The Potential Costs of Police Databases: Exploring the Performance of California’s Gang Database (CalGang)
Main Article Content
Abstract
Informatics and databases used to track crime are an increasing part of crime prevention strategies and hold promise for identifying individuals likely to be involved in crime so they can be more easily tracked to prevent future crimes. This article uses cost analysis techniques to explore the utility of California’s gang prevention database (CalGang) from 1997 to 2010. Costs included the primary operating costs of the database and secondary costs associated with Type I and Type II errors. CalGang tracks more than 235,000 individuals implicated in gang activity statewide. Although the primary costs of operating the database were relatively low, secondary costs resulting from errors were much larger and led to an overall greater cost to society. In addition, it appears that CalGang has not been successful in reducing the rate of gang-related crime in Los Angeles. Resources for CalGang may be better spent on other crime prevention activities that are less costly to society and lead to greater prevention.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
-
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
-
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
-
NoDerivatives — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
References
Aba-Onu, U. F., Levy-Pounds, N., Salmen, J., & Tyner, A. (2010). Evaluation of gang databases in Minnesota and recommendations for change. Information & Communications Technology Law, 19, 223-254. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13600834.2010.533447
Advancement Project. (2007). City wide gang activity reduction strategy: Phase III report. Retrieved from http://councilcommittee.lacity.org/stellent/groups/boardcommissions/@councilcmte_contributor/documents/contributor_web_content/lacityp_019564.pdf
Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Barrows, J., & Huff, C. R. (2006, November 2). Constructing and deconstructing the gang database: A comparative analysis of criteria, policies, and implications.
Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Los Angeles, CA.
Bonner, H. S., McLean, S. J., & Worden, R. E. (2008). Cease Fire-Chicago: A synopsis. Albany, NY: John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety.
California Department of Finance. (2011). 2011-12 California budget: Legislative, judicial, and executive. Retrieved from http://www.dof.ca.gov/budget/historical/2011-12/governors/documents/0010.pdf
California Emergency Management Agency. (2011, January). California Emergency Management Agency online newsletter. Retrieved from http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs056/1103014240588/archive/1104043312403.html
California Gang Node Advisory Committee. (2007). Policy and procedures for the CalGang system. Retrieved from http://ag.ca.gov/calgang/pdfs/policy_procedure.pdf
Cohen, M. A. (1998). The monetary value of saving a high-risk youth. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 14, 5-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023092324459
Deeney, J. (2012, June 12). Can street violence be fought like a virus? The Nation. Retrieved from www.thenation.com/article/168529/can-street-violence-befought-virus DeLisi, M., Kosloski, A., Sween, M., Hachmeister, E., Moore, M., & Drury, A. (2010).
Murder by numbers: Monetary costs imposed by a sample of homicide offenders. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 21, 501-513. doi: 10.1080=14789940903564388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14789940903564388
Dussault, R. (1998, November 30). CAL=GANG brings dividends. Government technology. Retrieved from http://www.govtech.com/magazines/gt/CALGANGBringsDividends.html
Everhart, K. L. (2003). An evaluation of the gang violence suppression program: Final evaluation report. Sacramento, CA: Office of Criminal Justice Planning, Evaluation, Monitoring and Audits Division.
Faturechi, R., & Leonard, J. (2011, December 25). ID errors put hundreds in county jail. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/25/local/la-me-wrong-id-20111225
Golden, M., Siegel, J., & Forsythe, D. (2007). Cost-benefit analysis. Retrieved from http://councilcommittee.lacity.org/stellent/groups/boardcommissions/@councilcmte_contributor/documents/contributor_web_content/lacityp_019575.pdf
Grogger, J. (2002). The effects of civil gang injunctions on reported violent crime: Evidence from Los Angeles County. Journal of Law and Economics, 45, 69-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/338348
Harris, K. D. (2010). Organized crime in California: 2010 Annual report to the California Legislature. Retrieved from http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/pdfs/publications/org_crime2010.pdf
Hobson, W. (2012, October 10). Pinellas law enforcement leaders say gang database guidelines need to be changed. Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay, FL. Retrieved from http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/pinellas-law-enforcementleaders-say-gang-database-guidelines-need-to-be/1255813
Howell, J. C., Egley, A., Jr., Tita, G. E., & Griffiths, E. (2011). U.S. gang problem trends and seriousness, 1996-2009. Retrieved from http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/Bulletin-6.pdf
Jacobs, J. B. (2009). Gang databases: Context and questions. Criminology & Public Policy, 8, 705-709. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9133.2009.00586.x
Kernan, H. (2003, April 19). California gang database attracts criticism. NPR. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1237702
Maxson, C. L., Hennigan, K. M., & Sloane, D. C. (2005). It's getting crazy out there: Can a civil gang injunction change a community? Criminology & Public Policy, 4, 577-605. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9133.2005.00305.x
Mason, J. (2013, May 10). CalGANG-How does it work? Hint: it doesn't. [Web Log Content]. Retrieved from http://www.jmasonconsulting.com/calgang/
McGreevy, P., & Banks, S. (2006, March 23). On paper, leaving a gang is difficult. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/23/local/me-gang23
O'Deane, M. (2010, November 16). The CalGang system: How investigators in the state share information to prosecute gangsters. Law Officer. Retrieved from http://www.lawofficer.com/article/investigation/cal-gang-system
Olson, M. (2003, June 11). Guilt by association. In These Times, Chicago, IL. Retrieved from http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/592/guilt_by_association
Regan, S. (2011, August 14). GangNet shuts down, but what's next? Twin cities daily planet. Retrieved from http://tcdailyplanet.tumblr.com/post/8953280250/gangnet-shuts-down-but-whats-next
Samaha, A. (2012). Menace to society: Why many young black men are accused of being in gangs. SF Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.sfweekly.com/2012-08-08/news/gangs-police-race-sfpd-calgang-jeff-adachi-george-gascon-street-terrorismenforcement-and-prevention-act/
Siegel, L. (2003). Gangs and the law. In L. Kontos, D. Brotherton, & L. Barrios (Eds.), Gangs and society: Alternative perspectives, (pp. 213-227). New York, NY: Columbia University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7312/kont12140-011
Skogan, W. G., Hartnett, S. M., Bump, N., & Dubois, J. (2009). Evaluation of Cease Fire-Chicago. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice. Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act of 1988, Cal. Penal Code x 186.20 et seq. (2008).
Van Hofwegen, S. L. (2009). Unjust and ineffective: A critical look at California's step Act. Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, 18, 679-701.
Walczak, H. (2009). Dangerous data: The use and abuse of gang databases. Retrieved from http://works.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=heather_walczak
Webster, D. W., Whitehill, J. M., Vernick, J. S., & Curriero, F. C. (2013). Effects of Baltimore's Safe Streets Program on gun violence: A replication of Chicago's Cease Fire Program. Journal of Urban Health, 90(1), 27-40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-012-9731-5
Wright, J. D. (2005). The constitutional failure of gang databases. Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, 2, 115-142. Yoshino, E. R. (2008). California's criminal gang enhancements: Lessons from interviews with practitioners. S. Cal. Rev. L. & Soc. Just., 18, 117.
Youth Justice Coalition (2012). Tracked and Trapped: Youth of Color, Gang Databases And Gang Injunctions. Inglewood, CA: Youth Justice Coalition.