Award Nominees

The UGIA Award Program presents the Gang Investigator of the Year award in recognition of the outstanding individual accomplishment during the award period. The criteria includes, but are not limited to, the following:

• Evidence of ability to investigate Gang activity.
• Gathering current intelligence on any gang through interviews and documentation.
• Innovative and creative use of resources to effectively combat gang activity.

The UGIA Awards Programs presents the Gang Unit of the Year award for law enforcement agencies in recognition of outstanding unit accomplishment during the award period. The criteria includes, but not limited to, the following:

• Evidence of the unit's ability to successfully combat gang activity.
• Creation or development of innovative gang enforcement strategies.
• Success investigations at the unit level resulting in the decrease of gang activity.

The UGIA Award Program presents the Gang Analyst of the Year award in recognition of outstanding analytical accomplishment during the award period. The nominated gang analyst should be distinguished through the ability to utilize those skills that demonstrate outstanding strategic analysis and/or tactical analyst that significantly contribute to investigative results. Some examples of strategic and tactical analytical work include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Development and use of the new methodologies/ tools that significantly contribute to units or agencies ability to proactively identify gang activity through analysis.
• Through experience and ability, the analytical unit with in a company/unit/agency that significantly increase a unit or agency's ability to detect and fight gang activity.
• Through the analyst's work product and efforts, the analyst significantly assists investigators in channeling their efforts to critical investigative points resulting in considerable savings in investigative manpower and time that would not have resulted without analytical assistance.

The UGIA Awards Program presents the Gang Prosecutor of the Year award in recognition of the outstanding individuals accomplishments during the award period. The Criteria includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Commitment to the strong enforcement and prosecution of gang members.
• Record of contributions for his/her extraordinary efforts on a single major prosecution.
• Commitment and willingness to provide this assistance during evenings, weekends, or holidays.

The UGIA Awards Program presents the Youth Worker of the Year award in recognition of outstanding individual accomplishments during the award period. The Criteria includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Demonstrates the knowledge in the area of juvenile gang members.
• Evidence of ability to reduce facility gang activity.
• Innovative and creative use of resources to combat gang activity.
• Shows ability to relate, build rapport and have empathy towards youth and families.

The UGIA Award Program presents the Commendation Award to any law enforcement officer who has significantly contributed to identifying, reducing, and preventing criminal gang activity through education and proactive enforcement.