TaskForce® GangNET® is a 28 CFR 23 compliant, browser-based application which is used for investigative, analytical, and statistical recording and tracking of gang members, gangs and their activities. (GangNET also known as CalGang®), was initially released as CalGang in the State of California in 1998. Through a simple user interface, officers are able to work gang-related crimes by making use of the case management features. These features allow agencies to collect gang member information, including individual biographical data such as age, height, weight, hair color, eye color and specific marking or tattoos. All Objects such as image; description, scars marks and tattoos, residences, and vehicles all have the capability of including photographs. GangNET must have a gang and a person and criteria in order to upload data. GangNET will compile data that links gang members to other gang members, to gangs, vehicles, locations, field interviews, and affiliates. In addition, the system collects such data on the gangs as “AKAs” and any various symbols they use. Users can quickly generate gang rosters, as well as statistical reports on demographics, locality, and other criteria. GangNET also provides a resource for officers to collaborate and share their expertise and as well as find others with a particular expertise. GangNET has and will aid in the identification, location and apprehension of individuals or gangs engaged in a multiplicity of various crimes on a local and/or national level.
Since GangNET’s inception, California has logged approximately 230,000 gang members with over 6,000 users on the system and over 600 agencies accessing the database.
The system consists of a “person oriented” database and investigative application designed to share information on relationships between individuals who may be involved in gangs, groups or organizations. The module allows the identification of individuals, vehicles, tattoos, and locations through complete or partial information searching techniques.
GangNET has received numerous awards and accolades for this pioneering and ground-breaking technology including:
- Cisco Award - Most Innovative New Technology Award for 1999
- Smithsonian Most Innovative New Technology of the Century Award -- 2000
- ISA National Award for Best Technology -- 2006
GangNET is the “front end sharing application” for the FBI’s National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC); the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Immigration and Customs GangNET is also operational in the several states and areas of Canada.
Initiatives are in place, and more are underway, to share gang data amongst all of the GangNET/CalGang-operational states utilizing a common network.
GangNET has been designed to support data collection from officers in the field, gang units, patrol officers, corrections or any other law enforcement entity for a unique intelligence system. In an intelligence system, data can be collected from many different sources. GangNET provides a flexible subject based system to support collecting information about, persons, gangs, vehicles, affiliates, contact numbers and locations. Subject detail records include images, monikers, aliases, field interviews, physical descriptions, arrest and probation information.
GangNET has a built in slang dictionary capability where users can record gang related slang terms, their meaning and region of use. The ability to record information about individuals and their gang related expertise is available in the Resource feature.
An automated Field Interview (FI) form is incorporated into the system which allows information to be analyzed as quickly as it is accepted and uploaded into GangNET. The FI can be supplemented with a work flow capability which will require supervisory approval for all submissions of the form.
A Watch List feature allows a user to enter a name, a gang, a location or a vehicle which when searched by other users will provide the original user with a message containing the information of the person, the date of the inquiry and what was viewed.
Interfacing with external imaging systems and federal systems is available. For further details and information, please visit www.sra.com/gangnet.
