California Gang Node 

Advisory Committee


POLICY 

and 

PROCEDURES 

for the 

CALGANG® SYSTEM 


Revised: September 27th, 2007 


 1.
MISSION STATEMENT: The CALGANG® Executive Board (CEB) and the
California Gang Node Advisory Committee (C.G.N.A.C.) oversee the operations of the
CALGANG® System, and participating law enforcement agency's access, in an effort to provide
an accurate, timely, and electronically generated base of statewide gang related intelligence
information.
2.

SYSTEM OPERATION:
2.1. DOJ Central Node: C.G.N.A.C. and the CEB will develop policies and
procedures relating to the operation of the CALGANG® Central Database; designed to
provide rapid access and response to gang related inquiries to authorized agencies.
2.2.
Node Distribution / Qualifications for Becoming a Node: C.G.N.A.C. will
review requests from all agencies interested in becoming a Regional Node and forward
recommendations to the CALGANG® Executive Board. C.G.N.A.C. will base
recommendations on several issues, including but not limited to:
2.2.1. The ability of an agency to serve in a leadership role in organizing and
coordinating the information collection activities of the law enforcement agencies
within a region to be served by a new node.
2.2.2. The geographic area to be covered.
2.2.3. The ability of the prospective agency to provide technical support to
maintain the Regional Node.
2.2.4. The ability of prospective agency to meet the costs associated with
becoming a Regional Node; including purchase of required equipment,
communication lines, recruitment, training of End Users, sufficient staff to
manage the Node, and travel expenses for participation in C.G.N.A.C. and
Executive Board meetings.
2.3.
Individual Node and End User Roles and Responsibilities: Node Agencies and
End User Agencies agree to adhere to policies and procedures established by the
C.G.N.A.C. and the CALGANG® Executive Board. Node Agencies and End User
agencies can establish more restrictive policies and procedures for their agency, but
cannot operate under less restrictive guidelines. Node Agencies who establish more
restrictive policies must notify the C.G.N.AC. and the CEB before those policies are
implemented to ensure that the more restrictive policies are consistent with the mission of
the CALGANG® system. Node Agencies shall not impose more restrictive guidelines
on End User agencies than those adopted by C.G.N.A.C.
Node Agencies and individual End Users who violate established policies and procedures
shall be referred to the CALGANG® Executive Board for review and resolution of
issues.

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 2.4.
Purpose and System Description: The Regional Node Agency serves the
region's criminal justice community including, federal, state, and local; by providing a
computerized database of criminal justice intelligence and investigation information on
gang activity to authorized users demonstrating a right and need to know. The goal is to
improve the effectiveness of the regional law enforcement and criminal justice agencies
through the efficient handling and exchange of criminal justice intelligence and
investigative information on gangs and gang activity.
2.5. Node Administrator Agency (NAA): The Node Administrator Agency is
responsible for maintaining operational control and system supervision over the node.
The Node Administrator Agency has the responsibility to ensure that all users in the node
adhere to the system policies to protect the system and data integrity.
2.6
CALGANG® Executive Board Mission Statement: The CALGANG®
Executive Board provides management oversight to the CALGANG® system working
through the California Gang Node Advisory Committee (C.G.N.A.C.). The C.G.N.A.C.
and its members are the operational ‘subject matter’ experts to the CALGANG® system.
The CALGANG® system is designed to enhance officer safety, improve the efficiency of
criminal investigations and identify and track gang members. This is accomplished
through information sharing via a statewide, automated gang database. This database
affords participating California and other states law enforcement agencies the ability to
impact the effects of violent crime, thereby ensuring the safety of their communities.
2.6.1. The CALGANG® system will comply with 28 CFR 23 ad. Seq and the
California Attorney General’s Intelligence File Guidelines.
2.7.
Qualifications for Participation In CAL/GANG® System: The CALGANG®
system will provide services to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies qualified
by C.G.N.A.C. which, at the End User’s expense, connect through the Regional Node.
2.7.1. A law enforcement agency is defined as a governmental agency or sub
unit thereof having statutory powers of arrest, and whose primary function is
detection, investigation and apprehension of criminal offenders including
authorized support staff.
2.7.2. A criminal justice agency is defined as a governmental agency or sub unit
thereof whose primary duties include detention, pre-trial release, post-trial release,
correctional supervision, and the collection, storage, and dissemination of
criminal history record information.
2.7.3. Each participating agency must complete an End User Agreement
approved by C.G.N.A.C and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the
organization. The agreement shall be updated when the agency's Chief Executive
Officer changes or upon request of the Regional Node.

