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Strategic Objective

Prevent and intervene in crimes against vulnerable populations

Strategic Objective

Prevent and intervene in crimes against vulnerable populations and uphold the rights of, and improve services to, America’s crime victims

Lead Office: OJP

Themes:

Administration of Justice

DOJ.gov

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

The Department must continue to be vigilant in supporting and protecting the most vulnerable segments of our population that may fall victim to crime. Children are the most vulnerable and most exploited members of our society. The criminal victimization of children impacts not only the children, but also their families, community, and society at large.

Progress Update

Strategic Objective Review Summary of Findings: On track and making satisfactory progress

The Department of Justice remains committed to preventing crimes against our society’s most vulnerable populations and protecting the rights of crime victims. Recognizing that children are the most vulnerable and exploited members in our society, America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) alerts became a coordinated national effort in October 2002. Since then, over 90 percent of abducted children identified through these alerts have been recovered. The USMS, along with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, (NCMEC) created and implemented Sex Offender Investigation Coordinator (SOIC) Basic Training for SOICs and state and local investigators; training approximately 600 full-time and collateral duty SOICs and more than 100 state and local investigators. INTERPOL Washington’s Human Trafficking and Child Protection Division leveraged specialized investigative tools and services to help identify, locate, and apprehend individuals engaged in transnational crime, including the exploitation of children. CRM’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) began monitoring the degree to which CEOS’s investigations involved collaborative, or complex, investigations.

In FY 2015, the Department greatly surpassed its target of 3,051 open investigations concerning sexual exploitation of children, and exceeded its target for open investigations concerning human trafficking. OVW created and subsequently expanded a domestic violence homicide reduction initiative, while the Department undertook a number of steps to increase awareness of laws banning Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting, including hosting meetings in cities with large numbers of at-risk girls.

Though the Department has been successful in their efforts to protect and support our nation’s most vulnerable populations, there are many obstacles for this strategic objective. DOJ’s ability to help victims is limited by many factors, including the stigma and fear felt by victims when seeking help. Also, large amounts of data and obstacles to obtaining evidence often complicate investigations and require more resources. The growth of transnational organizations places an increasing burden on the Department’s international components; and the encryption of data and “going dark” makes it difficult to collect and use evidence. Finally, it is challenging for the Department to ensure victims of federal crimes in Indian Country receive the services they need, and are able to participate in the criminal justice process.

Moving into FY 2016, the Department will continue its Vulnerable People Priority Goal; focusing on increasing the number of investigations concerning child exploitation, human trafficking, and non-compliant sex-offenders; and developing and enhancing programs to better serve victims in Indian Country. DOJ will continue to support state, local, and tribal criminal and juvenile justice practitioners and victim assistance providers through innovative partnerships; and work to improve services and support efforts to assist victims of human trafficking.

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Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Prevent Crime, Protect the Rights of the American People, and Enforce Federal Law

Statement:

Prevent Crime, Protect the Rights of the American People, and Enforce Federal Law

Strategic Objectives

Combat the threat, incidence, and prevalence of violent crime

Statement:

Combat the threat, incidence, and prevalence of violent crime by leveraging strategic partnerships to investigate, arrest, and prosecute violent offenders and illegal firearms traffickers

Description:

Violent crime remains a serious problem in many rural and urban areas and throughout much of Indian Country. It continues to inflict a heavy toll on communities across America, limiting the quality of life for U.S. citizens, paralyzing neighborhoods, and stretching state and local law enforcement resources to their limits.

The vast majority of violent crime in this country falls within the jurisdiction of state and local agencies, and the vast majority of resources to combat it are provided by state and local governments. While some cities are well-equipped to handle issues involving violent gangs, many smaller cities and towns are easily overwhelmed by the violence and criminal activity that gangs bring to their communities. Each community faces different challenges that will require different solutions.

The Department will combat violent crime through vigorous investigation and prosecution of those who engage in violent criminal acts. It will work with its law enforcement partners at the federal, state, local, tribal, and international level to combat all types of violence, from the neighborhood-based street gangs, to increasingly brutal and prevalent violence along the Southwest Border, to the transnational gangs operating throughout the United States and abroad, to violent criminals seeking haven in the United States. It will also employ a comprehensive strategy that focuses on investigation, prosecution, and prevention efforts to address violence in America.

