Violent Crime

This report examines how the FBI and other federal investigative agencies work with local law enforcement to target gangs in the Los Angeles area. GAO describes (1) how and what federal law enforcement assistance was provided to local law enforcement in Los Angeles to fight gang violence, (2) how useful Los Angeles area local law enforcement officials believed federal assistance was in fighting gang violence, and (3) what results Los Angeles area local law enforcement officials believed were achieved from joint efforts to combat gang violence.

GAO found that: (1) FBI provided assistance to local law enforcement in the Los Angeles area through the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Crime; (2) federal assistance provided through the task force included the use of federal laws and authority not otherwise available to local law enforcement, personnel, overtime pay, office space, various types of equipment, and funding for law enforcement activities; (3) local law enforcement officials believed that the task force enhanced their ability to conduct long-term, proactive investigations into entire gangs rather than short-term, reactive investigations; (4) local law enforcement officers believed that, overall, federal assistance helped to reduce gang violence; and (5) local law enforcement officers believed that the number of FBI agents assigned to the task force was insufficient, agent turnover hindered operations, and a lack of cellular telephones hindered operations.