Boston Police Department Rules & Procedures Rule 335 March 23, 2017 GANG ASSESSMENT DATABASE GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS: In 1993, the Boston Police Department created a coordinated, multi-agency enforcement unit to address the youth violence problem affecting the City of Boston. The Youth Violence Strike Force, as it was named, has since evolved to incorporate prevention, intervention, and enforcement strategies. The following Rule delineates the responsibilities of the Youth Violence Strike Force as well as the process for gang member verification and entry into the Gang Assessment Database. YOUTH VIOLENCE STRIKE FORCE: Established in 1993 in response to the increased use of violence amongst youth in the City of Boston. The mission of the Boston Police Department's Youth Violence Strike Force (YVSF) is to proactively reduce gun violence, particularly concentrating on individuals affiliated with gangs or violent criminal behavior. YVSF utilizes traditional policing strategies, incorporating prevention, intervention and enforcement efforts, as well as intelligence-led policing strategies to inform decision-making at every level. Patrol officers and detectives collect information and focus on sources of firearm and gang violence through the identification of individuals, groups, and locations. YVSF works collaboratively with community partners and other stakeholders to garner information on illegal firearms and related violence. Officers aim to prevent ongoing conflicts among street gangs through direct interaction with individuals and groups. Officers not only respond to but anticipate retaliatory violence between groups, and make every effort to deter further violence. Through community-based partnerships, suitable individuals with whom the YVSF makes contact are referred to social services and offered a variety of opportunities. DEFINITIONS: Gang A gang is an ongoing organization, association, or group of three (3) or more persons, whether formal or informal, which meets both of the following criteria: 1. 2. Has a common name or common identifying signs or colors or symbols or frequent a specific area or location and may claim it as their territory ​and Has members or associates who, individually or collectively, engage in or have engaged in criminal activity which may include incidents of targeting rival gang members and/or being targeted by other gangs. Gang Associate​—Any person, whether juvenile or adult, that has been verified using the 10 Point Verification System defined by this Rule and has obtained at least six (6) points. Gang Member​—Any person, whether juvenile or adult, that has been verified using the 10 Point Verification System defined by this Rule and has obtained ten (10) points. Gang Assessment Database​—Database maintained by the BRIC that includes Gang Members and Gang Associates that have been verified using the 10 Point Verification System. Active Status:​ An individual who has met the point criteria to be considered at least an associate and has had contact with another gang member / associate or has participated in some form of gang activity within the past 5 years to include instances where the individual may have been incarcerated. Inactive Status:​ An individual who has met the point criteria to be considered at least an associate and has NOT had documented contact with another gang member / associate, law enforcement agency within the past 5 years. Primary Affiliation:​ The group to which an individual is associated with. In cases where an individual associates with more than 1 group, the primary affiliation should be considered the group in which Law Enforcement can most clearly articulate the individual having the strongest ties. Secondary Affiliation:​ A secondary group that an individual could be verified as being at least an associate (6 points). This is in addition to their Primary Affiliation. Profile Page / Face Sheet:​ A printable summary detailing a gang member / associate’s key identifiers to include: Name, DOB, Race, Known Addresses, Affiliation status and Verification status, Criminal Record Number, Booking Numbers and Booking Photo. Gang Member Verification Report:​ A printable summary of any items used to verify an individual as a gang member / associate. GANG MEMBER VERIFICATION: The Department uses a ​“10 Point Verification System”​ to determine when an individual will be considered a Gang Associate or Gang Member. An individual that does not have a minimum of six (6) points using the 10 Point Verification System will not be included in the Gang Assessment Database. The following list of items or activities are examples of conduct that could result in an individual’s verification for entry into the Gang Assessment Database and are not meant to be all inclusive. ● ● ● ● ● ● Prior Validation by a Law Enforcement Agency (9 points) Information Received from an Unaffiliated Law Enforcement Agency (8 points) Self Admission (8 points) Use and or Possession of Group Paraphernalia or Identifiers (4 points) Group Related Photograph (2 points) Known Group Tattoo or Marking (8 points) ● Information from Reliable, Confidential Informant (5 points) ● Information from Anonymous Informant or Tipster (1 point) ● Victim/Target Affiliated with Member of Rival Group (8 points if not in custody or incarcerated; 3 points if in custody or incarcerated) ● Possession of Documents (8 points if not in custody or incarcerated; 3 points if in custody or incarcerated) ● Named in Documents as a Member (8 points) ● Possession of Gang Publications (2 points) ● Participation in Publications (8 points) ● Court and Investigative Documents (9 points) ● Published News Accounts (1 point) ● Contact with Known Gang Member/Associate (FIO) (2 points per interaction) ● Documented Association (BPD Incident Report) (4 points per interaction) ● Membership Documents (9 points) ● Information Developed During Investigation and/or Surveillance (5 points) ● Information Not Covered By Other Selection Criteria (1 point) 10 Points will result in a person being identified as a Gang Member. 6-9 Points will result in a person being identified as a Gang Associate. A blank verification form is attached to this rule as Appendix A. ACCESS: The Department will provide access to the Gang Assessment Database for each sworn officer and authorized user. All authorized users must complete a User Agreement before gaining access. Officers must have a legitimate law enforcement purpose, which may include an ongoing investigation or in support of a prosecution, for accessing the Gang Assessment Database. The Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC) will serve as the administrator of the central database and ensure that users have adequate access. Officers will have the following access permissions: ● READ​ all Gang Assessment Database Entries within the system ● SEARCH ​all entries within the system ● PRINT​ specific Gang Associate and/or Member profile pages / face sheets in order to comply with court discovery or to include in an investigative file Additional access permissions may be granted at the discretion of the Commander of the BIA or his/her designee or the Commander of the Youth Violence Strike Force or his/her designee. SUBMISSION TO THE GANG ASSESSMENT DATABASE: Employees will be able to submit an individual for consideration for admission into the Gang Assessment Database. All submissions for verification shall include documentation to support the individual’s entry into the Gang Assessment Database using the 10 Point Verification System. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, Incident Reports, FIOs, Intelligence Reports, Form 26s, and information gathered from social media. Submissions can be made to the Commander of the BRIC or his/her designee or the Commander of the Youth Violence Strike Force or his/her designee. If the individual is verified as a gang member or gang associate, the name and supporting documentation shall be forwarded to the BRIC for entry into the Gang Assessment Database. DISSEMINATION OF GANG ASSESSMENT DATABASE INFORMATION: All data contained in the Gang Assessment Database is considered Law Enforcement Sensitive. Officers may access the Gang Assessment Database when there is a legitimate law enforcement purpose for doing so, such as an ongoing investigation or in support of a prosecution. All court ordered, defense requested, or public requested production of information contained in the Gang Assessment Database should be directed to the Office of the Legal Advisor. REVIEW OF GANG ASSESSMENT DATABASE ENTRIES The Commander of the BIA or his/her designee, in collaboration with the Commander of the Youth Violence Strike Force or his/her designee, shall be responsible for ensuring that files are maintained in accordance with the goals and objectives set forth in this Rule. To that end, entries in the Gang Assessment Database shall be reviewed in accordance with state and federal law to determine current Active / Inactive status based on the definitions provided above. Individuals with an Inactive status who have NOT had documented association with another gang member / associate or law enforcement agency within the past 10 years may be reviewed for purge from the system. William B. Evans Police Commissioner