Technology: Links to Other Resources

Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS)
The San Diego Police department provides an example of law enforcement on-line mapping capability. This system is used for public information dissemination and can serve as an example to other law enforcement agencies seeking to create such a system.

Criminal Justice Information Services
The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division serves as the focal point and central repository for criminal justice information services in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The CJIS mission is to reduce terrorist and criminal activities by maximizing the ability to provide timely and relevant criminal justice information to the FBI and to qualified law enforcement, criminal justice, civilian, academic, employment, and licensing agencies concerning individuals, stolen property, criminal organizations and activities, and other law enforcement related data.

Programs consolidated under the CJIS Division include the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), and Fingerprint Identification. In addition, responsibility for several ongoing technological initiatives was also transferred to the CJIS Division, including the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), NCIC 2000, and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

Enhanced 9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office
The mission of the E9-1-1 Implementation Coordination Office (ICO) is to provide leadership and coordination of comprehensive and technologically-enhanced services. The ICO is a joint effort of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Information and Telecommunications Administration. The NHTSA’s Office of Emergency Medical Services and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration are responsible for the following: Improve coordination and communication between Federal, State and local emergency communication systems, emergency personnel, public safety organizations, telecommunications carriers, and telecommunications equipment manufacturers and vendors. Develop, collect and disseminate information concerning practices, procedures and technology used in implementation of E9-1-1 services.

First Responder Communities of Practice
First Responder Communities of Practice is a website sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate’s First Responder Technologies (R-Tech) program, whereby vetted, active and retired first responders, emergency response professionals and federal, state, local, and tribal homeland security officials can collaborate on matters in support of their various homeland security missions.  Members of this professional network and community collaboration platform can engage each other locally, as well as from around the country and work on critical homeland security programs, projects, and initiatives in a secure environment.  Members build and participate in Communities to share  information, ideas, lessons learned and best practices and to engage with others in a more efficient and effective manner to prepare for all hazards.  The platform leverages advanced tools such as wikis, blogs and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds to assist with the creation, collection, and sharing of information and to assist with planning and training efforts.  Through information sharing and active participation in communities of practice, members are able to leverage each other’s experiences to meet mission objectives. See also: www.firstresponder.gov, a portal that enables Federal, State, Local, and Tribal First Responders to easily access and leverage federal web services, information on resources, products, standards, testing and evaluation,  and best practices, in a collaborative environment.

Homeland Security Information Network
The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) is a computer-based counterterrorism communications system connecting all 50 states, five territories, Washington, D.C., and 50 major urban areas. The HSIN allows all states and major urban areas to collect and disseminate information between federal, state, and local agencies involved in combating terrorism.

IACP Technology Clearinghouse
The International Association of Chiefs of Police has created a clearinghouse of law enforcement technology information. It includes: technology related publications, descriptions of local law enforcement technology projects indexed by state, links to technology vendors, and funding resources.

ICMA National Study of 311 and Customer Service Technology
ICMA researchers are conducting the first ever national study on 311 and related customer service technology used by local governments in the United States. The study, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, explores the benefits of and barriers to local governments adopting integrated systems for customer service.

Information Technology Initiatives Website
This website by the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs is an Internet-based resource that enables justice professionals at all levels of government to access timely and useful information on information sharing process, initiatives and technological developments. It shares a wealth of helpful information such as integration profiles for states, compilations of information sharing, funding approaches, system descriptions and overviews, and model integrated systems.

Law Enforcement Online
The FBI’s Law Enforcement Online (LEO) system provides secure internet backbone network that LEO members, including the Law Enforcement Community, criminal justice officials, first responders, public safety officials, and members of the Intelligence and Counterintelligence communities, can use to store, process, and transmit Sensitive But Unclassified information. LEO members have access to a variety of services via LEO, including LEO Chat (an Instant Messaging service), e-Learning for self-paced study, calendar services, e-mail, forums (a Bulletin Board service), special interest groups, and several crisis-management communication mechanisms.

The LEO system is only available to persons duly employed by a law enforcement, criminal justice, or public safety agency/department and whose position requires secure communications with other agencies. For more information on LEO and membership, visit the FBI LEO web page.

Lessons Learned Information Sharing
Lessons Learned Information Sharing is the US Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency's national network of lessons learned, best practices, and innovative ideas for the emergency response and homeland security communities. Focusing on information sharing, the system seeks to improve preparedness nationwide by allowing local, state, and federal homeland security officials and response professionals to tap into a wealth of front-line expertise on the most effective planning, training, equipping, and operational practices for preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from incidents. LLIS.gov's secure, restricted-access information is designed to facilitate efforts to prevent, prepare for and respond to acts of terrorism and other incidents across all disciplines and communities throughout the US. LLIS.gov is an encrypted system and all users are verified emergency response providers and homeland security officials. All Lessons Learned and Best Practices are peer-validated by homeland security professionals. LLIS.gov houses an extensive catalog of AARs as well as an updated list of homeland security documents from DHS, and other Federal, State, and local organizations.

