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INTELLIGENCE BEYOND 1984 (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE IN AMERICA - CRITICAL ISSUES FOR THE FUTURE, 1979, BY JOHN T O'BRIEN AND MARVIN MARCUS - SEE NCJ-62849)

NCJ Number
62854
Author(s)
J J O'BRIEN
Date Published
1979
Length
24 pages
Annotation
THE EVOLUTION OF INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS IN AMERICA IS BRIEFLY OUTLINED, ALONG WITH PUBLIC RESPONSES TO ABUSES, AND TRENDS IN INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS ARE FORECAST FOR BEYOND 1984.
Abstract
HISTORICALLY, INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR PREVENTING AND COUNTERING THREATS TO EXISTING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS. IN RECENT YEARS, REVEALED ABUSES IN INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS HAVE LED TO MORE RESTRICTIVE LEGAL CONTROLS ON INTELLIGENCE METHODS, USE OF INFORMATION, AND PUBLIC ACCESS TO INTELLIGENCE FILES. THE 1980'S SHOULD SEE AN ONGOING CONCERN AND CONTINUED MONITORING OF INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS BY CIVIL LIBERTARIANS AND SOCIOLOGISTS. THIS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES REGARDING RESPECT FOR CHERISHED PRIVACY VALUES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PROJECTED EXPANSION OF TERRORIST ACTIVITY, WITH THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE USE OF NUCLEAR AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, WILL STIMULATE SUPPORT FOR SPECIALIZED INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES TO COUNTER SUCH THREATS. THERE WILL BE A GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE SELECTION, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS AND ON ACCURACY AND RELEVANCE IN THE CONTENT OF INTELLIGENCE DATA. AFTER 1984, A GREATER AND MORE SOPHISTICATED COHESION OF INTELLIGENCE UNITS WILL DEVELOP, USING COMMON SCHOOLS AND AN INTERCHANGE OF PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT. TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS WILL OCCUR IN THE EXPANDED USE OF SOPHISTICATED COMPUTERS, DETECTING DEVICES, COMMUNICATIONS TECHNIQUES, AND ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS. (RCB)