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Violent Crime

Statement:

Violent Crime: Protect our Communities by Reducing Gun Violence by using smart prevention and investigative strategies in order to prevent violent acts from occurring.

By September, 30, 2015, the Department of Justice will:

Increase the number of records submitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Index by states and federal agencies by 10%;
Increase the number of records entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) by 3%; and
Increase the number of NIBIN “hits”, that is, the linkage of two or more separate crime scene investigations, based upon comparisons of the markings made on fired ammunition recovered from crime scenes by 3%.

Description:

The Violent Crime Priority Goal supports the Administration’s plan to protect our communities by reducing gun violence with smart prevention and investigative strategies in order to prevent violent acts from occurring. Gun-related violence continues to constitute a serious threat to public safety throughout the United States. While data shows that overall violent crime in the United States has decreased in the past thirty years, many communities continue to experience high levels of gun violence. The Department recognizes that the challenges confronting each community are different and require solutions tailored to each community’s needs. The Department will focus its actions and resources on 1) gun-violence prevention, by effecting an increase in the number of records submitted to NICS Index, which in turn supports the Department’s efforts to accurately and expeditiously identify persons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms and (2) enhanced and more effective investigation by substantially increasing the number of records entered into NIBIN that contribute to investigative leads. Collectively, accomplishment of these goals will demonstrate and facilitate our progress in preventing and investigating gun-related violent crime.

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Prevent and intervene in crimes against vulnerable populations

Statement:

Prevent and intervene in crimes against vulnerable populations and uphold the rights of, and improve services to, America’s crime victims

Description:

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Vulnerable People

Statement:

Vulnerable People: Protect vulnerable populations by increasing the number of investigations and litigation matters concerning child exploitation, human trafficking, and non-compliant sex offenders; and by improving programs to prevent victimization, identify victims, and provide services.

By September 30, 2015, working with federal, state, local, and tribal partners, protect potential victims from abuse and exploitation through three sets of key indicators:

Open investigations concerning non-compliant sex offenders (4% over average of FYs 2012, 2013), sexual exploitation of children (3% over average of FYs 2011, 2012, 2013), and human trafficking (2% over FY 2013).
Open litigation matters concerning sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking (5% increase over baseline (TBD))
Percent of children recovered within 72 hours of issuance of an AMBER alert (90%)

Description:

The abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking of children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations, causes irrevocable harm to victims and society. Ensuring that our children, seniors, and all citizens can live without being disturbed by sexual trauma, physical abuse, or financial exploitation is more than a criminal justice issue; it is a societal and moral imperative. Despite efforts to date, the threat of these crimes remains very real. In the broadest terms, the goal of the Department of Justice (the Department or DOJ) is to prevent child sexual exploitation, elder abuse, and human trafficking from occurring in the first place, in order to protect every person from the physical and mental traumas associated with these crimes.

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Combat the threat, trafficking, and use of illegal drugs and the diversion of licit drugs

Statement:

Disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations to combat the threat, trafficking, and use of illegal drugs and the diversion of licit drugs

Description:

The Department’s drug strategy will leverage the collective talent and expertise of several federal law enforcement agencies to identify and target drug supply organizations nationwide, to attack their financial infrastructure, and to disrupt and ultimately dismantle them. Through the formation of prosecutor-led, multi-agency task forces that conduct intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdiction investigations, the Department will continue to mount a comprehensive, multilevel, organizational attack on the drug trafficking and money laundering organizations that pose the greatest threat to the Nation. The Department will disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations responsible for the supply of illegal or diverted drugs in the United States. Additionally, it will use the skills of prosecutors and agents from federal, state, local, and tribal agencies to combat the most prolific drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Partnerships with state, local, and tribal governments, along with grants and technical assistance will help reduce the use of illegal drugs and the violence associated with that use.

