The events of September 11, 2001 changed our nation and made it clear that all of us, as citizens, have a responsibility to our families and communities to support the fight against terrorism. While BJA understands that law enforcement agencies are responsible for bringing terrorists to justice, we also know that our citizens can play a vital role in preventing terrorism.

With this in mind, BJA endeavored to create and support both programs that enhance the ability of citizens to participate in terrorism prevention and preparedness efforts and programs that provide law enforcement agencies with the tools and resources they need to integrate counter-terrorism measures into their daily operations. BJA is committed to working with all levels of government to help prevent and disrupt any future terrorist acts.

To maximize federal counter-terrorism training resources, OJP Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels established the Counter-Terrorism Training Coordination Working Group, which is managed by BJA. This working group includes representatives from many federal agencies and constituent organizations that support training for local and state responses to terrorism. The working group also evaluates existing counter-terrorism courses to determine what courses are needed by the field, acts as a point of contact for counter-terrorism training opportunities offered by federal agencies and the private sector to enable professionals to quickly find accurate training information, and assesses the counter-terrorism training curricula. Through regular meetings and close coordination by all partner agencies, the working group is able to respond quickly to the needs of law enforcement and first responder communities.

In addition, research conducted by staff members of the BJA-funded State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training Program and the BJA Clearinghouse has supported content development for the Counter-Terrorism Training and Resources for Law Enforcement web site, which was launched in August 2002. The site provides information on promising counter-terrorism initiatives and comprehensive programs.

Regional Information Sharing Systems

The Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program is a nationwide communications and information-sharing network that serves more than 6,300 law enforcement member agencies from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, Canada, Australia, and England. Member agencies benefit from services that focus on regional criminal activity, coupled with the secure technological capability to exchange information internationally.

Traditionally, RISS has provided information-sharing services in the form of criminal intelligence databases and an investigative lead-generating electronic bulletin board, analytical services, investigative support, specialized equipment loans, and technical assistance. Internet technology is used to provide a secure, private intranet (riss.net) that connects the six RISS centers and their participating law enforcement member agencies, as well as member agency systems.

While RISS continues to provide these critical services to members, the program is expanding its secure information-sharing and communications services to address the emerging needs of law enforcement and public safety officials in the fight against terrorism. On September 1, 2002, in response to the need for greater information sharing among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, RISS and the FBI’s Law Enforcement Online (LEO)¹ became interconnected. This secure interconnection provides a conduit for distribution of “sensitive-but-unclassified” homeland security information to all RISS and LEO users. The interconnection allows users to access both systems, as authorized, with a single logon. Secure e-mail also is available to users of both systems for contact and information sharing.

Two other BJA initiatives—the Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (MATRIX) and the RISS Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (RISS ATIX)—began in early FY 2003. The MATRIX pilot project is an effort to increase and enhance the exchange of sensitive information about terrorism and other criminal activity between agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. RISS ATIX allows officials and executives from the government and nongovernment entities that are responsible for planning and implementing related prevention, response, mitigation, and recovery efforts to communicate and exchange information about homeland security, disasters, and terrorism alerts in a secure environment.

See BJA Funding in Focus: North Florida Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force

State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training

Following the events of September 11, 2001, the SLATT Program was poised to address the most current, critical counter-terrorism issues. SLATT, with a curriculum developed and regularly updated in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), increased training offerings that addressed foreign-initiated terrorism and identified an increase in violent acts linked to certain special-interest groups.

From October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002, SLATT Program staff trained more than 8,000 law enforcement personnel throughout the country in 62 workshops. To reach a greater audience and to meet the newly increased needs of law enforcement, the following training and curriculum development activities were provided through SLATT:

• Specialized training sessions for the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) centers and requesting U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs). The combined effort with the RISS centers during their annual conferences allowed SLATT Program staff to train more than 2,600 law enforcement personnel. An additional 3,400 people were trained during the 27 specialized workshops conducted for USAOs.

• Development and delivery of a Counter-Terrorism Train-the-Trainer Workshop. On May 1, 2002, a Counter-Terrorism Train-the-Trainer Curriculum Development Focus Group was held. The group concentrated its efforts on determining the training currently offered or being contemplated by Department of Justice components, identifying duplication or gaps, and recommending the most effective mechanisms for delivering training.

  Based on these discussions, a vetted curriculum was developed; by the end of FY 2002, trainers from 37 states had participated in the program. In addition, SLATT Program staff are working with the FBI to train four trainers from each of the 56 FBI field offices. Each FBI trainer is obligated to train 100 state and local officers in his or her division.

• Development and delivery of a Narcotics Task Force Counter-Terrorism Briefing. A Counter-Terrorism Narcotics Task Force Curriculum Development Focus Group was held in June 2002 to develop a curriculum that addresses the importance of narcotics officers in the fight against terrorism. A group that comprised 19 terrorism, narcotics, and curriculum development and training experts who represented federal, state, and local perspectives participated in the meeting and outlined a curriculum for an 8-hour Narcotics Task Force Counter-Terrorism Briefing. The curriculum was then field tested with 170 narcotics officers. Since the first class was offered, the curriculum has undergone continuous updates and refinements based on new case information, terrorist investigations, incident research, and feedback from course participants. From September 2002 to June 2003, 10 training sessions were held and more than 850 law enforcement officers were trained.

• Enhanced research and resource materials. SLATT research also supports the information and training needs of the program. In FY 2002, SLATT Program staff developed and distributed a reference CD–ROM to workshop attendees. The CD–ROM provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of terrorism and can be used as a stand-alone resource for law enforcement.

Open Source Information System

The Open Source Information System (OSIS) is used by the intelligence community to post and transmit “sensitive-but-unclassified” open-source information among and between various agencies in the intelligence community. OSIS serves as a central hub to connect the Department of State’s intranet—OpenNet—and the FBI’s LEO. The new connections allow civilian agencies to access the OSIS homeland security portal, where the intelligence community has centralized all of the open-source information. In addition to providing new information to new partners, the network allows for a level of collaboration that was not possible before. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, BJA, intelligence agencies, and U.S. law enforcement agencies involved with operations such as RISS and LEO have engaged in preliminary discussions to identify how OSIS may assist U.S. law enforcement agencies in homeland security.