What is a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC)?
CGICs are an interagency collaboration focused on the immediate collection, management, and analysis of crime gun evidence, such as shell casings, in real time, in an effort to identify shooters, disrupt criminal activity, and to prevent future violence. CGICs rely on an ongoing collaboration between the ATF, local police department, the local crime laboratory, probation and parole, local police gang units, prosecuting attorneys, U.S. Attorney’s Office, crime analysts, community groups, and academic organizations.
The primary outcome of a CGIC is the identification of armed violent offenders for investigation and prosecution. Other outcomes include the identification of crime gun sources, efficient resource allocation, providing decision makers with the most accurate crime data available, and increasing case closure rates, public safety, and the prevention of violent crime committed with firearms.
This program is based on the ATF Governing Board’s CGIC best practices, coupled with proactive law enforcement practices that provide timely ballistics and other relevant real-time investigative leads in an effort to identify shooters, particularly those worthy of state and/or federal prosecution. Paired with effective evidenced-based interventions such as Focused Deterrence and Hotspot Policing, these initiatives aim to decrease the incidences of gun crime; improve gun crime investigation, clearance rates, and prosecutorial outcomes; and increase public trust and confidence in law enforcement through effective community engagement.
To view the ATF Governing Board’s CGIC Best Practices Guide, click here.
To view a one-pager on the CGIC concept, click here.
For more information, go to the CGIC Concept page.
Crime Gun Intelligence Center Initiative — The evolution of NIBIN and CGIC as an investigative tool to target gun crimes by using real-time forensic ballistic information to connect gunshot incidents.
Participating Cities
To launch this initiative, BJA has awarded grant funding to 33 sites that proposed to replicate the ATF Governing Board’s CGIC best practices in their jurisdictions. The cities, selected with input and coordination from the ATF, are:
News and Events
BJA Opens Application for FY 2022 CGIC Grant
The Local Law Enforcement Crime Gun Intelligence Center Integration Initiative, administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is a competitive grant program that provides funding to state, local, and tribal government entities that are experiencing precipitous increases in violent gun-related crime.
The purpose of this initiative is to support local and tribal jurisdictions’ capacity to work with their ATF partners to utilize intelligence, technology, and community engagement to swiftly identify unlawfully used firearms and their sources, and effectively prosecute perpetrators engaged in violent crime.
Click here for more information on the grant and how to apply.
NEW CGIC Evaluations
- Click here to view the evaluation of the Denver CGIC and RAVEN programs.
- Click here to view the evaluation of Kansas City Police Department’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center by Kenneth J. Novak and William R. King.
- Click here to view a summary of successes for the Milwaukee WI, Los Angeles CA, and Washington DC Crime Gun Intelligence Centers.
RECENT Webinars
- Click here to view a recent webinar on Cold Case Solvability and Using Science in Investigations.
New CGIC & Investigative Resources
- Evaluation of the Phoenix Crime Gun Intelligence Center
- NIBIN Technician Job Posting Example
- CGIC Analyst Job Posting Example
- Click here to view a NIBIN Lead Investigative Checklist available for download.
- The Phoenix Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU)Timeline of Events in the Homicide of Summer Brown – outlines the success of the CGIU in apprehending a homicide suspect using ballistic evidence and collaboration
- Cold Case Solvability Matrix – a downloadable template for agencies to assess the potential for solvability using a point system
Training & Technical Assistance
In collaboration with BJA, the National Policing Institute and its partners will provide the replication sites and other selected agencies with proactive and on-demand training and technical assistance, including practical guides and checklists, technical briefings and training, and quick reaction assessments as warranted. This assistance is available from law enforcement, investigative and prosecution experts, forensics experts, technologists and academic experts who can share unique insights into effective and efficient processes and approaches to prevent and reduce violent crime committed with firearms.
To request technical assistance, training, or other resources through this initiative, agency POCs should send an email to TTA@policinginstitute.org or call the National Policing Institute at 202-833-1460.
For more information, go to our Training & Technical Assistance page.
Our Partners
The National Policing Institute is collaborating with a wide variety of Partners and subject matter experts to support the participating cities. Our partners include:
