600-38 Gang Crime

Question 1

Criminal Street Gang.

Answer 1

A group of three or more persons having a common identifying sign, symbol, or leadership and who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of criminal activities. This definition includes, but is not limited to, adult, juvenile, and transnational criminal street gangs, criminal motorcycle gangs, and prison gangs.

Question 2

Gang Card.

Answer 2

(Also referred to as “Green Card.”) An electronic entry into Gang Tracker that a law enforcement officer completes on an individual who is suspected of being a gang member. Once the Gang Card is approved by the Gang Division, the entry is given a sequence number and the individual is documented in Gang Tracker. `

Question 3

Gang Crime.

Answer 3

A reported incident or crime that occurs or is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang. It is emphasized that all of the gang types included under the definition of a criminal street gang should be considered when making a determination whether or not an incident or offense is a gang crime.

Question 4

Gang Intelligence.

Answer 4

Information related to gangs, gang membership or association, gang activity, planned or spontaneous responses to gang activity, statistical data related to gangs, and all other data related to gangs.

Question 5

Documentation.

Answer 5

An official record of an individual created when information regarding the individual is entered into the HPD Gang Tracker database, assigned a sequence number, and approved by Gang Division personnel.

Question 6

Gang Member.

Answer 6

Any person belonging to or having membership status in a criminal street gang. For HPD purposes, an individual is considered a gang member only when that person’s name is given a sequence number and documented in the department’s Gang Tracker database.

Question 7

Gang Tracker.

Answer 7

The Houston Police Department multijurisdictional electronic database used to document gang members in the greater Houston area. The database, which is accessible via the department’s Intranet Portal under Applications, contains gang information such as gang names and overviews, member names, aliases, photographs, tattoos, addresses, and vehicles.

Question 8

GANG TRACKER DATABASE USER TRAINING

All employees who enter into or retrieve information from the Gang Tracker database shall complete intelligence-based training at least _____. Employees shall take the online version of this course but shall obtain the _____ from the Gang Division. Upon completion of the intelligence-based course, all certificates shall be printed and forwarded to the Gang Division and the Training Division’s Certification Office to receive credit for the course.

Answer 8

1) once every two years

2) preauthorization code and specific directives

Question 9

RETENTION OF GANG INTELLIGENCE

All gang intelligence is the property of the Houston Police Department. Except as authorized by this General Order, no individual or division of the department shall retain gang intelligence that _____.

An exception to this is information relative to an active criminal investigation for which an _____. At the conclusion of each investigation, all gang related information shall be forwarded to the Gang Division.

Answer 9

1) has not been entered into Gang Tracker

2) incident report has been generated

Question 10

RETENTION OF GANG INTELLIGENCE

A Divisional Gang Unit (DGU) may maintain a file on an individual for up to _____ while determining whether there is sufficient information to document the person as a criminal gang member. After 60 calendar days, all files on a suspected gang member shall be purged by the DGU if there is not enough information to document the person as a gang member. Officers shall not maintain copies of Gang Cards once the information is _____. However, any information contained in an officer’s field notes that was gathered during the course of an investigation shall be retained and made available to the prosecutor upon request. The dissemination and purging of gang data is strictly controlled by state and federal law.

Answer 10

1) 60 calendar days

2) entered into the Gang Tracker database

Question 11

GANG MEMBER SUBMITTAL PROCESS

When seeking to have an individual documented as a gang member, employees shall utilize the Gang Tracker by entering the information directly into Gang Tracker via the Gang Card entry system. Entering the information into Gang Tracker and having the entry _____ is the only way HPD shall officially recognize an individual as a gang member.

Answer 11

approved by a Gang Division intelligence officer

Question 12

GANG MEMBER SUBMITTAL PROCESS

Employees shall follow state laws when documenting a criminal street gang member. For an individual to be documented as a gang member, gang intelligence must satisfy the criteria listed in either item (a) or (b) below.

a. Information on the individual must be relevant to the identification of an organization reasonably suspected of involvement in criminal activity and consist of the following:
1. _____ that includes, as a finding or as an element of a criminal offense, participation in a criminal street gang.
2. Self-admission by the individual of being a criminal street gang member during ____

Answer 12

1) Judgment under any law

2) a judicial proceeding.

