Preventing, Reporting, and Fighting Crime

Federal law enforcement agencies are working with their counterparts in state and local governments and their private sector partners to protect our lives, property, and neighborhoods. Information technology is an important weapon in preventing, reporting, and fighting crime of every description.

Advanced Law Enforcement & Response Technology
With support from the U.S. Department of Transportation, the National Institute of Justice and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Texas Transportation Institute is developing the Advanced Law Enforcement & Response Technology (ALERT^®). The System enhances the safety and efficiency of all first responders by streamlining data collection and sharing, and improving communication between law enforcement and the entire first response community.

Bulletproof Vest Partnership
Many of the more than 80,000 jurisdictions--states, units of local governments, and Indian tribes--may be eligible to apply for funds to help purchase bulletproof vests for law enforcement officers.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is a law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Treasury. It’s dedicated to reducing violent crime, collecting revenue, and protecting the public. ATF enforces the Federal laws and regulations relating to alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives and arson.

Crime Mapping Research Center
The National Institute of Justice’s Crime Mapping Research Center promotes, researches, evaluates, develops and disseminates (geographic information systems) technology and the spatial analysis of crime.

Customs Service -- Enforcement
The United States Customs Service is the primary enforcement agency protecting the Nation’s borders. It is the only border agency with an extensive air, land, and marine interdiction force and with an investigative component supported by its own intelligence branch.

Cybercrime
Internet crime, like any other crime, should be reported. Find out how to do it on this useful site sponsored by the Department of Justice. It has a wealth of other information as well, such as how to protect copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Drug Enforcement Administration
Since the early 1960s, there has been an alarming increase in drug use in the United States. Drug use among teens, and even younger children, has been steadily increasing for the past several years. On this site you’ll find everything from a list of the drugs that concern us most to national drug statistics to the agency’s major operations.

Drug-Free Communities Support Program
The Office of National Drug Control Policy funds community coalitions of youth, parents, media, law enforcement, school officials, religious organizations and other community representatives to prevent and reduce young people's illegal use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. You’ll find all 1999 grantees.

Federal Bureau of Investigation
On this site you’ll find everything from the 10 most wanted fugitives to the FBI’s Internet Fraud Complaint Center, to career opportunities with the FBI.

Federal Computer Incident Response Capability
Fight viruses! The Federal Computer Incident Response Capability (FedCIRC) is the central coordination and analysis facility dealing with computer security related issues affecting the civilian agencies and departments of the Federal Government. If you believe your federal site may have suffered a break-in or other type of incident, you may report it on this site.

Ganging Up on Gangs
The Northeast Gang Information System (NEGIS) gives law enforcement officers in five northeastern States the ability to track gang members within and across State lines.

Gang Resistance, Education, and Training (GREAT)
Sponsored by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms — and their many partners — this program helps children set goals for themselves, resist pressures, learn how to resolve conflicts without violence, and understand how gangs and youth violence impact the quality of their lives.

Identity Theft
How can someone steal your identity? By co-opting your name, Social Security number, credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their own use. In short, identity theft occurs when someone appropriates your personal information without your knowledge to commit fraud or theft. Find out what to do on this site sponsored by the Federal Trade Commission.

Mapping Out Crime
This report–the work of the Department of Justice and the National Partnership for Reinventing Government–describes what some of the most innovative law enforcement agencies in the country are doing. They are applying cutting-edge information technologies such as crime mapping to drive management decisions and to create real partnerships with communities to prevent and reduce crime.

National Vehicle Theft Program
The Department of Justice provides funds to states for this voluntary program. The "Watch Your Car" program encourages owners of motor vehicles to voluntarily display a decal or device to alert police that their vehicles normally are not driven between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. A car owner also consents to have law enforcement officials determine whether the vehicles are being operated with the owner’s consent.

Office of National Drug Control Policy
The office of the "drug czar" establishes policies to aid in the reduction of drug trafficking, manufacturing, and use.

SafeCities
A unique network of local leaders -- aided by the National Partnership for Reinventing Government and other national partners -- is sharing strategies and techniques for reducing gun violence.

Please help us add stories and links to this collection of law enforcement sites. Contact Patricia B. Wood, Editor, Access America E-Gov E-Zine http://www.accessamerica.gov. You may reach her at (202) 94-0063 or pat.wood@npr.gov.

June 2000