NCJ Number
201676
Journal
Chief of Police Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2003 Pages: 17-18
Date Published
May 2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes Florida's structure and tasks for interagency information sharing in the area of domestic security (counterterrorism).
Abstract
Administered through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), the State has established multidisciplinary Regional Domestic Security Task Forces throughout the State. The primary responsibilities of the task forces are to detect and prevent terrorist incidents; collect and share intelligence and information; conduct vulnerability assessments; oversee training of first responders and other specialized individuals/teams; oversee and promote the purchase of certain specialized public safety equipment; develop response and recovery plans; and conduct public awareness campaigns. The State's comprehensive Counter Terrorism Strategy, published in October 2001, provides the basic framework for the State's domestic security efforts. Consistent with the national strategy to fight terrorism, the cornerstones of the framework are to prepare first responders; enhance public health capacity and bioterrorism defenses; protect the State's borders and ports from unauthorized access; and improve information, intelligence, and technology capability. Significant efforts have been undertaken to build on the fourth cornerstone, since improving information sharing is a major facilitator for all other efforts to protect the State from terrorist acts. FDLE operates a statewide Criminal Justice Network called CJNET, which is a secure, closed network that provides criminal justice agencies with the ability to link data systems with each other. Another information system, ThreatCom.net, is currently being developed for use by the Regional Task Forces. Another new vehicle for information sharing is the MATRIX (Multistate Antiterrorism Information Exchange) project, which is a tool for nationwide dissemination and sharing of intelligence databases, secured Web site, and data-mining capabilities. Also recently created, the Florida Infrastructure Protection Center is responsible for anticipating, preventing, reacting to, and recovering from acts of terrorism or natural disasters relative to cyber issues. Also important to the State's domestic security planning and response efforts is the Critical Infrastructure Management System, which displays Florida's critical infrastructure in multiple-layer map format.