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Q&A
Definition and criteria for criminal group database inclusion
2:39:31
ยท
3 min
Council Member Yusef Salaam asks about the NYPD's definition of criminal groups for database inclusion and the criteria distinguishing criminal group involvement from social associations. NYPD officials explain the process and criteria for including individuals in the criminal group database.
- Criteria include self-admission, social media evidence, or identification during criminal investigations
- Two independent sources must confirm an individual's crew membership
- Multiple levels of supervisory approval are required for database inclusion
- The database now includes over 500 criminal groups, a significant increase from a decade ago
Yusef Salaam
2:39:31
And just a follow-up, how does the NYPD define criminal group for the purposes of database inclusion?
2:39:40
And and and and just for clarity as well, what criteria distinguish involvement as an alleged criminal group as compared to other forms of social associations or friendships?
Michael Gerber
2:39:52
You mean like how do we say something is a is a criminal group for purposes of the database?
2:39:58
Yes.
Michael LiPetri
2:39:59
Okay.
2:39:59
So I guess the the best way to to for me to explain it is these are street level crews.
2:40:10
So I'll give you an example.
2:40:12
In The Bronx, we identified a group of individuals that were not in the database.
2:40:21
And as our investigations continued, we saw that that that this small group at the time was involved in organized street violence.
2:40:33
Meaning built on geography feuding with another housing development within the Southern Bronx.
2:40:41
And once we started identifying them and they fit our criteria to be put into the criminal group database, they then were slowly entered into it.
2:40:51
Again, it starts with a few and then it it could grow or it could stay at a few.
Jason Savino
2:40:57
And I just wanna That was the best way to We're talking over 500 criminal groups in our database right now where as little as a decade ago, it was predominantly blood and crip.
2:41:09
Now super precise, next level precision policing.
2:41:12
We need to know why for that rapid deployment that we spoke about.
Yusef Salaam
2:41:21
And you mentioned you mentioned the criteria.
2:41:28
What is the criteria?
2:41:30
Meaning like that that differentiation between an a social association or a friendship.
Michael LiPetri
2:41:39
Okay.
2:41:40
Yeah.
Michael Gerber
2:41:40
Go ahead.
Michael LiPetri
2:41:41
Alright.
2:41:41
So, as as as described before, it's somebody who self admits being in a crew.
2:41:49
Self admits and that's then documented when when that person self admits.
2:41:55
Or their own social media site with the URL has to be documented and the actual post has to be uploaded into the criminal group database, obviously aligning themselves with a specific crew.
2:42:11
And then the third way is during the course of a criminal investigation, which could be a shooting, could be shots fired, could be a robbery pattern, the investigator identifies that person as possibly being in a crew.
2:42:26
And then two, independent individuals like we said before could be could be school safety, could be detective in a squad, could be a know police officer in a precinct.
2:42:41
And that's the third way.
2:42:43
And then ultimately it's two supervisory approvals.
2:42:48
One with the original documentation in the criminal group database by a supervisor.
2:42:53
Then it's sent to very experienced investigators that have a background in crew investigations and that ultimately has to be signed off by an investigator also.
2:43:06
I'm sorry, supervisor also of an investigative unit.