The Southwest Border region is a particularly vulnerable area and has increasingly become a focal point in the national security strategy due to the considerable cross-border law enforcement challenges in the region. The flow of narcotics north into the United States, along with the smuggling of criminal monetary proceeds and the illegal trafficking of firearms south out of the United States has had a devastating effect on the United States and Mexico, particularly along the Southwest Border. Much of the violence along the Southwest Border region and in Mexico is perpetuated by drug trafficking organizations vying for control of trafficking routes to the United States and engaging in turf battles for disputed distribution territories.

The vast 5,225-mile border between the United States and Canada, and the evolving drug trafficking trends on both sides of that border, provide numerous challenges for law enforcement and intelligence entities operating along the Northern border under differing authorities, protocols, and expertise. Marijuana and Ecstasy remain the most significant Northern border drug threats to the United States, while the United States remains the primary transit country for cocaine into Canada from South America.

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Investigate and prosecute corruption, economic crimes, and transnational organized crime

Statement:

Investigate and prosecute corruption, economic crimes, and transnational organized crime

Description:

The Nation’s recent economic crisis has had significant and devastating effects on mortgage markets, credit markets, and the banking system. The Department will protect Americans from the financial fraud and corruption that devastates consumers, siphons taxpayer dollars, weakens our markets, and impedes our ongoing economic recovery. The impact of financial crime is not confined to Wall Street – and many times the victims of fraud have worked hard and played by established investment rules, only to see their retirement and life savings vanish at the hands of white-collar criminals. Additionally, the rapid expansion of Internet use throughout the Nation, including business and government, creates a continually growing risk of unlawful acts. The Department will focus its white collar enforcement resources on these areas of potential fraud and associated corruption.

These offenses represent separate and very severe threats to the United States’ economy. The corruption of federal, state, and locally elected, appointed, or contracted officials, whether foreign or domestic, undermines democratic institutions and may threaten the condition of the economy, public safety, and national security, while wasting many taxpayer dollars. As businesses, governments, educational institutions, and individual citizens continue to integrate the Internet and other global network computer systems, extortionists, hostile insiders, identity thieves, and other criminals have new opportunities and new venues to commit unlawful acts. The increased presence of fraud such as corporate fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, and mortgage fraud have escalated and will continue to hamper economic recovery and persist long after any recovery occurs. IP crime poses a grave threat to the country’s economic well-being, as well as the health and safety of U.S. citizens. Finally, transnational crime has expanded dramatically in size, scope, and influence, and transnational criminal networks pose a significant threat to national and international security. In response, the Department will implement actions to support the Administration’s Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime, which seeks to build, balance, and integrate the tools of American power to combat transnational organized crime and related threats to national security and urge America’s foreign partners to do the same.

The Department will pursue fraud and corruption committed against the Federal Government and state and local governments and their programs and will protect consumers through vigorous investigations and civil and criminal enforcement of federal laws. These efforts will return significant amounts to the Treasury, Medicare, and other entitlement programs every year and provide deterrence to those contemplating defrauding federal programs, businesses, and individual citizens.

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Financial and Healthcare Fraud

Statement:

Financial-Healthcare Fraud: Reduce financial and healthcare fraud. By September 30, 2015, the Department of Justice will: reduce by 3 percent the number of financial and healthcare fraud investigations pending longer than 2 years to efficiently and effectively drive those investigations to resolution.

Description:

The recent financial crisis, which has impacted every American, has resulted in fraud and deception in the finance and housing markets as well as fraudulent schemes that misuse the public’s unprecedented investment in economic recovery. Criminals who commit mortgage fraud, securities and commodities fraud, and other types of fraud relating to the response to the economic crisis, victimize the American public as a whole. Similarly, those who defraud Medicare, Medicaid, and other government health care programs defraud every American. In particular, health care fraudsters take critical resources out of our health care system—thus contributing to the rising cost of health care for all Americans and endangering the short-term and long-term solvency of these essential health care programs. The Department will continue to address these critical problems by vigorously investigating and prosecuting both health care fraud and financial fraud, in order to protect American businesses, consumers, and taxpayers.

