NCJ Number
133890
Date Published
1991
Length
106 pages
Annotation
An overview of Federal efforts to develop technology for countering terrorism is presented and assessed with particular focus on technological research into explosives detection.
Abstract
It examines the terrorist threat to the United States at both the international and domestic levels. In addition to research and development of explosives devices, it also covers research into technologies for use in other areas of counterterrorism such as protection against chemical and biological attacks, physical security, data dissemination, and incident response. Important findings deal with the decreased funding for the Technical Support Working Group, insufficient funding for research and development of counterterrorist technologies by 20 Federal agencies, stopping use of mass acquisition of thermal neutron analysis devices for installation at airports, establishment of testing protocols for the Federal Aviation Administration, proposed Explosives Detections Systems, and use of a combined systems approach to solving airline security problems. In addition to these findings, some options for Congress regarding the funding of research and development as well as the implementation of some of the developed technologies are presented. 15 figures and 10 tables