Justice Department launches carjacking task forces in targeted areas across the country

Deputy Chief of Violent Crime John B. Ross will lead a newly formed task force in the Justice Department’s Eastern District of Texas that includes the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as state and local law enforcement partners, including the Beaumont and Port Arthur police departments. The new initiative is one of 11 taking shape in targeted areas across the country.

The task force members will come together to institute expedited sharing and prompt action procedures related to car thefts, carjackings, and the recovery of stolen or suspect vehicles – as well as effective evidence gathering and technology exploitation strategies, the DOJ announced. Additionally, the task forces will collaborate on how to use federal sentencing enhancements for cases where adults use juveniles to commit carjackings, as well as work with state and local authorities to ensure the appropriate handling of juvenile suspects and assist state and local officials seeking Justice Department grant funding for juvenile intervention and diversion resources.

Carjacking and other violent crime task forces have proven to be an effective part of successful violent crime reduction strategies by focusing on significant crime drivers and taking violent offenders off the streets of our communities, the DOJ asserted.

“The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe. We do so by targeting the most significant drivers of violent crime and by acting as a force multiplier for our state and local law enforcement partners. We’re seeing results – with violent crime declining broadly nationwide,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “When prosecutors, officers, agents and analysts come together to crunch data, share intelligence and apply best practices, we can make real progress in the fight against all forms of violent crime, including carjacking.”