VIOLENT CRIME ENFORCEMENT TEAMS (VCET)
2018-19 LEGISLATIVE FUNDING PROPOSAL
VCCC Background
Federal multijurisdictional narcotics task force funding began in 1988 by the Office of Drug Policy & Violence Prevention with guidance from the Narcotics Enforcement Coordinating Committee (NECC). State funding for gang enforcement began in 1998 and was consolidated with federal narcotics enforcement funding under Gang & Drug Oversight Council in 2004. When the Metro Gang Strike Force was disbanded in 2009, the Violent Crimes Coordinating Council was established under Minnesota Statute 299A.642 to provide guidance to the Commissioner of Public Safety on the investigation and prosecution of gangs and drugs and associated violent crimes. This structure provides additional oversight through contracted audits of VCET operations, annual review of compliance with the VCET Guidelines Manual as well as training and technical assistance provided by a Statewide Gang & Drug Coordinator. The state funds for VCET grants are allocated through the VCCC statute as well as funds for VCCC staffing, OJP grant administration, Statewide Coordinator technical assistance and training and external audit of VCET operations.
VCET Priorities
Multijurisdictional approaches enhance resource sharing, interagency coordination and information exchange in narcotics, gang and other violent crime investigations. This approach is intended to target drug distribution networks, firearm crimes, violent gang activity and related serious criminal activity beyond the investigative resources of individual agencies.
Increase in Partnerships and Staffing
VCET funding supports 210 full-time investigators in 70 counties. Each VCET is required to have a minimum of 3 partner agencies and 3 full time investigators. The largest VCET serves 8 counties and another has 21 investigators assigned. With no additional grant funds for more than 5 years, city police departments and county sheriff’s offices have taken on the additional expenses of these expansions.
2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016# VCET counties / 63 / 67 / 63 / 70 / 70 / 70
# VCET FTEs / 206 / 183* / 193 / 187 / 205 / 210
*Reduction in 2012 of Minneapolis joining federal Safe Streets Task force.
VCET Funding History
In 2017 there are 21 VCET grants supported with $3.5 million state funds grant funds, $585,000 in federal JAG funds. While there is no match requirement for these grants, local governments contribute staff and significant local funds to support VCET operations.
2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016State Base Funds / 3,500,000 / 3,500,000 / 3,500,000 / 3,500,000 / 3,500,000 / 3,500,000
Federal JAG Funds / 776,084 / 500,000 / 591,932 / 591,932 / 585,546 / 585,546
Total VCET grants / 4,278,095 / 4,002,012 / 4,093,945 / 4,093,946 / 4,087,561 / 4,087,561
2018-19 Funding Request
The VCCC is requesting an additional $1,000,000 per year from the state legislature to expand funding for multijurisdictional task forces investigating narcotics, gang and violent crime. This amount represents an increase in state VCET funding administered by the OJP, from $3.5 to $4.5 million annually. There was $6.1 million requested for VCET grant funds in 2017.
This increase would provide for:
· Additional resources to current VCET grantees that have incurred greater operational costs to maintain operations, increase number of FTEs and increase number of partner agencies.
· Expansion of grant resources to counties and cities not currently participating in a VCET.
Increase in VCET Operational Costs
The cost of doing business has increased significantly for VCETs:
· Liability insurance from the League of Minnesota Cities for multijurisdictional entities has significantly increased in recent years with the larger VCET’s paying in excess of $23,000.
· Agency personnel costs and fringe benefits increase regularly.
· Vehicle costs (purchase/lease) increases, as well as maintenance and fuel.
· Increased cost of technology used for investigations.
· In addition, recent changes to the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines have resulted in VCETs expanding narcotics investigations to meet charging thresholds which has increase confidential funds expenditures.
Current VCET Grants
VCETs report to OJP quarterly on expenditures and operations as summarized below:
VCET ACTIVITIES / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016# investigations / 5,140 / 7,124 / 6,116 / 5,964 / 5,837 / 6,027
# search warrants / 1,459 / 1,909 / 2,012 / 1,739 / 2,001 / 2,207
# non-drug arrests / 417 / 684 / 767 / 774 / 1,134 / 1,145
# drug arrests / 3,522 / 3,878 / 3,906 / 3,434 / 3,015 / 3,087
# kids removed/placed / - / - / - / 386 / 399 / 388
# guns seized / 687 / 867 / 925 / 808 / 1,011 / 1,108
# prevention presentations / 372 / 468 / 470 / 437 / 417 / 527
# presentation participants / 14,577 / 16,744 / 17,812 / 19,164 / 20,035 / 22,071
A comprehensive response to violent crimes related to gangs and drugs has resulted in an increase in non-drug arrests. While drug arrests are down slightly, the amount of narcotics seized in each arrest has increased significantly. The Statewide Gang & Drug Coordinator tracks emerging drug trends and has highlighted VCET seizures of methamphetamine, heroin, prescription drugs and marijuana concentrates in recent news conferences.
VCET SEIZURES / 2011 / 2012 / 2013 / 2014 / 2015 / 2016Meth (gm) / 45,563 / 51,088 / 64,845 / 101,374 / 104,473 / 221,223*
Heroin (gm) / 3,840 / 2,793 / 8,490 / 5,584 / 8,213 / 4,943
Prescription meds (du) / 10,100 / 15,829 / 92,778* / 18,398 / 17,717 / 58,577
Marijuana concentrate(gm) / 202 / 2,061 / 357 / 3,547 / 12,468 / 15,747
*includes one significant seizure.
Note that these seizure amounts are only for grant-funded VCETs and are not inclusive of all statewide activity. The increase in seizure amounts clearly indicates the need for additional funding and increased coordinated enforcement efforts.
Coordination
In addition to being multi-jurisdictional entities, the VCETs report quarterly on coordinated investigations with federal, tribal, state and other local law enforcement agencies. In 2016 VCET were involved in 1,680 coordinated investigations.
Oversight of VCET activities
State administrative funds support a full time statewide gang and drug coordinator to oversee VCET operations. The statewide coordinator provides oversight through site visits, training and technical assistance as well as day to day consultation on cases, supervision and coordination efforts. In addition, OJP has contracted with the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) to conduct on-site reviews of every VCET in 2012, 2014 and 2016. On site reviews examined VCET confidential funds management, evidence processing, asset seizure and forfeiture procedures in comparison to the Multijurisdictional Operating Procedures and Guidelines Manual. Oversight at the local level is the responsibility of advisory boards comprised of local chiefs, sheriffs and prosecutors of participating agencies.
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