The burden on gang investigators and analysts to comprehend the full nature of the threat posed by gangs to their communities has expanded and become increasingly complex. Gangs are more adaptable and sophisticated, employ new and advanced technology to facilitate criminal activity to avoid law enforcement scrutiny, enhance their criminal operations, and connect with other gang members, criminal organizations, and potential recruits nationwide and even worldwide.

The National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC) is the only Department of Justice entity tasked with collecting, analyzing, and producing gang intelligence products to support federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies. On a daily basis, it assists with regional and national threat assessments; geo-spatial analysis and mapping projects; identification of gang signs, symbols, and tattoos; analytical support for specific gang-related investigations; strategic and tactical intelligence reports; and training.

Striving to fulfill that mission in a fast-paced information age, NGIC has unveiled NGIC Online, an information system with Web-based tools designed for researching gang-related intelligence. NGIC Online serves as an Internet extension of the center, located near the Nation’s Capital, which houses intelligence analysts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Drug Enforcement Agency; Department of Homeland Security; Department of Defense; Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Marshals Service. This system is accessible through Law Enforcement Online (LEO), a free resource available to law enforcement throughout the country.

After authenticating their law enforcement credentials through the LEO Web site, users can connect directly to NGIC Online and gain access to a variety of resources. The system allows law enforcement members to search the system’s vast library of intelligence products and images, post announcements, access officer safety reports, request information, and view the status of requests and submissions to NGIC. The Requests for Information (RFI) portal provides users with the capability to solicit NGIC analytical assistance and communicate with the center’s network of national subject matter experts. NGIC Online also contains a gang training and events calendar, as well as a discussion board. In the near future, a fully searchable gang-terms dictionary will be offered as an additional resource. Users are encouraged to share their comments, suggestions, and any new intelligence through the site, which allows NGIC to continue to have the most up-to-date and accurate gang information available.

Law enforcement professionals face unprecedented challenges as they develop strategies to combat the ever-increasing influence and negative impact of gangs across the country and around the world. Through NGIC Online, the center provides law enforcement officers with direct access to the information they need to make informed decisions and stay safe.