—Special Prosecutions Division, Violent Crime Unit, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office (Detroit, Michigan)

This session covered tips and strategies for using secure cloud platforms to manage, assign, review, transfer, redact, and present voluminous digital evidence.  In addition, the presentation included issues to consider when preparing an office or unit for a modern case management system and digital files.