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 2.7.3.1. The End User Agreement contains the minimum criteria
established by C.G.N.A.C. and any additions shall be in addendum form.
2.7.4. Each End User Agency shall establish internal written administrative
policy and procedures, if they already do not exist, to ensure computer security,
data access, and dissemination of data is complied with according to existing
laws, regulations and guidelines.
2.8.
System Policies and Procedures: Policy and Procedures are designed to provide
the most efficient operating system consistent with the needs of criminal justice.
Adherence to the policies, procedures, regulations and guidelines, will ensure End User
Agencies standardization and maximum return on information queried. Violations of
procedures will result in an investigation and disciplinary action as determined by the
CALGANG® Executive Board.
2.8.1. Users must confirm the validity of a positive computerized response on
the record by contacting the entering agency prior to taking enforcement actions
based solely on the record. CALGANG® records are not probable cause for
detention or arrest.
2.9 

Any requests for CALGANG® records received by End User agencies shall
immediately be brought to the attention of the Node Administrator. The End User
agency may satisfy the request after notifying the Node Administrator by
providing the source documents.
2.9.1 The term CALGANG® shall not be placed in reports, memorandums,
correspondence, statements of facts, etc. CALGANG shall not be relied upon to
form an opinion of gang membership or substitute actual expertise regarding
Criminal Street Gangs. When a reference is necessary, such documents shall only
reflect that the information was obtained from a Law Enforcement Source.
CALGANG® records shall not be attached to, or referenced in, any report. With
the exception of statistical release pursuant to Section 5 of this policy.

2.10. ALL FILES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND ARE FOR OFFICIAL USE
ONLY. SYSTEM INFORMATION, E.G. GANG LISTS ARE TO BE PRINTED
ONLY WITH PERMISSION OF THE NODE ADMINISTRATOR.
2.11 Training: C.G.N.A.C. will develop, review, and modify as the need arises,
approved standardized training for all End Users and Node Administrators. End User
Agencies are responsible for obtaining approved training of personnel within their
respective agencies from the Node Administrative Agency. Only those individuals who
have been properly trained in the use of the CALGANG® system and the related policies
and procedures will be allowed access to CALGANG® information.
2.11.1 Properly Trained (defined). A course of instruction, followed by testing,
from an approved Trainer, that at a minimum addresses the issues of;
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 2.11.1.1 

Criminal Street Gang (defined),

2.11.1.2 

Accepted Gang Member, Associate and Photo Input
Criteria,

2.11.1.3 

Criminal Predicate/Reasonable Suspicion (defined),

2.11.1.4 

Local, State and Federal Statutes and Policies regarding
Criminal Intelligence Information,

2.11.1.5 

Physical, Technical Security and Data Dissemination,

2.11.1.6 

Practical, *Hands On* System usage.

2.11.2.
Instructors shall be graduates of a 24-hour end user class, with system
user experience verified by the Node Administrator. The instructor shall be
required to attend an additional C.G.N.A.C. approved "Train the Trainer" course
of instruction providing an in-depth familiarization with all system applications.
Personnel shall be trained and functionally tested, and affirmed in the proficiency
of system use in order to assure compliance with policies and procedures.
Personnel shall be trained in intelligence file guideline requirements and the
unlawful use of it and additional administrative requirements.
2.12. Security: In order to maintain the integrity of the system and to ensure the
security of information received and transmitted, the following policies and procedures
shall be adhered to:
2.12.1.
Reasonable measures shall be taken to locate equipment in a secure
area to preclude access by other than authorized personnel.
2.12.2.
Agencies shall notify the Node Administrator Agency of any missing
equipment that could potentially compromise the CALGANG® system.
2.12.3.
Personnel authorized access to the system shall be sworn law
enforcement personnel, non-sworn law enforcement support personnel, or non
criminal justice technical or maintenance personnel (IT / IS staff, including any
contract employees) that have been subject to character or security clearance and
who have received approved training.
2.12.4. In all matters pertaining to personnel security, the Node Administrator
Agency head or his designee will be responsible for making the final
determination of the individual's suitability for the job.

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 2.13. System Discipline: C.G.N.A.C. and the CALGANG® Executive Board is
responsible for overseeing system discipline and conformity with Policies and
Procedures.
2.13.1. Sanctions: A violation of State, Federal law, regulation, policy or procedures
established by C.G.N.A.C. or the CEB may result in any of the following sanctions:
2.13.2.

Letter of censure.

2.13.3.

Temporary suspension from the system.

2.13.4.

Removal from the system.

2.14. System Management: Operational control and system supervision shall be the
responsibility of the Node Administrator Agency under the direction of C.G.N.A.C.
2.14.1.

An appointed member of each node will participate in the C.G.N.A.C.

