OJP -Information Technology Initiatives: Global Justice News

Social Network for Emergencies to Launch in San Francisco

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management (SFDEM) announced a new disaster preparedness project “SF72.org,” created to connect citizens willing to offer resources and services—from food, water, and an extra generator to mechanical services and a place to stay—72 hours after a disaster occurs. SFDEM research shows that connected communities with natural social networks are more resilient than others, as citizen-to-citizen resource sharing proved necessary during hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Encouraging communities to connect through a social network is part of the department’s larger plan to enhance San Francisco’s preparedness, said Francis Zamora, public information officer for SFDEM. The site will feature four categories: a place for people to connect and share resources and services; instructions on how to prepare for a disaster, including videos on putting together a kit and making potable water, plus testimonials from those who have survived disasters; a “make” section for users to invent their own ways to help; and an emergency mode, which will switch on when disaster strikes and share live information with the public, plus check for missing persons.

Source: Government Technology

LCSD Adds Mobile App

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

According to an article in The Times Dispatch, (May 8, 2013, by Shantelle Prater) the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department (LCSD), Arkansas, has added a new feature to increase public awareness. The new mobile application (app) called “MobilePatrol” is an app which provides real-time detention center detainee information including mug shots, charges, and access to the Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) link, as well as allow crime victims access to timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day. "With this app users can view who is in jail, who has warrants, our most wanted list, and child-support issues," said Lawrence County Sheriff Jody Dotson. "The app also features links to the sheriff's department and contact information for city officials.”

Source: IJIS Institute

R&D Center To Offer "Building Blocks" Of Cybersecurity

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

There is no lack of commercially available tools to counter rapidly evolving cyber threats, but putting them into place and having them work together efficiently can be a challenge. Available tools often are not used because the technology might be difficult to use, might not be widely known, or might be too expensive to be practical. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is planning to help agencies and other organizations put those tools in play, partnering with a nonprofit organization to provide technical and project management support for its National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCOE). The new federally funded research and development center would be the first of its kind dedicated to cybersecurity and would facilitate cooperation between the private sector and the NCCOE. The State of Maryland and Montgomery County, Maryland, are cosponsoring the center with NIST, which will work to strengthen U.S. economic growth by supporting automated and trustworthy e-government and e-commerce. NIST has released an initial notice of its intent to partner with such a center and expects to issue a request for proposals this summer.

Source: Government Computer News

CTO Talks Tech Role In Fighting Sex Trade

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Federal Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Todd Park, speaking at a luncheon hosted by TechAmerica, pointed to a speech given by President Barrack Obama at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2012 when the President promised to redouble efforts to go after sex traffickers abroad and at home. According to Park, the White House efforts against domestic human trafficking are starting to bear fruit. As an outgrowth of the Obama initiative, the Ford Foundation has helped to build a tool that uses algorithms to identify signals that an ad is posted advertising an underage child. Efforts to shut down Web sites that contained ads for trafficked children had previously been unproductive because the ads would move from site to site. Law enforcement officers had poured over tens of thousands of online ads posted every week at sites for clues but this was extremely labor intensive.

Source: Federal Computer Weekly

FirstNet to Meet with State, Local, Tribal Public Safety Groups

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) is kicking off a summer long series of consultations with states, tribal entities, territories, and local authorities across the nation this week with a kick-off workshop in Washington, DC. After the workshop, FirstNet will conduct six regional workshops to meet with each state individually during the consultation process. FirstNet will be soliciting public input from workshop attendees to help in the design of a public safety grade, next generation wireless network that will meet very specific requirements of police, firefighters, sheriffs, and emergency medical services personnel in their regions. “Consultations are an essential step in building working relationships between FirstNet and the thousands of people who are stakeholders in its success,” commented the new General Manager of FirstNet, Bill D’Agostino, in a written press release. “These meetings will provide valuable opportunities to listen and work collaboratively to build the first public safety-grade LTE network.” The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) as an independent authority within National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Source:

Government Technology

New Release: Building Cost-Benefit Analysis Capacity in Criminal Justice

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Interest in using cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to help in criminal justice policymaking and planning has grown in recent years as state and local budgets have become increasingly strained. Most jurisdictions, however, have not been able to create a sustained capacity to produce and use CBA in decision making and budgeting. Recently, a roundtable discussion was convened to examine the factors that might help agencies draw on CBA in a lasting, meaningful way. In the daylong meeting, people from state policy entities and nonprofit organizations, along with elected officials from four states, discussed strategies for building CBA capacity. Building Cost-Benefit Analysis Capacity in Criminal Justice: Notes from a Roundtable Discussion covers three areas to consider as part of that objective: organizations, staff, and making CBA part of ongoing processes.

Source: IJIS Institute

Crime Victim Notification Gets Personal

Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) recently enhanced their Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification system to improve communication to registrants and between criminal justice partners. “We decided to personalize the victim notification process,” said Brent Myers, the department’s director of registration and victim services. “We wanted to give options to those registering for notifications.” Whereas victim notifications were previously delivered exclusively via robocalls (automated phone calls), the new system allows IDOC to personalize notifications, giving registrants control over how and when they are notified. …Instead of receiving a phone call for every notification that a person is interested in, they can get a phone call for some notifications, text messaging for others,” Myers explained. There are three different types of notifications, and there are about 35 triggers that fall within each of those categories. Registrants can define how they would like to be notified for every trigger within each category. The system is also valuable for other users within the IDOC, as well as IDOC's external public safety partners. Prosecutors, court staff, defense attorneys, Child Protective Services employees, and child custody representatives use the notification system in carrying out their responsibilities.

Source: Government Technology

Agencies Shore Up Social Media Security

Wed, 08 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Federal agencies wasted little time shoring up social media security policies after a highly publicized April 23, 2013, hack of the Associated Press' (AP) Twitter account prompted the General Services Administration (GSA) to issue new guidelines. The hacked tweet—which briefly confused the public after falsely claiming the president was injured in an explosion—and GSA’s new guidelines two days later provided all the incentive most agencies needed to avoid being the next AP. The guidelines, issued from GSA's Center for Excellence in Digital Government, offer common sense precautions for avoiding social media hacks. The recommendations cover how to handle hacks when they occur and how to respond to tweets from hacked accounts—all issues raised through the AP incident. Beyond prevention methods—such as using strong passwords and not using the same password across multiple accounts—social media heads at other federal agencies said their policies changed the most in regards to responding to breaches or other hacked accounts. With changes like two-tiered authentication for social media accounts potentially on the horizon, and increased public interaction with federal agencies via social media, it's anticipated that the guidelines will be updated more frequently going forward.

Source: Federal Computer Weekly (FCW)

Working Together to Strengthen the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

Tue, 07 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

To facilitate on-going conversations about strengthening the security and resilience of critical infrastructure, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created a Collaboration Community on “IdeaScale” that will facilitate community input and recommendations. Critical infrastructure is the backbone of national and economic security. It includes power plants, chemical facilities, communications networks, bridges, highways, and stadiums, as well as the federal buildings. DHS collaborates with the public and private sector every day to identify, prevent, mitigate, and respond to attempted disruptions to critical cyber and communications networks. In support of efforts to implement Presidential Policy Directive 21 on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, DHS is encouraging the community to submit comments and ideas using the IdeaScale public dialogue tool—a simple, Web-based forum—so that DHS can build a stronger foundation for securing and protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure.

Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security

IACP Launches School Safety—Online Training Series

Mon, 06 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in collaboration with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), invites law enforcement, school officials, and allied stakeholders tasked with ensuring school safety to participate in a series of four school safety online trainings: Forming Your Safe School Planning Team, Assessing School Safety, Preparing for a School Crisis, and Responding to a School Crisis. These highly interactive, introductory level trainings are designed to assist in the development of crisis response plans to prevent and respond to events that threaten the safety of school environments. Training topics include:

Identifying needs, gaps, and strategies to perform a comprehensive school safety assessment
Identifying potential members, roles, and responsibilities for a safe school planning team
Revising or creating preparedness strategies within a school safety plan
Developing crisis response strategies and incorporating them into a school safety plan

Source: IACP

NIEM 3.0 Alpha 2 Release—Open Public Review!

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:00:00 GMT

An alpha release of the next version of the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM 3.0) is now available for community feedback. NIEM is a community-driven, government-wide, standards-based approach to exchanging information developed through collaboration between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Since August 2012, the NIEM community has been working on NIEM Version 3.0—the next major release of the NIEM model. NIEM Version 3.0 addresses community-identified needs to date and is open for public review and feedback from April 22, 2013, to May 6, 2013, with access to the full model, including both NIEM Core and all NIEM Domains. The Web page NIEM.gov/version3 is dedicated to all things 3.0, including details regarding NIEM 3.0 scope as well as links to step-by-step guidance on how to conduct a review and how to submit feedback.

Source: NIEM.gov

NCJA Webinar: "Implementation Science and the Importance of Fidelity: Replicating Evidence-Based Practices"

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Over the last 15 years criminal justice decision makers, state legislatures and the federal government have increasingly pushed for the adoption of researched based, data-driven, or evidence-based programming. This focus has been accompanied by the development of menus of promising and evidence-based programming. While improving access to evidence-based strategies is vital, it is also imperative to understand the importance of fidelity and other factors when seeking to replicate a program or practice. Poor implementation of a program model can not only diminish the desired outcomes, but if done poorly can tarnish the reputation of a given program or treatment modality. The National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), with sponsorship from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), is offering a webinar, titled “Implementation Science and the Importance of Fidelity” on May 1, 2013, which will focus on effective implementation of evidence-based programs and practices and how this can impact desired outcomes. As an applied example, this webinar will describe data and lessons learned from a 15-year project of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to scale-up a menu of evidence-based programs and treatment modalities. Follow this registration link to register for the webinar.

Source: NCJA

NASCIO Releases Capitals in the Clouds Part V: Managing the Risk of Free Cloud Services

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Cloud-based file sharing solutions have become very popular and certainly a growing and significant part of day-to-day computing. These services are attractive to state government users, especially since many file sharing services are free. States are seeking guidance on how to put the proper controls in place, meet security standards, craft acceptable use policies, and identify the open records and legal concerns regarding terms of service for cloud-based file sharing. This brief helps to provide real experience and recommendations on these issues from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Erik Avakian.

Source: NASCIO

Funding Opportunity: Improving the Completeness of Firearm Background Checks Through Enhanced State Data Sharing—FY 2013 Competitive Grant Announcement

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications to implement data sharing that will improve the effectiveness of background checks for the purchase of firearms. This program furthers DOJ’s mission by preventing and deterring acts of violent crime perpetrated through the use of illegally purchased firearms by enhancing the reliability and accuracy of the nation’s background check process. For this grant, recipients will be expected to collaborate with a chosen technical assistance provider and participate in national efforts to identify and promote the most effective strategies for improving background checks. Grantees will also be required to adhere to DOJ’s Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) standards and guidelines for information sharing, whenever applicable, to promote interoperability of systems and enable interstate and national data sharing efforts for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and other purposes. See www.it.ojp.gov/gsp and www.it.ojp.gov/gist for more information on Global standards and guidelines. Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. Applications are due May 13, 2013.

Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance

Can Open Source Software Enhance Collaboration?

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

A multistate criminal justice group is using open source software to develop plug-and-play solutions for functions like incident reporting, searching criminal histories, and single sign-on. The newly formed Open Justice Broker Consortium (OJBC)—dedicated to collaborating on open source, justice-related information sharing—includes Hawaii, Maine, and Vermont. The group’s effort is the latest in a post-9/11 push to shore up public safety communication and information sharing capabilities. The OJBC is an offshoot of SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. Standard-setting work funded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the maturation of service oriented architecture and identity management technologies has laid important groundwork for better collaboration among public safety agencies, according to SEARCH Executive Director Scott Came. OJBC’s initiative follows standards established by DOJ’s Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global).

Source: Government Technology

Police Use Pinterest to Combat Street Drug Proliferation

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Today, with so many people online, law enforcement agencies are employing sophisticated social media techniques that engage citizens. Sarah Boyd, public relations specialist with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department (KCPD), believes her department was the first in the United States to take to Pinterest last April. KCPD’s Pinterest page has become very popular and includes crime-solving and prevention boards, such as Hitting the Streets, Identifying Street Drugs, Missing Persons, Unsolved Homicides, Parent Toolkit, Crime Fighters—Surveillance Video, Safety Tips, and many more. The department recognized the crime-fighting and crime prevention potential of Pinterest, which has been used by the public to help solve burglary and robbery cases, and locate missing persons. Pinterest, however, is just one element of the KCPD’s successful social media strategy. Chief Darryl Forté writes a blog, and the department offers a text message alert system and is active on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Source: Government Technology

NCJA, BJA, and JRSA Hold Joint Meeting on Evidence-Based Practices

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

On January 8 and 9, 2013, the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and the Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) partnered to convene the Executive Session on Evidence-Based Policy and Practice. The meeting drew almost 100 attendees, including State Administering Agency (SAA) and Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) directors, and federal officials from BJA and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The agenda highlighted BJA's priority of embedding evidence-based practices (EBPs) in all of its grant programs, JRSA's focus on using data to support EBPs and data-driven decision making, and SAC efforts to build capacity within the state for evidence-based practices. Presentation topics included Challenges in Promoting Use of Data and Research in Criminal Justice Programs; The Use of Research and Evidence-Based Practices by State Administering Agencies; Setting a Direction for Evidence-Based Practice; The Role of Statistical Analysis Centers in Supporting State Administering Agencies' Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice and Policy; and others. Refer to the slideshow link to view the presentations.

