Targeting Violent Crime Initiative
BJA's Targeting Violent Crime Initiative (TVCI) is one of several Department of Justice efforts to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in
responding to the violent crime increase in many parts of the country. Under this initiative, 106 awards totaling nearly $75 million
were made to 103 state, local, or tribal law enforcement agencies. Nearly all of these agencies are using the funds to develop or maintain a multijurisdictional,
intelligence-led policing approach to violent crime in coordination with a federal law enforcement agency or agencies. More information regarding BJA
intelligence-led policing programs can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/topics/ilp.html.
In February 2008, these agencies began providing monthly reports documenting their TVCI activities. Aggregate data, per month and TVCI cumulative data, is listed
below. This page will be updated monthly and in the future will include highlights from specific task forces.
| Output |
July 2008 |
Project Total |
| Search Warrants |
503 |
3,667 |
| Violent Felony Arrests |
1,751 |
6,537 |
| Non-Violent Felony Arrests |
4,755 |
17,558 |
| Violent Misdemeanor Arrests |
476 |
2,208 |
| Non-Violent Misdemeanor Arrests |
2,364 |
12,465 |
| Certified Gang Member Arrests |
912 |
4,100 |
| Guns Seized |
535 |
3,283 |
| NIBIN Hits |
15 |
148 |
| Deconflictions |
403 |
2,042 |
| Forwarded Tips/Leads |
504 |
3,105 |
| Gangs Disrupted |
80 |
463 |
| Gangs Dismantled |
2 |
60 |
TVCI Task Force Highlight: San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) based their TVCI strategy on research by Anthony Braga, Ph.D. of Harvard University that indicated that 45-50 percent of
San Francisco violent crime was clustered within two percent of its neighborhoods and that a limited number of offenders were responsible for a majority of the gun
violence. Based on these findings, five narrowly-defined areas and more than 50 offenders were targeted for a wide range of enforcement and prevention measures. Frequent
buy/bust operations were conducted (167 arrests) in the areas where drug trafficking was prevalent. Other tactics included uniform patrol (foot, vehicle, and
motorcycle), warrant service, parole and probationer compliance visits, traffic enforcement, and civil anti-gang orders. The deployments were carefully orchestrated
in two-week schedules to ensure officer safety, maintain constant law enforcement pressure, and avoid compromising undercover operations.
These efforts appear to have achieved impressive violent crime reductions. After six months, SFPD reports that homicides (compared to same time this past year)
are down 23 percent in the target areas (11 percent citywide); drug-related homicides down 89 percent; and non-fatal shootings down 36 percent (24 percent citywide).
FY 2009 Budget
The President's FY 2009 Budget includes a request for $200 million to continue providing TVCI-like support for law enforcement agencies nationwide.
This request, entitled Partnerships to Reduce Violent Crime, would provide nearly three times the amount of funding provided for TVCI
in FY 2007 if funded.
Contact Information:
Michael Medaris, Senior Policy Advisor for Law Enforcement
Bureau of Justice Assistance
810 Seventh Street NW.
Washington, DC 20531
202-616-8937
E-mail: michael.medaris@usdoj.gov
