Information Sharing Challenges, Trends and Opportunities

USDOJ/BJA Regional Information Sharing Conference Norm Beasley Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Joe Arpaio Sheriff

Information Sharing

 One of the key findings of the 911 commission was the lack of information sharing among agencies  The need for information sharing is very clear; the challenge is how to accomplish it effectively

Information Sharing

 Information sharing is critical from both a strategic and tactical perspective  Everything we do has to be information driven  The more information available the better the decision making process  Solid creditable intelligence/information is critical

Information Sharing

 Everything can’t be protected  Agencies can’t continually react to non credible threats  Information guides planning and protective efforts  Solid intelligence provides a framework for prioritization of threats and future planning efforts

Information Sharing

 State and local agencies are our first line of defense and play a vital role in the United States national intelligence architecture  It is critical for federal level information to be provided to state and local agencies  It is equally critical for state and local information to be provided to the federal level

Information Sharing

 Significant improvements have been made in the information sharing environment between state, local and federal agencies  State and local agencies in many cases have taken the lead in enhancing information sharing within their jurisdictions with little or no direction from federal authorities  The establishment of state and local fusion centers is an example of this effort

Fusion Centers

 A fusion center is a collaborative effort between two or more agencies that provides a central point for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information within a given jurisdiction

Fusion Centers

 Fusion Centers are the nerve center for:  Investigative support  Intelligence  Information sharing, between law enforcement, public safety, and other partners, including the private sector  Fusion Centers are the foundation for successful data integration and exchange

Why are they Important?

 Key component of a jurisdictions homeland security and crime prevention efforts  Supports an all-source, all-crimes

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threats approach to intelligence all-hazards, all  Collaborative effort between a jurisdictions law enforcement and critical stakeholders  Collect, analyze, disseminate real time criminal intelligence information to operational and executive elements

Why are they Important?

 Provides for deconfliction & reduces duplication of effort  Blends data from different sources, including law enforcement, public safety, and the private sector  Provide the basis for intelligence led policing and homeland security operations  Supports the National Preparedness Goals, National Infrastructure Protection Plan & the National Information Sharing Environment Implementation Plan

National Fusion Center Guidelines

 Global Information Sharing Initiative  Adopted by USDOJ & USDHS  Provide fusion center guidance  18 operational, administrative and management topics

Challenges

 Consistency and connectivity between state, local and federal centers and operations  Who receives the information received or generated by the fusion center  Law Enforcement  Non-law enforcement public and private stakeholders  How is critical information provided to these stakeholders at both the classified and law enforcement sensitive levels

Challenges

 Information exchanges with non-traditional partners are critical  These include: Public Health, Departments of Transportation, first responder’s, public and private agencies who share a responsibility for homeland security.  How can these sectors provide information to fusion centers that is sensitive or propriety and be assured that the information will be safeguarded from disclosure?

Federal Efforts

Recent National Developments

 Office of Director of National Intelligence  Released the ISE Implementation Plan (November 2006)  Establishes State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers as part of the national intelligence structure  Calls for a National Network of State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers  Establishes information sharing environment for state, local and federal agencies  Establishes Federal Threat Coordination Group to create products specifically for State & local fusion centers

Recent National Developments

 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly supporting development of Fusion Centers.  FBI Field Offices will support their local fusion centers commonly via co-location with FIG and JTTF  DHS Headquarters Analysts being deployed to State and UASI Fusion Centers  State and local fusion center analysts to be used in DHS/DOJ-led threat coordination cell at the National Counterterrorism Center.

Recent National Developments

 USDOJ/USDHS Partnership  Information Sharing Projects  Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative  National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan  Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council  Fusion Center Guidelines  Fusion Center Regional Conferences  1 st National Fusion Center Conference in March 2007  USDOJ/SEARCH Regional Information Sharing Conferences

Recent National Developments

 USDOJ/USDHS Partnership  USDOJ/BJA National Criminal Intelligence Research Center Website  Institute for Intergovernmental Research – Intelligence Resources Website  Fusion Center Technical Assistance Program  USDHS/USDOJ Funded  Provides on Site assistance to jurisdictions

Recent National Developments

 USDOJ/USDHS Fusion Center Regional Conferences   Senior state and local fusion center & Homeland Security leadership Federal partners  Top Five Concerns of Attendees  Security Clearances  Sensitive But Unclassified  Connectivity  Funding  Leadership

Trust Factor

 While systems are good the key to information sharing is personal relationships  Information Sharing is a business built on trust  Fusion centers enhance this capability by bringing people together in the same facility  Once trust established these relationships become institutionalized

What does this mean to You?

 You are a critical component of the information sharing architecture  Criminal Justice Information, while not intelligence, is information that directly supports on going all crimes investigations  Your participation in your state or local fusion center information sharing initiatives are vital to it’s overall success

Arizona Contact Information

Norm Beasley Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office 602-390-8314 [email protected]