Source: National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA)

Connect South Dakota: A Justice Information Sharing Success Story

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

While many states are still challenged with turf issues, lack of resources, and information sharing “silos,” the Connect South Dakota (ConnectSD) justice information sharing program is changing the way SD law enforcement do business. ConnectSD was developed for both large and small county sheriffs and law enforcement agencies to efficiently and comprehensively share information and track records. ConnectSD shares the following data within the state: incident and case reports, arrest reports, computer-aided dispatch calls, traffic citations, narratives, photos (in phase two), supplements, and booking and incarceration data. “South Dakota’s program will be a ‘best practice’ and something that can be duplicated in other jurisdictions,” said Sheriff Mike Milstead, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office. The system uses national information sharing standards, such as those developed by the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s (BJA’s) Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global), including the Global Federated Identity and Privilege Management’s (GFIPM) single sign-on capability for authenticating users and the Global Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Policy Development Template for State, Local, and Tribal Justice Entities for the Connect SD privacy policy. In addition, Connect SD adopted National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) standards.

Source: Justice Research and Statistics Association (JRSA) Forum

VanRoekel Revamps IT Portfolio Review Process

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The White House is revamping its initiative to streamline how federal agencies buy information technology. The PortfolioStat program so far has saved the government roughly $300 million since it was launched one year ago this month, federal Chief Information Officer Steven VanRoekel told Nextgov in an interview. During its first year, PortfolioStat focused primarily on changing how federal agencies purchase IT commodities, such as Internet and mobile phone service. Version two of PortfolioStat will expand to focus on streamlining technology operations and roll in the government’s four-year-old data center consolidation initiative and refocus that project on making data center operations cheaper and more energy efficient, VanRoekel said. VanRoekel outlined the key focus areas for the updated PortfolioStat in a memo co-authored with acting Office of Management and Budget Director Jeffrey Zients.

Source: Nextgov.com

New "The IJIS Factor" Blog Post: "A Measure of Sanity

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

IJIS Institute Executive Director Emeritus Paul Wormeli's latest blog post, “A Measure of Sanity,” explores the imperative of standards and highlights Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global)-recommended solutions in the pursuit of interoperability. Achieving information interoperability among states with distinct IT infrastructures could not be done without standards for sharing information across organizational boundaries, explains Mr. Wormeli. He goes a step further to express the importance of evaluating those standards for compliance and the role of IJIS’s Springboard project in that evaluation process. Springboard, sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE), provides a platform where standards can be tested and debugged, where companies can test their product against national standards, and to achieve certification in order to assure potential customers that independent testing has measured their conformance. An example of this compliance testing is the Springboard-PMIX Initiative’s Conformance Test, which was a test, demo, and Webinar all in one. This test was necessary to determine whether a new Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PMP) Information Exchange (PMIX), sponsored by BJA and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), met the interoperability standards defined in the PMIX State-to-Hub service specifications.

Source: IJIS Institute

Special Report: IT Tools for Safer Communities

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

As policymakers grapple with gun violence, technology may offer nonpartisan options for improvement. A special report explores various viewpoints on this issue, (e.g., from law enforcement, federal initiatives, and California’s model of tough firearm purchase restrictions), and weighs the pros and cons of bringing mental health information into the process and strengthening background checks for gun purchases. This article goes further to discuss both the potential and challenges of four promising technologies and strategies that may help prevent and mitigate gun violence: social media monitoring, gunshot detection systems, data-driven and predictive policing, and emergency alert systems at schools and colleges. This report was developed by the Digital Communities program—a network of public- and private-sector IT professionals working to improve local governments’ delivery of public service through the use of digital technology.

