Impact of Terrorism on State Law Enforcement: Adjusting to New Roles and Changing Conditions, Final Report June 2005

• NCJ Number: 216643
• Date Published: June 2005
• Length: 88 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2003-DT-CX-0004
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Award: Impact of Terrorist Attacks on State LE & CJ Systems

Annotation

After presenting findings from a 50-State survey of State and local law enforcement agencies regarding their counterterrorism efforts since the September 11 attacks, as well as 5 case studies on this issue, this report presents recommendations from an expert work group that analyzed the findings.

Abstract

Findings from the five case studies show that States are developing new intelligence fusion centers, analysts, and tools; regional and statewide planning is increasing; and State police are playing critical roles in counterterrorism strategies on the Nation's borders and highways. The work group that analyzed the survey and case-study findings recommends improved intelligence collection, analysis, and sharing at State and local levels, as well as the integration of new terrorism-related efforts into the existing criminal justice system. The work group also recommends cooperation across the entire spectrum of law enforcement and private security at local, State, and Federal levels and address State-level governance, planning, and legal issues that pertain to State law enforcement and general terrorism-prevention responsibilities. Approximately 75 percent of survey respondents reported a greater degree of involvement in their State's collection, analysis, and sharing of terrorism-related intelligence since September 11. Another survey finding was that local law enforcement agencies have been requesting more operational assistance and support from State police since September 11, particularly in the areas of training, technical assistance, forensic science, specialized services, and computer crimes. Just over 75 percent of State agencies reported that their assignment of personnel to Federal task forces and their cooperation with Federal immigration officials have increased since September 11. Approximately 60 percent of State police agencies have increased their interactions with corporate security representatives and private companies concerning facility security and worker background checks. 8 charts and tables and appended homeland security update, glossary, survey instruments, appended data on State law enforcement agencies (2000), and 47 notes