Fusion Centers

If we learned one thing from the attacks on September 11, 2001, it's that agencies at all levels of government need to do a better job of exchanging timely information. That lesson learned has spawned fusion centers.

In fed-speak, "fusion" is the "... process of managing the flow of information and intelligence across levels and sectors of government. It goes beyond establishing an intelligence center or creating a computer network. The fusion process supports the implementation of risk-based, information-driven prevention, response, and consequence management programs. ... The fusion process turns information and intelligence into actionable knowledge."

A fusion center is a "... collaborative effort of two or more agencies that provide resources, expertise, and/or information to the center with the goal of maximizing the ability to detect, prevent, apprehend, and respond to criminal and terrorist activity."

"The ultimate goal of a fusion center is to provide a mechanism where law enforcement, public safety, and private partners can come together with a common purpose and improve the ability to safeguard our homeland and prevent criminal activity. A police officer, fireman, or building inspector should not have to search for bits of information. They should know to call one particular place—the jurisdiction's fusion center."

With that goal in mind, "... the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative's (Global) efforts to develop fusion center guidelines, the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC), in support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), recommended the creation of the Intelligence Fusion Center Focus Group. This focus group was tasked with recommending guidelines specifically for the law enforcement intelligence component of fusion centers."

The outcome of that recommendation was the production of two guidelines:

Fusion Center Guidelines: Law Enforcement Intelligence Component

Fusion Center Guidelines—Law Enforcement Intelligence, Public Safety, and the Private Sector

More guidelines will be produced as the project continues.