NCJ Number
221084
Date Published
2005
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This booklet assists in the development of intelligence-led policing (ILP) in police departments, sheriffs' offices, prosecutors' offices, and other criminal justice agencies, as well as intelligence efforts in the private sector.
Abstract
The mission of an intelligence unit is to provide quality intelligence products in support of the agency's mission, such that the work performed reflects the priorities and goals of the agency. Based on the mission, goals should be established for the unit. Objectives would then be developed to guide progress toward the goals. The role of the intelligence unit is to produce intelligence (i.e., analyzed data) so decisionmakers can appropriately target criminal activity and set priorities for resource allocation. A typical intelligence unit might have a manager or supervisor, 3-12 intelligence officers, and a similar number of analysts. A formal intelligence unit would be appropriate for organizations with 75 or more sworn officers. In smaller agencies, analysts could be in a unit without designated collectors of intelligence data, and investigators in other units would provide them with data. One section of the booklet offers guidance on intelligence analysts' compensation, benefits, and funding. A section on intelligence procedures advises that the intelligence unit should have a standardized method of information collection, collation, evaluation, storage, analysis, and dissemination. Written standard operating procedures should be developed to guide this process. A discussion of intelligence training recommends that analysts and intelligence officers have a broad range of intelligence training that includes instruction in various techniques used in intelligence, with attention to techniques that are effective in collecting data on various types of crime groups and criminal activities. Other sections of the booklet offer guidance on intelligence products, a threat assessment model, evaluation of the intelligence unit, and analyst certification. Listings of literature resources and analytic software and appended information on the International Association of law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts, Inc. (IALEIA)