NCJ Number
224139
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: 2008 Pages: 16,18,19
Date Published
2008
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the features, operations, and future concerns of fusion centers, which exist throughout the country in order to support varying levels of intelligence, terrorism data, and law enforcement information.
Abstract
Data fusion involves the exchange of information from different sources, including law enforcement, public safety, and the private sector. The fusion process also turns this information and intelligence into actionable knowledge. In addition, fusion promotes the ongoing re-evaluation of existing data in the context of new data, providing constant updates. Because of the privacy concerns associated with personally identifiable information, it is not the intent of fusion centers to combine Federal databases that contain personally identifiable information with State, local, and tribal databases into one system or warehouse. Rather, when a threat or public safety need is identified, fusion centers enable information from all sources to be easily and effectively analyzed and exchanged. Many fusion centers have evolved to adopt a broader focus than counterterrorism, since many traditional crimes are precursors of a planned terrorist attack. This also brings more stakeholders on board in the provision of resources for fusion centers. Concerns for the future of fusion centers are State leaders’ perceived lack of need for fusion centers, State and Federal financial constraints, duplication of efforts without showing tangible products and services within a given center, reduction of risks for a given geographic location, and reduced funding because of perceptions of a diminishing threat.