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Promote and protect American civil rights

Statement:

Promote and protect American civil rights by preventing and prosecuting discriminatory practices

Description:

The Department is committed to upholding the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, including the most vulnerable members of society. Federal civil rights statutes reflect some of America’s highest ideals and aspirations – equal treatment and equal justice under law. These statutes not only aim to protect the civil rights of racial and ethnic minorities, but also of members of religious minorities, women, persons with disabilities, service members, individuals housed in public institutions, and individuals who come from other nations and speak other languages. The Department will enforce, defend, and advance civil rights through a multi-faceted approach of litigation, prevention efforts, outreach initiatives, and technical assistance. The Department will work with the Congress, other federal agencies and partnerships, as well as through legislative, regulatory, and policy development. The Department addresses discrimination and promotes equal opportunity in a broad range of areas, including the workplace, schools and higher education institutions, housing, courts, prisons and detention facilities, police departments, and mental health facilities; in voting and immigration-related practices; and in institutions receiving federal financial assistance. The Department also ensures that private institutions of public accommodation comport with applicable federal civil rights laws.

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Protect the federal fisc and defend the interests of the United States

Statement:

Protect the federal fisc and defend the interests of the United States

Description:

The Department of Justice is the Nation’s largest law office and chief litigator. The Department is involved in both defending and representing hundreds of United States’ agencies, offices, and employees; in defending against myriad challenges to federal laws, programs, and policies; and in protecting the integrity of the Nation’s antitrust laws and bankruptcy system. This work is critical to protecting the federal fisc against unwarranted monetary claims and to ensuring the United States can continue to protect the Nation’s security, maintain civil law and order, and ensure public safety. Accordingly, the Department will continue to fulfill these responsibilities by defending the Federal Government against monetary claims and challenges to its jurisdiction and authority, including the constitutionality of statutes passed by Congress.

Defensive litigation impacts virtually every aspect of the Federal Government’s operations. The Department represents over 200 federal agencies, the U.S. Congress, and the federal treasury in litigation arising from a broad range of monetary claims against the government, including legal action related to domestic and foreign operations, American Indian litigation, commercial activities, entitlement programs, internal revenue activities, and environmental and conservation laws. The potential cost to the government and federal tax payers from these matters could be substantial, but through rigorous and fair representation, DOJ will continue to mitigate any potential losses and protect federal monies.

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Agency Priority Goals

FY 14-15: Violent Crime

Statement:

Violent Crime: Protect our Communities by Reducing Gun Violence by using smart prevention and investigative strategies in order to prevent violent acts from occurring.

By September, 30, 2015, the Department of Justice will:

Increase the number of records submitted to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Index by states and federal agencies by 10%;
Increase the number of records entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) by 3%; and
Increase the number of NIBIN “hits”, that is, the linkage of two or more separate crime scene investigations, based upon comparisons of the markings made on fired ammunition recovered from crime scenes by 3%.

Description:

Learn More

FY 14-15: Financial and Healthcare Fraud

Statement:

Description:

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FY 14-15: Vulnerable People

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, working with federal, state, local, and tribal partners, protect potential victims from abuse and exploitation through three sets of key indicators:

Open investigations concerning non-compliant sex offenders (4% over average of FYs 2012, 2013), sexual exploitation of children (3% over average of FYs 2011, 2012, 2013), and human trafficking (2% over FY 2013).
Open litigation matters concerning sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking (5% increase over baseline (TBD))
Percent of children recovered within 72 hours of issuance of an AMBER alert (90%)

Description:

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Agency Priority Goals

FY 14-15 Agency Priority Goal:

Vulnerable People

Statement:

By September 30, 2015, working with federal, state, local, and tribal partners, protect potential victims from abuse and exploitation through three sets of key indicators:

Open investigations concerning non-compliant sex offenders (4% over average of FYs 2012, 2013), sexual exploitation of children (3% over average of FYs 2011, 2012, 2013), and human trafficking (2% over FY 2013).
Open litigation matters concerning sexual exploitation of children and human trafficking (5% increase over baseline (TBD))
Percent of children recovered within 72 hours of issuance of an AMBER alert (90%)

Description:

Learn More

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