NCJ Number
242959
Date Published
June 2013
Length
105 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes and characterizes the overall capabilities and performance of the National Network of fusion centers based on the results of the 2012 Assessment.
Abstract
State and major urban-area fusion centers are the nexus of the homeland-security intelligence enterprise at the State and local levels. They serve as focal points for the receipt, analysis, gathering, sharing, and safeguarding of threat-related information between the Federal Government; State, local, tribal, and territorial governments (SLTT); and the private sector. In order to guide the development of fusion center capabilities, fusion center directors and the Federal Government identified four "critical operational capabilities" (COCs), which together reflect the operational priorities of the National Network. The COCs pertain to the receipt, analysis, dissemination, and gathering of intelligence information related to homeland-security threats. In addition, fusion center directors and the Federal Government identified four "enabling capabilities" (ECs), which provide a foundation for the fusion process. The ECs pertain to privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections; strategy for sustaining the fusion center; communications and outreach; and security. The 2012 Assessment rated each of the fusion centers on its COCs and ECs. The overall capability scores for the 77 fusion centers that participated in the 2012 Assessment ranged from 38.4 to 100, with 9 fusion centers achieving scores of 100. The National Network average score was 88.4, which was an increase of 11.6 points from the 2011 Assessment. Just over one-third of the National Network (26 fusion centers) increased their overall scores by just over 20 points since last year. The 2012 Assessment consisted of two phases: a self-assessment and validation effort that consisted of a comprehensive data quality review and interviews with fusion center directors. All 77 fusion centers of the National Network as of July 31, 2012 participated in the 2012 Assessment. 18 tables and appended supplementary data and assessment materials