Fusion Center Guidelines: Developing and Sharing Information and Intelligence in a New Era

• NCJ Number: 219373
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 104 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Corporate Author: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA); US Dept of Homeland Security; US Dept of Justice, Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; US Dept of Justice, Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Policy/Procedure Handbook/Manual
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Guidelines developed and presented in this report help to ensure that fusion centers (an information and intelligence sharing project in the fight against crime and terrorism) are established and operated effectively and efficiently within a State or region.

Abstract

In 2004 and 2005, many States began creating fusion centers with various local, State, and Federal funds. A fusion center is defined as a collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise, and information to the center with the goal of maximizing their ability to detect, prevent, investigate, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity. However, at the time no standards or guidelines were in existence to assist with interoperability and communication issues with other centers at the State, regional, and Federal levels. The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) established two focus groups in an effort to develop a comprehensive set of guidelines for fusion centers. The guidelines should be used to ensure that fusion centers are established and operated consistently, resulting in enhanced coordination efforts, strengthened partnerships, and improved crime-fighting and anti-terrorism capabilities. The guidelines will provide assistance to centers as they prioritize and address threats posed in their specific jurisdictions for all crime types, including terrorism. The guidelines will help administrators develop policies, manage resources, and evaluate services associated with the jurisdiction’s fusion center. This report contains an in-depth explanation of the 18 guidelines and their key elements, as well as other additional resources, model policies, and tools for guidelines implementation. In order to enhance information and intelligence sharing, it is recommended that fusion centers adhere to the guidelines and integrate the key elements of each guideline to the fullest extent. Appendixes A-G