2.15. Responsibility for Information: Information stored on each node must be kept
accurate and up to date. Agencies entering information are responsible for its legality,
relevance, accuracy, timeliness, and completeness. Every effort will be made to prevent
duplicate records from entering the system. Prior to obtaining a new CALGANG®
number, it is mandatory that each subject be searched through the system at the node
level to ascertain whether or not he/she has already been assigned a CALGANG®
number.
2.15.1.
The CALGANG® system is not designed to provide users with
information upon which official actions may be taken. Rather, its purpose is to
provide users with sources of information upon which official action may be
taken. The fact that a record exists cannot be used to provide probable cause for
an arrest or be documented in an affidavit for a search warrant. The facts, which
led to the creation of the record, must be used to establish the probable cause in
the affidavit. The system can identify the agencies, which must be contacted to
obtain and verify those facts. Any questions should be brought to the Node
Administrator Agency.
2.15.2.
All End User agencies entering information will maintain sufficient
source documentation in support of their entry. Each entering agency shall adhere
to established criteria and procedures to ensure proper entry of data, storage of
gang information, and data confirmation.
2.15.3.
Each End User agency shall ensure that information disseminated
outside their agency is only to authorized personnel demonstrating a right and
need to know. It should be noted by the releasing agency what information is
released, when, to whom and why.

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 2.15.4.
Print privileges shall generally be restricted. Privileges may be
granted at the discretion of each Node Administrator. Users must
demonstrate a compelling need to print before print privileges are extended
(convenience is not a compelling need). Each agency shall ensure that any
printed copies of intelligence and investigation information is afforded security to
prevent unauthorized access to, or use, of the data.
2.15.5.

Disseminated documents no longer needed shall be destroyed.

2.16. Data Entry Protocol: The purpose of the criteria is to provide standardized
guidelines, which contribute to the investigative information utilized by law enforcement
or criminal justice agencies in carrying out their efforts to protect the public and suppress
criminal gang activity.
2.17. Criminal Street Gang Defined: A gang is a group of three or more persons who
have a common identifying sign, symbol or name, and whose members individually or
collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of definable criminal activity creating
an atmosphere of fear and intimidation within the community.
2.18. Criteria To Determine Gang Profile: A subject can be entered into the
CALGANG® database when two of the following criteria are found through
investigation, coupled with the officers training and expertise. The only single criteria
approved for entry is an in-custody jail classification interview:
2.18.1. Subject has admitted to being a gang member.
2.18.2. Subject has been arrested with known gang members for offenses
consistent with gang activity.
2.18.3. Subject has been identified as a gang member by a reliable 

informant/source.

2.18.4. Subject has been identified as a gang member by an untested informant.
2.18.5. Subject has been seen affiliating with documented gang members.
2.18.6. Subject has been seen displaying gang symbols and/or hand signs.
2.18.7. Subject has been seen frequenting gang areas.
2.18.8. Subject has been seen wearing gang dress.
2.18.9. Subject is known to have gang tattoos.
2.18.10. In custody Classification interview. (All others require two criteria).

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 2.19. Affiliate Submission Criteria: The affiliate information is entered for the
purpose of providing further identification, through an established relationship, of an
existing gang member. There are two mandatory separate submission criteria established
for entry of affiliates into a gang member’s record. Two of the following criteria must be
present:
2.19.1. Definition: When an active gang member with an assigned gang
member number is known to affiliate with other known gang members or,
2.19.2. When the individual is known to affiliate with active gang members and
the law enforcement or criminal justice officer has established there is a
reasonable suspicion the individual is involved in criminal activity or enterprise.
The officer's belief must be premised upon reasoning and logic coupled with
sound judgment based upon law enforcement experience and training rather than
mere hunch or whim.
2.19.3. Agencies entering information into CALGANG® on affiliates shall
maintain documentation, which adequately supports each entry.
2.20. Authorized Entry and Query: Only personnel who have been given access by
the Chief Executive Officer of an End User agency, and have received approved training
in the use of the system, are authorized to query or enter new data.
2.21. Purge Criteria: Records not modified by the addition of new criteria for a 5-year
period will be purged. In custody subjects shall be subject to the same purge policy.
Documents supporting CALGANG® entries sent to a Node Agency shall be returned to
the submitting agency or destroyed.
2.21.1. Shared Records: Records created by one agency shall not be purged prior
to the five year no activity time limit if that record has been substantially modified
by another end user agency without the express approval of that end user agency.
For the purpose of this agreement, substantially modified shall mean that the
record must have either the gang member criteria renewed or added to, or the
subject must have a new arrest record in his/her record
2.22. Map of Existing Nodes: C.G.N.A.C. will provide periodic updates of the map
displaying the existing and proposed nodes comprising the CALGANG® system.
2.23. Inter and Intrastate Policy: C.G.N.A.C. may develop appropriate policy for
establishing and maintaining communications with both inter and intrastate agencies and
define how interested agencies will interact with the California system.
Recommendations for activation will be forwarded to the CALGANG® Executive Board.
2.24. System Audit: Each Node will be audited no less then bi-annually for accuracy
based upon criteria established by C.G.N.A.C. Potential inaccuracies or deficiencies will
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 be reported to the Node for review and possible corrections or deletions. This shall be
completed by the next audit date. Node Administrators shall conduct audits as necessary.
3. SYSTEM EQUIPMENT
3.1.
Equipment: C.G.N.A.C. will provide to authorized agencies, upon request, a
list of recommended equipment, which is compatible with the current and future plans for
expansion. This listing will be developed in coordination with appropriate vendors.
3.2. Photographs: Photographs are an important item in the CALGANG® file.
Consideration must be given to the method of obtaining a subject's photograph. Standard
rules of evidence apply to gang file photographs, as they do with any piece of evidence.
The most common and acceptable methods are photographs, commonly referred to as
“booking photos” taken of subjects when arrested. Discretion must be used in how the
photographs are originally obtained. If a court rules against the photographing procedure,
cases may be jeopardized or lost.
3.3.
Notwithstanding local agency policy regarding field photographs, End User
agencies agree to comply with state and federal laws, and agency guidelines in obtaining
photographs.
3.4.
Once an individual is entered into the CALGANG® system, the original
document or abstract used to establish the criteria shall be maintained by the entering
agency in the event of legal challenge. The database record shall indicate the type of
source document used to establish the criteria, e.g., arrest report or Field Interview Card,
and entered in the appropriate fields within the database.
.
4. SYSTEM
4.1.
Logon ID/Password: All login ID’s / Passwords shall be consistent with the
security procedures established by C.G.N.A.C.
4.2.
End Users who are found to have shared their passwords shall be removed from
the system and the Chief Executive Officer of the agency notified of the security
violation. A letter from the Chief Executive Officer will be required to reinstate the
offending user.
4.4.
Prioritization of Work Performed by Vendors: C.G.N.A.C. and the
CALGANG® Executive Board will determine which projects will be initiated or
enhanced and their priority. This includes development of new programs, modification
of existing programs, and resolution of technical problems through use of technical
advisory groups.

