VGIA - VIRGINIA GANG INVESTIGATOR'S ASSOCIATION

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***ATTENTION VGIA MEMBERS***

Some members may have recently experienced problems recieving VGIA messages. This is usually due to members agencies updating their incoming email SPAM filters. Your agency must white list the following email address for you to receive our messages: group@vgia.info. Our servers will attempt to send your email address a message five (5) times, if the message does not go through your email address is automatically black listed for security. If you continue to experience problems please contact VGIA President, Randy Crank. Thank you.

WELCOME TO THE V.G.I.A. WEBSITE. Registrations now accepted for the 14th annual Gang Conference to be held October 23-26, 2012, Virginia Beach, Virginia. New topics and speakers. Members need to contact Randy by email to access the member’s only section.

- VGIA Public Gang Awareness and Information -

Parents, Teachers, Community Leaders, Religous Organizations, Social Workers, Students, Community Members, and VGIA Associate Members, we invite you to visit the VGIA Public Gang Awareness and Information Page to learn additional information about gang awareness and gang activities throughout Virginia.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the Virginia Gang Investigators Association or VGIA. The VGIA was established in 1997 by a group of law enforcement professionals who recognized the importance of having a gang based information sharing network narrowly but intensely focused on responding to the proliferation of street gangs in Virginia. Like other states along the East Coast, a phenomenon also exists in Virginia where well-established criminal street gangs hailing from the West Coast, Mid West, and South West have recently and increasingly joined the population of our existing gangs, bringing the potential of further criminal networking to a new and more threatening level. VGIA will remain committed to bridging the lines of communication between all aspects of law enforcement and providing the most current and reliable information to our membership. In recognizing that any association is only as strong as its membership, VGIA pledges to put its membership first as well, with each and every member held at the highest regard. It is a strong belief of this association that we collectively have an equal voice as we unite in this endeavor to combat against the advancement of street gangs in our communities and the state of Virginia.

Respectfully,
Randy Crank
President, VGIA

In response to the ever increasing gang problem plaguing our nation and state, concerned criminal justice professionals from Virginia began what is today the Virginia Gang Investigators Association.

Chartered February 1997, The V.G.I.A. is a non -profit organization made up of law enforcement officers and other members of the criminal justice community. The V.G.I.A. promotes a closely coordinated relationship among gang investigators through extensive and rapid dissemination and exchange of information about gang-related, cult and extremist group activity. The V.G.I.A. supports new techniques from identification and apprehension of gang members and encourages legislation related to the reduction of gang related crimes. Additionally; the V.G.I.A solicits public support of its goals so the citizens might be educated about the prevention regarding organized criminal activities, tactics, philosophies, etc., to its members and any other law enforcement agency upon request.

2007 beating death leaves scars on East Ocean View:

(5/15/2012) A trail of petty theft and violence lay scattered on the pavement of the hidden parking lot.

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GMU students design anti-gang video games for kids:

(5/8/2012) For those who see no upside to offering a Computer Game Design major at George Mason University, Thursday brought a pleasant response: The rollout of three intelligent, immersive video games for kids that show them how people start in gangs, how they can work their way out, and what happens when you stay in.

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Manassas man pleads guilty to trafficking girl, 14 (Manassas, VA:

(4/23/2012) A Manassas-area man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to sex trafficking a 14-year-old female runaway. Ramiro Espinoza Jamaica, 20, of Manassas, is a member of transnational Hispanic street gang SUR–13, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

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Arlington battles to keep kids out of MS-13 (Arlington, VA)::

(4/23/2012) Since notorious street gang MS-13 put down roots in the D.C. area, officials in tiny Arlington County have worked to establish one of the most extensive gang prevention programs in the region, focusing on keeping children out of gangs and helping current gang members get out.

Basic Gang Certification Course

Event Date: [6/18/2012]

Location:Richmond, Virginia

This course is designed to give a basic understanding of street gangs and to assist in qualifying you as an expert witness in Gang related Court testimony. Upon successful completion of this eight hour lecture, a fifty(50) question true/false, multiple choice test, you will receive a “ Gang Specialist Certification” certificate along with a uniform “Gang Specialist” worn with uniform name plate or Gang Specialist Patch. MC Gangs and G-Shine added to class with New Certification Test DCJS credits approved.