This report advocates, provides suggestions for establishing, and describes jurisdictional examples of collaboration and information-sharing on firearms-related topics and investigations that will strengthen local efforts in reducing violent crime.
Jurisdictions should consider establishing firearms task forces or working groups that will enable information-sharing, collective strategizing, communication, and support during the investigation and prosecution of firearms cases. By strengthening investigative collaboration, teams can work toward better identifying local crime trends, building stronger cases leading to more successful prosecutions, and ultimately reducing gun crime. Establishing and connecting a U.S. Attorney firearm liaison with a similar point of contact in a local prosecutor’s office is crucial to establishing and maintaining communication during the prosecution of firearms cases. When possible, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices should share the specific criteria under which they will consider taking jurisdiction of a local firearms case. Local law enforcement and prosecutors’ offices may benefit from establishing a procedure that enables the early and automatic screening of firearms cases to identify those that meet the federal criteria and help to ensure that the earliest possible decision on case jurisdiction is made. Because each jurisdiction operates under different procedures, it is important to consider case initiation and court concerns when determining appropriate case jurisdiction and when considering the timing of jurisdictional decisionmaking.