Background

The RISS Program is the only multijurisdictional criminal intelligence system operated by and for state and local law enforcement agencies. The operation of a regional information-sharing center was first supported by U.S. Department of Justice grant funding in 1974. The concept grew as more law enforcement agencies expressed a need to extend the range of intelligence across jurisdictional boundaries.

The 6 RISS centers now serve nearly 6,000 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Canadian provinces. Among the 6,000 agencies, there are more than 49,000 individual users. The number of member agencies participating in each of the 6 RISS centers ranges from 540 to more than 1,300. Local (municipal and county) law enforcement agencies make up approximately 75 percent of the total membership. More than 300 state agencies and more than 700 federal agencies and offices also participate. Federal agencies participating in the RISS Program include, but are not limited to, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Customs Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, administers the RISS Program. RISS centers operate under the BJA RISS Program Funding Guidelines and the Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Policies (28 CFR Part 23). Each of the six centers has developed operating policies and procedures that comply with the federal guidelines and regulations. The Institute for Intergovernmental Research, a Florida-based nonprofit research and management consulting organization that specializes in law enforcement, juvenile justice, and criminal justice issues, assesses performance and analyzes management operations for the RISS Program.

Key Program Elements

Goal. The overall goal of the RISS Program is to enhance the ability of state and local criminal justice agencies to identify, target, and remove criminal conspiracies and activities that span jurisdictional boundaries.

Center composition. Each of the six RISS centers is overseen by an executive board or board of directors that comprise representatives from its member agencies. The board develops membership criteria according to federal guidelines and regulations; each center comprises federal, state, and local criminal justice and regulatory agencies located within the center’s multistate service area. Agency membership application procedures vary from center to center, but each requires formal application review and board approval. Centers also require a nominal membership fee.

Services provided. The RISS Program provides member agencies with an information-sharing, analysis, and communications network to support investigative and prosecutorial efforts that address multijurisdictional offenses and conspiracies. Training sessions are held at a variety of locations within a center’s service area. Center offices are staffed by analytical personnel and field representatives. Only member agencies are eligible to receive center services (which are offered at no charge).

The following core services are available to member agencies by telephone, in person, or through their secure Internet site:

• Information sharing—RISS operates riss.net—a secure, web-based, nationwide network—for communications and sharing of criminal justice information by member agencies.
  
  
• Data analysis—Telephone toll analysis (to identify common connections and significant numbers), computer forensics analysis (to retrieve e-mail and files as evidence), financial analysis, information-sharing, and data analysis services about center-sponsored investigations and activities.

The following additional services are available to member agencies:

• Investigative support—Financial assistance for conducting multijurisdictional investigations.
  
  
• Specialized equipment—Specialized investigative equipment available for loan.



• Technical assistance—Consultation and information provided by center personnel concerning use of specialized equipment, investigative procedures, accounting of funds provided by the center to support investigations, and information analysis.
  
  
• Training—Specialized training to upgrade the investigative skills of personnel at member agencies. Assistance may include financial support to send personnel to training courses, seminars, and conferences. Training also can be delivered electronically via the RISS training web site.