The Justice Department (DOJ) is intensifying its efforts to combat carjackings in cities like Washington, Chicago, and others through a new initiative.
Eleven U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the nation have established dedicated carjacking task forces to address ongoing threats, according to the DOJ’s announcement.
These task forces, led by federal attorney’s offices, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), will collaborate closely with local law enforcement agencies, as outlined by the Biden administration.
Department of Justice (Credits: Department of Justice)
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the importance of launching seven additional task forces following the success of existing ones in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Philadelphia, and Tampa.
Monaco stated, “The Justice Department has no higher priority than keeping our communities safe,” highlighting the department’s commitment to targeting serious drivers of violent crime and supporting state and local law enforcement partners.
She also noted a decline in carjacking incidents in cities with established task forces, citing a 31 percent reduction in Philadelphia from 2022 to 2023 and a 28 percent decrease in D.C. in 2024 compared to the previous year.
The DOJ plans to establish carjacking task forces in U.S. Attorneys’ offices in several additional districts, including the District of Oregon, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Alabama, Northern District of California, Eastern District of Louisiana, Southern District of Mississippi, and the Western District of Washington.
U.S. Department of Justice (Credits:
Tekedia)
In an interview with The Associated Press, Monaco acknowledged that while progress has been made, there is still much to be done to ensure community safety. She emphasized that no level of violence is acceptable and underscored the importance of leveraging federal resources to support effective strategies in combating crime.
Monaco’s remarks reflect the DOJ’s commitment to addressing the root causes of violent crime and strengthening partnerships across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to enhance public safety nationwide.
