General Description

The Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization File (VGTOF) has been designed to provide identifying information about violent criminal gangs and terrorist organizations and members of those gangs and organizations to law enforcement personnel. This information serves to warn law enforcement officers of the potential danger posed by violent individuals and to promote the exchange of information about these organizations and members to facilitate criminal investigations. Because VGTOF information is based, in part, on investigative information not previously subject to independent judicial review, strict adherence to policy on the security, use, and dissemination of VGTOF information is necessary.

The VGTOF is composed of two components or “capabilities,” both intended to accomplish the two major goals of the file: promoting the identification of groups and group members, and facilitating the exchange of information about these groups and members.

1.  The Group Reference Capability (GRC) provides information about gangs and terrorist organizations.

2.  The Group Member Capability (GMC) provides information in a format similar to Wanted Person File records about individual members of gangs or terrorist organizations.