Question 13

GANG MEMBER SUBMITTAL PROCESS (1/2)

Employees shall follow state laws when documenting a criminal street gang member. For an individual to be documented as a gang member, gang intelligence must satisfy the criteria listed in either item (a) or (b) below.

b. If the criterion listed in item (a) above is not met, then information on the individual must consist of at least two of the following:
1. _____ of criminal street gang membership that is not made during a judicial proceeding including the use of the Internet or other electronic format or medium to post photographs or other documentation identifying the individual as a member of a criminal street gang.
2. Identification of the individual as a criminal street gang member by _____
3. Corroborated identification of the individual as a criminal street gang member by an _____
4. Evidence the individual frequents a documented area of a criminal street gang and _____

Answer 13

1) Self-admission by the individual
2) a reliable informant or other individual.
3) informant or other individual of unknown reliability.
4) associates with known criminal street gang members.

Question 14

GANG MEMBER SUBMITTAL PROCESS (2/2)

Gang Database Criteria

Employees shall follow state laws when documenting a criminal street gang member. For an individual to be documented as a gang member, gang intelligence must satisfy the criteria listed in either item (a) or (b) below.

b. If the criterion listed in item (a) above is not met, then information on the individual must consist of at least two of the following:
5. Evidence the individual uses, in more than an incidental manner, _____, including expressions of letters, numbers, words, or marks, regardless of how or the means by which the symbols are displayed, that are associated with a criminal street gang that operates in an area frequented by the individual.
6. Evidence the individual has been arrested or taken into custody with known criminal street gang members for____
7. Evidence that the individual has visited a known criminal street gang member other than a family member of the individual while the gang member is _____.
8. Evidence of the individual’s use of technology, including the Internet, to _____

Answer 14

1) criminal street gang dress, hand signals, tattoos, or symbols
2) an offense or conduct consistent with criminal street gang activity.
3) confined in or committed to a penal institution
4) recruit new criminal street gang members.

Question 15

Gang Card Review Process

Officers shall be aware that each electronic Gang Card goes through two levels of review before it is accepted and entered into Gang Tracker (and ultimately TCIC/NCIC). Once an officer submits an updated or new Gang Card and receives a confirmation, the officer shall submit information from the Gang Card to the _____ for review.

Once approved by the DGU supervisor, the Gang Card goes electronically to the _____ to review and confirm that necessary criteria are met. All new gang members shall then be entered into Gang Tracker and assigned a sequence number. The Gang Division shall maintain Gang Tracker.

Answer 15

1) DGU supervisor

2) Gang Division

Question 16

Retention Schedule for Gang Member Information

The Gang Division is responsible for purging both adult and juvenile information from the Gang Tracker database.

Adult criminal street gang information shall be purged from Gang Tracker after five years if the individual has not been arrested for criminal activity. The five-year period does not include the time the individual is:

a. _____ operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
b. _____ operated by or under contract with the Texas Youth Commission; or
c. Confined in county jail or confined in or _____ in lieu of being confined in a correctional facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or being committed to a secure correctional facility operated by or under contract with the Texas Youth Commission.

Answer 16

1) Confined in a correctional facility
2) Committed to a secure correctional facility
3) committed to a facility operated by a juvenile board

Question 17

Retention Schedule for Gang Member Information

The Gang Division is responsible for purging both adult and juvenile information from the Gang Tracker database.

Records of juveniles 10 through 16 years of age shall be purged after two years if the child has not been taken into custody for delinquent conduct or arrested for criminal activity. The two-year period does not include the time the child is:

d. Committed to the Texas Youth Commission for ____; or
e. Confined in the _____.

Answer 17

1) a felony

2) Texas Department of Criminal Justice

Question 18

GANG INTELLIGENCE SUBMITTAL PROCESS

Except for gang member identifications, gang intelligence gathered by employees shall be submitted to the Gang Division via an incident report titled “_____.” Upon receipt, a Gang Division intelligence officer shall review the report, and when appropriate shall contact the _____ at the affected patrol station or investigative division. The intelligence officer shall relay the information submitted to the concerned DGU or investigative division for the follow-up investigation.

Each follow-up investigation shall include contact with the submitting officer. When the investigation is complete, the investigator or DGU officer shall submit a thorough supplemental report. After review by the DGU supervisor or the investigative division’s gang liaison officer, the intelligence report shall be _____.

Gang intelligence gathered by DGU officers or division investigators shall be reviewed by the _____ or the investigative division’s gang liaison officer and submitted to the Gang Division.

