NCJ Number
68961
Date Published
1974
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THIS FINAL PROGRESS REPORT COVERS THE ACTIVITIES OF THE MICHIGAN INTELLIGENCE NETWORK TEAM (MINT) FROM 1969 TO 1974 AND EVALUATES ITS GOAL OF GATHERING, ANALYZING, AND DISSEMINATING INFORMATION ON ORGANIZED CRIME IN MICHIGAN.
Abstract
A TOTAL OF 13 AGENCIES THAT CONTRIBUTED PERSONNEL TO THE UNIT (PARTICIPATING UNITS) AND 10 AGENCIES THAT MERELY USED MINT INFORMATION (NONPARTICIPATING UNITS) RESPONDED TO AN EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE. THE MAJORITY OF PARTICIPATING UNITS FOUND THE TRAINING GIVEN THEIR PERSONNEL 'EXTREMELY VALUABLE,' AND BOTH PARTICIPATING AND NONPARTICIPATING UNITS AGREED THAT MINT HAD A 'SIGNIFICANTLY POSITIVE' EFFECT IN DEVELOPING INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED GEOGRAPHICAL AND TARGET EXPANSION, IMPROVED DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION, AND GREATER INVOLVEMENT IN MINT BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONTINUE TO RETAIN MINT, THAT MINT'S MULTIAGENCY ASPECT BE RETAINED AND POSSIBLY EXPANDED, THAT MINT'S INTELLIGENCE FUNCTION BE KEPT AS A FULL-TIME OPERATION, AND THAT A STATEWIDE UNIT BE CREATED WHICH WOULD COMBINE ALL ASPECTS OF THE MICHIGAN ORGANIZED CRIME CONTROL PROGRAM--INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, AND INTELLIGENCE. PRACTICAL BENEFITS WOULD INCLUDE REDUCED PUBLIC EXPENSE AND INTERAGENCY STRIFE, INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND SENSE OF PRIORITY, AND INCREASED USE OF AVAILABLE INTELLIGENCE.