NCJ Number
220123
Date Published
July 2005
Length
125 pages
Annotation
This document provides comprehensive guidelines for developing a fusion center with a State or region.
Abstract
As part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global), the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC) in support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, recommended the creation of the Intelligence Fusion Center Focus Group. The group included practitioners from local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as DOJ, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Members from national law enforcement organizations and currently operating fusion centers participated in the focus group’s efforts to recommend guidelines specifically for the law enforcement intelligence component of fusion centers. The concept of fusion emerged as the fundamental process to facilitate the sharing of homeland security-related and crime-related information and intelligence. The fusion process supports the implementation of risk-based, information-driven prevention, response, and consequence management programs while supporting efforts to address immediate and/or emerging threat-related circumstances and events. These guidelines should be utilized to ensure that fusion centers are established and operated consistently, resulting in enhanced coordination efforts, strengthened partnerships, and improved crime-fighting and antiterrorism capabilities. These guidelines should provide assistance to centers as they prioritize and address threats in their specific jurisdictions, as well as guide administrators in developing policies, managing resources, and evaluating services. Guidelines for the second phase, public safety, are currently underway with plans to develop and incorporate the third phase, private sector, in the undetermined future. The fusion center guidelines may be used for homeland security efforts, as well as all crimes. The report includes an executive summary with an overview of the guidelines and key elements, additional resources, model policies, and tools for implementation. Appendices