NOTE: Time sensitive or critical gang intelligence shall be immediately submitted to the Gang Division via an incident report. In addition, the submitting officer shall notify the DGU or Gang Division supervisors who shall make any other necessary notifications.

Answer 18

1) Investigation Gang
2) DGU supervisor
3) submitted to the Gang Division
4) DGU supervisor

Question 19

GANG CRIME INCIDENT REPORTING

The incident reporting system requires employees to indicate when an incident is gang related. Objective evidence in coding an incident or offense as a gang crime includes, but is not limited to, the following:

a. The incident was known or alleged to have been motivated by _____.
b. The complainant, suspect, witness, or repartee was _____. An exception would be for DWI, OWLS, or any other offense for which the incident would not likely have been committed in furtherance of the gang organization’s mission.
c. The _____ of the specific incident or offense suggested possible gang involvement (e.g., drive-by shooting, robbery, assault, murder, or any crime in which the complainant was targeted due to assumed gang affiliation based on clothing, race, or location).
d. The incident involved multiple suspects or complainants _____ (particularly the same color), or clothing displaying a specific name or symbol.
e. The suspect, complainant, witness, or reportee _____.
f. The incident or offense occurred in _____

Answer 19

1) gang rivalry or gang retaliation
2) a known or suspected member of a criminal street gang
3) modus operandi
4) wearing the same or similar clothing
5) alleged possible involvement by a gang
6) an area known for gang activity.

Question 20

GANG CRIME INCIDENT REPORTING

If facts indicate the incident or offense may have been motivated, committed, or directed by a criminal street gang, the incident report shall be coded as a gang crime by indicating a “YES” response under the offense title mandatory screen. The Gang Division shall automatically receive a copy of all such coded reports. In addition, officers shall _____ when completing incident reports and supplements.

When in doubt about whether or not an incident shall be coded as a gang crime, officers shall consult with the Gang Division. If Gang Division personnel are not available and there is reason to believe the incident may be gang related, officers shall _____.

Answer 20

1) select all appropriate concerned divisions to receive a report
2) code the report as a gang crime

Question 21

OFFICERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Each patrol officer shall be able to recognize or identify:

a. Gang _____.
b. Indications of _____
c. Signs of _____ at crime scenes.
d. Individuals who _____ (according to established criteria).

Answer 21

1) graffiti
2) gang membership (e.g., tattoos, hand signs, clothing).
3) gang involvement
4) may be gang members

Question 22

OFFICERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Patrol officers are expected to familiarize themselves with:

h. Their _____ and how they can be contacted.
i. Known neighborhood gang hangouts and _____
j. How to _____ incident reports.

Answer 22

1) DGU officers
2) gang influenced areas.
3) code gang related

Question 23

OFFICERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

All officers shall actively seek to identify and suppress gang related activities. Officers’ actions shall be proactive in nature and include:

k. Efforts to identify individuals involved in _____

I. _____ individuals displaying behavior common to gang members (e.g., using gang lingo, symbols, or signs, having gang tattoos, frequenting gang hangouts, or involvement in gang fights).

m. Acting on _____ that illegal gang activities are about to occur, and intervening and suppressing those activities.

Answer 23

1) gang related activities.
2) Observing and interviewing
3) gang intelligence and reasonable suspicion

Question 24

DIVISIONAL GANG UNIT (DGU) RESPONSIBILITIES

Because gang intelligence is a priority, each patrol division commander shall have a DGU and it shall be permanently staffed with at least _____. DGU staffing should be adjusted appropriately to address the demands of the community served. DGU personnel shall not be assigned alternate or additional duties except in justifiable staffing emergencies. _____ shall have authority with regard to their DGU’s staffing level, day-to-day enforcement strategies, and overall tactical deployment, but shall ensure that sufficient DGU personnel are performing the below listed DGU responsibilities.

Answer 24

1) one sergeant and two police officers

2) Commanders

Question 25

DIVISIONAL GANG UNIT (DGU) RESPONSIBILITIES (1/3)

DGU officers and supervisors shall:

a. Notify a _____ when becoming involved in long-term investigations so that deconflictions regarding persons, vehicles, telephone numbers, etc. may be conducted in order to avoid duplication of effort by internal and external investigative personnel.
b. Submit all gang intelligence via an incident report titled “_____.”
c. Review all _____ submitted by patrol officers and follow established procedures.
d. Attend _____ meetings held by the Gang Division.
e. Notify a _____ (or Command Center if after hours) of all gang related significant events (e.g., drive-by shootings, planned gang fights, major investigations).