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 4.5.
Compatibility: C.G.N.A.C. will plan for the eventual interaction with other
compatible criminal justice systems and databases. Recommendations will be forwarded
to the CALGANG® Executive Board.
5. Release of Statistics: The purpose of this policy is to ensure that no single Node or end user
deploys statistical information from the CALGANG® system without approval from the
CGNAC. All releases under this policy shall specify that they are estimates based on the best
information available at the time of release.
5.1
Any node or end user may release statistics on gangs gathered by that node
agency or end user agency.
5.1.1 Any such release must comply with the requirements of Penal Code
sections 11144 and 13305.
5.1.2 Any such release shall not include any data gathered by any other agency,
nor refer to any such data unless the procedure in 5.2 is followed.
5.2
If any Node or end user agency wishes to release statistics on gangs gathered by
any other agency and entered into the CALGANG® system that agency must do the
following:
5.2.1 Notify all Node Administrators of the statistics it wishes to release and
provide a draft of the proposed release to each Node Administrators at least ten
days before any release.
5.2.2

Request C.G.N.A.C. electronic approval of the proposed release.

5.3
In response to 5.2-request C.G.N.A.C., acting through the Node Administrators,
shall within no more then seventy-two hours of receipt of the request, electronically
approve or disapprove the request.
5.3.1 The C.G.N.A.C. Chairperson shall maintain a copy of the request and
copies of the node votes on the request.
5.3.2 The C.G.N.A.C. Chairperson shall report the actions taken on such
requests to the CALGANG® Executive Board as soon as practical.
5.4
If a request is not approved the requesting node or end user agency shall not
report any statistical information except that is permitted by 5.1.
5.5
The C.G.N.A.C Chairperson is pre-authorized by the Node Administrators to
release statistics upon legitimate request. The C.G.N.A.C. Chairperson will, upon release
of statistics, forward copies of any request and all released statistics to the Node
Administrators as soon as practical.

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 5.5.1 Any such release must comply with the requirements of Penal Code
sections 11144 and 13305.
6. MISCELLANEOUS
6.1. Press Policy: Though each local agency is governed by its particular policies
regarding contacts with the media, each End User agency shall notify the Regional Node
Administrator of any press contacts or inquiries that may have potential for significant
impacts upon the system. The Node Administrating Agency shall in turn notify the
CALGANG® Executive Board and C.G.N.A.C. Chairpersons. Release of information
shall not be case specific intelligence information.
6.2.
Legislation: C.G.N.A.C., in alliance with the Attorney Generals Office, may
recommend new and enhanced legislation to assist law enforcement in the reduction of
the criminal street gang problem in California.
6.3.
Local and State Rules, Regulations and Statutes: C.G.N.A.C. will review existing and
proposed policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal
regulations, statutes and guidelines.

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