With the start of the new year, we decided to return to our series of “Let’s Investigate Further”, where we interview professionals in the law enforcement community on their experience with technology, sharing information, and ultimately, gang investigations.

We recently had a conversation with Mr. Joe Driver, Regional Vice-President of Dismas Charities, which are Federal and state Residential Reentry Centers (RRCs), commonly referred to as halfway houses, in Corpus Christi and surrounding areas. Residential Reentry Centers provide a structured and supervised environment for inmates transitioning from prison into life at home. Employees with these facilities offer job placement, financial management assistance, medical care, and substance abuse counseling. Mr. Driver previously spent 29 years with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, having served as warden for several facilities including USP Hazelton, WV, FCI Three Rivers, TX, and FDC Houston, TX.

We asked Mr. Driver what his personal “philosophy”, in general, is regarding Corrections.

Dismas is driven by its values and beliefs to “Heal the Human Spirit” and it is obvious that Mr. Driver takes this “motto” very seriously. He believes that you’ve got to offer the needed services and give inmates a chance to change. “How are you going to help a man get up if you keep stepping on him?”  Driver asked. Not everyone improves, but he believes that “everyone deserves a chance.” Driver also believes that anyone who is involved in corrections, or law enforcement, or substance abuse counseling, must have a calling for this type of work. They put in countless hours of work behind the scenes to keeping the community safe.

What type of technology have you seen used the most in your line of work?

There are a number of computer programs with information on each inmate, monitored telephone calls, camera surveillance, and dedicated personnel such as SIAs (Special Investigative Agents) and technicians in federal prisons who are responsible for monitoring, developing reports, preparing correspondence, maintaining evidence, and computer support. These are extremely important, but you can’t get away from using the “human” factor – using your eyes and ears, the ability to listen to things around you and put information together. Nothing beats listening and having a conduit for ongoing intel that you receive from your prison population.

What are your thoughts about sharing information among agencies?

Of course, it is important, when appropriately approved and used; if it is done correctly, because all agencies have regulations, and the release of information always must be protected and honored. What affects one, affects all the agencies who this guy encounters. The Corpus Christi PD Gang Unit officers come to the reentry center about once a month to update their records, and the reentry staff often attends gang conferences or training by the United States Marshals Service.

What would you say is currently the biggest challenge of your job?

Mental health for sure is presently the biggest challenge, and to take it a step further, the resources needed to provide continuity of care are paramount. If an inmate is having mental health problems while in prison, more than likely he is going to have them while at the reentry center, and three months down the road when he leaves us and is back on the streets and on his own. That needs assessment has to be done and then focus on making sure their care continues when they get out.

The GangScope Team

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GangScope™ is an intelligence database that helps capture, analyze, search and share intelligence on criminals, gangs, and more. GangScope acts as a first-tier, internal database that manages data on known and suspected criminals and gang members. Intelligence is collected per incident and can include qualifiers, associates, acquaintances (points of contact), witnesses, images, and documents. GangScope’s collection of detailed information aids in investigations, analysis and ultimately solving crime. The software complies with standards outlined by federal (28 CFR) policies. While complying with standards, GangScope™ boasts usability through simple yet extensive data mining via search, reports, profiles, and watches.

The overall goal of GangScope™ is to provide law enforcement personnel/ crime analysts/ correctional officers/prosecutors with maximum data through a friendly user interface while remaining cost-effective.  

A non-gang version – IntelScope is also available if needed.

To learn more or to schedule a full demo of our system – request a demo here. We would welcome the opportunity to show you how Gangscope can help your department organize and store your data in a secure and compliant way.