Answer 25

1) Gang Division supervisor
2) Investigation Gang
3) Gang Cards
4) Gang Awareness Networking Group (G.A.N.G.)
5) supervisor in the Gang Division

Question 26

DIVISIONAL GANG UNIT (DGU) RESPONSIBILITIES (2/3)

DGU officers and supervisors shall:

f. Refer all media requests for gang related information to the _____.
g. Provide complete and current information on gangs, gang members, and gang activities to their division by _____ regularly and providing gang intelligence and wanted gang member bulletins.
h. Assist patrol officers in _____.
i. Regularly train patrol officers assigned to their respective areas on gang criteria and how to _____
j. Seek approval from the _____ for all requests for speaking engagements or attending meetings or events for which gang related incidents are an issue.

Answer 26

1) Gang Division commander
2) addressing roll calls
3) gang investigations
4) properly enter gang member information into the Gang Tracker.
5) Gang Division commander

Question 27

DIVISIONAL GANG UNIT (DGU) RESPONSIBILITIES (3/3)

DGU officers and supervisors shall:

k. Assist _____ with follow-up investigations of gang crimes.

I. Conduct _____ on gang intelligence submitted by officers and submit the resulting intelligence reports to the Gang Division.

m. Adhere to the _____ set forth by the Gang Division.
n. Submit _____ updates to the Gang Division that include the following information: gang members and gangs identified; gangs targeted; the number of arrests, seizures, and charges filed as a result of the targeted efforts; and a summary of all significant gang operations. The quarterly report shall be forwarded to the Gang Division via each division’s chain of command to be compiled and disseminated departmentwide by the Gang Division.

Answer 27

1) investigative divisions
2) follow-up investigations
3) gang and gang member identification criteria
4) quarterly

Question 28

OTHER INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Investigative divisions are responsible for:

a. Follow-up investigations of _____.
b. Sharing in the responsibility of _____.
c. Submitting _____.

Answer 28

1) gang crimes
2) identifying gang members and associates
3) Gang Cards

Question 29

OTHER INVESTIGATIVE DIVISIONS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Any division involved in an investigation involving a criminal street gang shall notify the Gang Division and keep them informed of all available intelligence on the gang or gang members. At the conclusion of the investigation, the investigator shall _____

Investigators at the scene of a suspected gang crime and needing the assistance of a specialized gang investigator shall contact the appropriate DGU supervisor. The DGU supervisor shall contact an officer as well as a supervisor from the Gang Division. Specialized gang personnel shall be called to the scene of a possible gang crime only by the _____

Homicide Division shall determine whether homicides shall be coded as gang crimes. Homicide Division shall maintain statistical data for all gang related homicides. This data shall be submitted to the Gang Division at the _____ or as requested by the Gang Division.

Answer 29

1) provide a thorough report on the results of the investigation to the Gang Division.
2) appropriate DGU supervisor or a supervisor in the Gang Division.
3) first of each month

Question 30

Gang Division

The Gang Division serves as the:

a. Final authority in determining whether an incident or offense, except homicides, shall be _____.
b. _____ for all gang intelligence.

Answer 30

1) coded as a gang crime

2) Department’s central repository

Question 31

GANG PROGRAMS

When divisions become involved in gang awareness and anti-gang school education programs or any type of public forum regarding gangs, they shall notify the _____.

Answer 31

Gang Division commander

Question 32

RELEASE OF GANG INFORMATION

The _____ shall ensure the public is made aware the department gives all incidents involving gang crimes high investigative priority.

Except as noted below, employees are strictly prohibited from making statements or releasing information regarding any gang information or investigation to anyone who is not a department employee without prior approval from the Gang Division commander.

The release of gang intelligence to other law enforcement agencies may be authorized only by _____

Any release of gang information shall be closely coordinated with the Gang Division and any applicable investigative division. It is imperative that _____ is not compromised.

Answer 32

1) Office of Public Affairs
2) Gang Division classified personnel.
3) ongoing investigation information

Question 33

RECORDS DIVISION’S RESPONSIBILITIES

Records Division shall establish reporting procedures involving gang crimes. Records Division shall ensure all gang crime reports are forwarded to the Gang Division on a _____ basis.

Answer 33

regular