10-261Susaension 3/10/2010
Council File # 1 O 2l0 �
Green Sheet # 3t01836
Presented
RESOLUTION
SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA
I WHEREAS, close to 13,000 individuals aze lis[ed in the Gang Pointer File and Gangnet databases,
2 many of whom azejuveniles; and
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4 WHEREAS, communities of color are vastly over-represented in both the Gang Pointer File and
5 Gangnet databases. Of individuals included in GangNet, over 42% are African American, 13% aze
6 Hispanic, and 18% are Asian. Of the individuals included in the Gang Pointer File, 54% aze African
7 American, 9% are Indian, and 5% aze Asian; and
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9 WHERBAS, data is stored on individuals in GangNet for five yeazs before being removed and in
10 the Gang Pointer File for three years before being removed, and there are no uniform auditing requirements
11 for these two databases; and
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13 WHEREAS, individuals are not informed of their presence in either database and have no
14 opportunity to challenge the information for accuracy, and parents of juveni]es were not informed of their
15 child's presence in the databases, prior to January 2010; and
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17 WHEREAS, information in both databases is shazed freely between law enforcement, prosecutors,
18 pazole officers, probation officers, department of corrections, and other unide�tified government agencies;
19 and
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21 WHEREAS, one's presence in either database may potenqally lead to hannful legal, social, and
22 collateral consequences, including but not limited to enhanced sentences, increased police contact, and
23 denial of employment opportunities; and
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25 WHEREAS, individuals are placed in either database through the use of a 10-point criteria that
26 many believe to be overly-broad and subjective and may lead to the inclusion of individuals who are not
27 actively involved in gangs; and
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29 WHEREAS, the Metro Gang Strike Force, a former law enforcement agency now under federal
30 investigation, was responsible for entering a significant number of names into the databases; and
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WHEREAS, community members have voiced concems at town hall forums including concerns
about racial profiling, lack of parental notification, difficulty verifying wheCher one is included in a gang
database, lack of knowledge regarding how one might contest data, concems for the trustworthiness of the
data entered by the Metro Gang Strike Force, and the potential for denial of employment opportunities;
NOW THEREFORE BE PI' RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council fully supports:
➢ House File 2965, relating to the Violent Crime Coordinating Council, establishiog seats for
two members from the community to sit on the Coordinating Council, requiring the 10-
point criteria for identifying gang membership be narrowly tailored, objective, and updaCed
every two years to ensure effectiveness; and
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➢ House Drafr Bill RP085, relating to public safety, standardizing the criteria for entry of an
individual into gang databases statewide, developing a statewide policy and procedure
manual for the operation of gang databases, requiring all who enter data to have uaining on
the procedures and policies, requiring all those who enter data to abide by the statewide
policies and procedures, requiring audits of all gang databases at least once every two years,
requiring parental notification for individuals under 18 who are entered into gang databases;
NOW BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City Council finds that the proposed bill and draft
bill work to establish transparency, accountability, oversight and consistency in the data practices of
Minnesota Law Enforcement Agencies maintaining gang databases, help to address many of the
communiry concerns with gang databases, and recognize the human dignity and civil rights of citizens in
the community; irrespective of race or socio-economic status.
Bostrom
Yeas
e�'
Requested by Department of:
Harris
Thune
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Approved by the Office of Financia] Services
By:
Approved by City ACtorney
N I So I /� I / tl By:
Adopted by Council: Date ��C Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
Adoption Certified b Counc�d Secretary gy:
BY: � �K
Approve b ay r. ate V/(p �l0
BY �
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CO - Council
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i Doc.7ype: RESOLUTION
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Action Requested:
Supporting H.F. 2965 relating to the �iolent Crime Coordinating Council and House Draft Bill RP085 relating to public safety.
Recommendations: Approve (A) or Reject (R):
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Civil Service Commission
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Yes No
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