N-DEx: Law Enforcement National Data Exchange
N-DEx is a criminal justice information sharing system that provides nationwide connectivity to disparate local, state, tribal, and federal systems for the exchange of information. N-DEx provides law enforcement agencies with a powerful new investigative tool to search, link, analyze, and share information (for example, incident and case reports) on a national basis. Through N-DEx’s proposed services and capabilities, N-DEx will allow participating agencies to detect relationships between people, places, things and crime characteristics; to link information across jurisdictions; and to “connect the dots” between apparently unrelated data without causing information overload. Ownership of data shared through N-DEx remains with the law enforcement agency that provided it. Although law enforcement will be the primary focus of N-DEx, future iterations will incorporate the full criminal justice community.

National Information Exchange Model 
NIEM, the National Information Exchange Model, is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. It is designed to develop, disseminate and support enterprise-wide information exchange standards and processes that can enable jurisdictions to effectively share critical information in emergency situations, as well as support the day-to-day operations of agencies throughout the nation.

National Interoperability Information eXchange (NIIX)  
The National Interoperability Information eXchange (NIIX) is provided by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) as a free service which provides a centralized, secure warehouse for interoperable communications related information. Registered NIIX members can access peer-created documents, share information with each other, and collaborate in the creation and management of their statewide plans.

National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)
This Center funded by the Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice serves as the "honest broker" offering support, research findings, and technological expertise to help State and local law enforcement and corrections personnel perform their duties more safely and efficiently. The web site provides information on technology training and technical assistance, equipment testing and evaluation, success stories, publications, and grant opportunities.

National Public Safety Telecommunications Council 
The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) is a federation of organizations whose mission is to improve public safety communications and interoperability through collaborative leadership. NPSTC provides a collective voice on communications issues for U.S. public safety first responders including local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies, fire departments, rescue departments, and other agencies, such as transportation and public utilities who need to talk to one another during critical incidents.

NG9-1-1 Transition Policy Maker Blueprint
The National Emergency Number Association’s (NENA) Next Generation Partner Program has developed multiple reports on NG9-1-1 policy issues and recently completed several NG9-1-1 Transition Policy Briefs. These documents, contained in this report, raise important policy issues that must be addressed simultaneously with technology and standards development, and provide recommendations for policy maker consideration. NG9-1-1 is the next evolutionary step in the development of the 9-1-1 emergency communications system known as E9-1-1 since the 1970s. NG9-1-1 is a system comprised of managed IP-based networks and elements that augment present-day E9-1-1 features and functions and add new capabilities. NG9-1-1 will eventually replace the present E9-1-1 system. NG9-1-1 is designed to provide access to emergency services from all sources, and to provide multimedia data capabilities for PSAPs and other emergency service organizations

NLECTC - Rocky Mountain (Justice Technology Information Network)
Located at the University of Denver in Colorado, the center focuses on communications interoperability and the difficulties that often occur when different agencies and jurisdictions try to communicate with one another. In addition, it houses the Crime Mapping and Analysis Program which provides technical assistance, training and capacity building to State and local agencies in the areas of crime and intelligence analysis and geographic information systems.

Regional Information Sharing Systems
The Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program is an innovative law enforcement program that receives federal funding to support regional law enforcement efforts to combat terrorist activity, illegal drug trafficking, organized criminal activity, criminal gangs, violent crime, and other regional criminal priorities and to promote officer safety. On national-scope issues, the six regional centers initiate joint, cross-center efforts, coordinating and cooperating as one body. The RISS Program is a federally funded program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). RISS operates a secure intranet, known as RISSNET™, to facilitate law enforcement communications and information sharing nationwide. The FBI Law Enforcement Online (LEO) system has interconnected with RISS. RISS has also implemented the Automated Trusted Information Exchange (ATIX), to provide additional users with access to homeland security, disaster, and terrorist-threat information. For information on becoming a RISS member agency, contact RISS.

Responder Knowledge Base
The Responder Knowledge Base (RKB) is a national information resource for emergency responders, funded by the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate. The RKB Mission is to "provide emergency responders, purchasers, and planners with a trusted, integrated, online source of information on products, standards, certifications, grants, and other equipment-related information." The RKB has been serving the responder community online since October 2003.

SEARCH
SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, is a private, nonprofit organization that assists local, tribal, county, regional, and state justice and public safety agencies in improving the quality of justice and public safety. Its focus is on criminal history and information-sharing systems, information technology planning and implementation, communications interoperability, and cyber crime investigation. Services include expert technical assistance and training, resource development, public policy assistance, and model development.

Virtual USA
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate’s Command, Control and Interoperability Division has launched Virtual USA, an end-user driven and federally supported initiative focusing on cross-jurisdictional information sharing and collaboration among the homeland security and emergency management community.  Virtual USA links disparate tools and technologies in order to share the location and status of critical assets and information—such as power and water lines, flood detectors, helicopter-capable landing sites, emergency vehicle and ambulance locations, weather and traffic conditions, evacuation routes, and school and government building floor plans—across federal, state, local and tribal governments. Virtual USA allows Americans in their own communities to contribute information—in real-time—to support the efforts of police, fire and emergency management officials during disasters and recovery efforts.