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Information Sharing for State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies: Ownership Is Everything

NCJ Number
204678
Journal
LAW ENFORCEMENT NEWS Volume: 30 Issue: 614 Dated: 02/2004 Pages: 1-7
Author(s)
Lori Ericson
Date Published
March 2004
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses the importance of project ownership for information-sharing enterprises across State and local law enforcement agency jurisdictions.
Abstract
The law enforcement agencies that initiate an information-sharing project across their jurisdictions must ensure that each agency has "ownership" in the project, i.e., each agency must ensure that the parameters for the project meet its needs and comply with the legal and security measures the agency supports. This means that the organizations that compose the initial network of information sharing should conduct a feasibility assessment; identify the participant base; establish a governing body; identify Federal, State, and local laws and regulations that govern the geographic area encompassed by the project; define the reason for the information sharing; write the charter; and approve and announce governance. The body that governs the network should analyze technical requirements, assess data availability, determine financial sources and constraints, decide on a contractor or build internally, monitor development, control and monitor usage, and continually govern the operation of the information-sharing network. The aforementioned conditions will ensure that the information-sharing will receive legitimacy and support from all the agencies involved.