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Promising Practices in Partnering to Reduce Gun Crime: Prosecutors' Guide to the Bureau of Alochol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)

NCJ Number
201360
Author(s)
Paula Hoffman Wulff; Levina Kim
Date Published
2003
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This monograph provides a reference guide for State and Federal gun crime prosecutors about the services, programs, and resources available to them from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Abstract
First, a description of ATF’s legal authority is offered, which explains that the Department of the Treasury delegated responsibility to AFT to enforce provisions of several Federal laws, including the Gun Control Act of 1968 and the National Firearms Act. One purpose of the Gun Control Act of 1968 was to assist State, local, and foreign law enforcement agencies in tracing firearms used in crimes. Next is a listing of the programs and services of the AFT that are relevant for State and Federal gun crimes prosecutors. The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) program and the ATF’s Crime Gun Analysis Branch are outlined. The NIBIN program assists State and local jurisdictions in making links between discharged firearms used throughout the country. Through this assistance, one gun may be linked to several different crimes in several different States. The ATF’s Crime Gun Analysis Branch has several different programs designed to assist prosecutors and investigators by identifying individuals who supply guns to criminals. These programs include the Oneline LEAD, Stolen Firearms, Obliterated Serial Numbers, and Suspect Gun programs. Other programs outlined in the monograph include the Graphic Information Program, the Youth Crime Gun Interdiction Initiative, Project Safe Neighborhoods Enforcement Training, and training on how to spot the characteristics of armed persons. The remainder of the monograph discusses some success stories from local law enforcement who have utilized ATF programs and discusses future directions anticipated for ATF programs. The appendix contains contact information for the ATF field divisions throughout the United States.