NCJ Number
224820
Date Published
2007
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that today’s international law enforcement agencies must address the sharing of information globally; the creation of a structure for sharing technology; and the fact that law enforcement needs transcend individual, geographical, cultural, and legal boundaries of nations as transnational crimes escalate.
Abstract
The post-9/11 era is characterized by all levels of government and governmental relations giving top priority to addressing the international scope and threat of terrorist groups. The sharing of law enforcement information is a vital part of these efforts and of a comprehensive strategy to improve public safety throughout the world. International information system projects need preplanning, including a comprehensive survey of the potential users of the system, with attention to their information needs and attitudes toward the project. Because of the global scope and users of such information systems, there must be an integrated pathway for exchanging information and sharing technological resources that enable the identification, collection, and analysis of potentially relevant information. Based on a review of relevant research and current cases of information-sharing protocols at the international, national, and regional levels, a list of barriers is presented. These include technical barriers of incompatible hardware, software, and wireless/wire line communication infrastructure; political barriers of the preservation of autonomy and competitiveness; organizational barriers of information security and cost-sharing; and managerial barriers of traditional role definitions and priorities. In order to promote a global information and technology-sharing network, this paper advocates overcoming the organizational and cultural barriers and creating a framework for dispersing the technological resources and technical support necessary to strengthen a global information-sharing system. 2 tables and 30 references