Source: Digital Communities

NIJ Releases New Resource for Law Enforcement Executives

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), has published Five Things Law Enforcement Executives Can Do to Make a Difference—a flyer which features five critical concepts for law enforcement executives that are proven to improve policing and save money. Stemming from years of research, analysis, testing, and evaluation, these five concepts are designed to help leaders become more dynamic, make communities safer, and improve officer safety.

Source: National Institute of Justice

NAJIS Winter 2013 “InfoSys” Newsletter Released

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Association for Justice Information Systems (NAJIS) recently released its winter 2013 newsletter which features two compelling articles. One highlights the Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS), its beginnings and current efforts to keep the information sharing system state of the art, and another article explores the idea of including criminal history records that were not fingerprint verified in state and federal criminal history repositories. In states that are poorly underfunded, arrest and court records are frequently created without associated biometric identifiers, resulting in many records never making it to key justice decision makers.

Source: NAJIS

BJA Electronic and Cybercrime National Training and Technical Assistance Program Distance Learning/Rural Project

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

As part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Rural Law Enforcement Project, the Fox Valley Technical College, National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC) has established a program to provide an immediate response to the critical needs of small and underserved law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies in the area of cybercrime investigations. In support of this initiative, the NCJTC is developing a series of Webinar events, distance learning modules, roll call videos, and an extensive resource library where links to helpful tools and documents can be viewed and downloaded.

Source: NCJTC

The Right Way to Share

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding, signed by President Barrack Obama in December 2012, defines a vision to guide information sharing and safeguarding within existing law and policy, and to support effective decision-making. One of the strategy’s priority objectives is tied to standards-based acquisition—in other words, effective partnering between government and industry to create interoperable, standards-based solutions. A consistent, whole-of-government approach to this achieves seamless information sharing, improves cost controls, reduces duplication, and increases shared services. This article discusses several initiatives engaged by the Office of the Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE) in coordination with federal, state, local, tribal, and industry partners to increase momentum toward this standards-based acquisition approach.

Source: Government CIO Magazine

Tablets’ Mobility, Connectivity Lead to Adoption by Emergency Managers

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 08:00:00 GMT

This Government Technology article explores the growing use of tablet computers by emergency responders. For example, after heavy hail hit 150 homes in Montgomery County, Kentucky, last March, the county’s emergency management director, Wesley Delk, set out to assess the damage using a tablet computer that he used to take notes as well as geotag photos. He was able to add the pictures to a map later, showing where damage had occurred. Tablets are increasingly being adopted by the emergency management community due to the increase in specialized applications developed specifically for that field.

Source:

Government Technology

RISS Is Now On Facebook

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Regional Information Sharing Systems^® (RISS) program is pleased to announce its new RISS Facebook page. RISS, which was established 40 years ago, is a congressionally funded program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The six regional RISS Centers and the RISS Technology Support Center provide thousands of law enforcement agencies and public safety partners with secure information and intelligence sharing capabilities, critical investigative and analytical support services, and officer safety resources. RISS’s services directly impact law enforcement’s ability to successfully resolve criminal investigations and prosecute offenders while providing the critical officer safety event deconfliction necessary to help safeguard law enforcement officers and citizens. To learn more, find RISS at facebook.com/TheRISSProgram. Make sure to “Like” the page to get updates and information about RISS.

Source: RISS

NCSC Launches State Court Organization Web Site

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) State Court Organization (SCO) has published an online, interactive, user-driven application that allows sorting and filtering of detailed comparative data about how state trial and appellate courts are organized and administered in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. With topics ranging from the types of courts established in each state to specific aspects of law or procedure, SCO is the source for authoritative answers to fundamental questions about the operations of each state’s court system. Users can choose which states, courts, and data elements to view; sort results according to specified criteria; and export or print findings for later use. Funded in part by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), SCO is the product of a collaborative partnership between NCSC and the state court community.

Source: National Center for State Courts

2013 JMHCP Program National Training and Technical Assistance Event: “Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery”

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), convened the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program National Training and Technical Assistance Event, February 28–March 1, 2013, entitled "Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery." The gathering served to help state and local government officials and other agents of change develop and implement initiatives that are designed to improve outcomes for people with mental illness who are involved in the justice system. National experts and state and local officials with experience in the design and implementation of effective justice and mental health initiatives addressed a variety of topics to help jurisdictions direct the appropriate people with mental illness who are justice and mental health initiatives addressed a variety of topics to help jurisdictions direct the appropriate people with mental illness to corresponding interventions, maximize available healthcare resources, and measure and communicate programmatic outcomes. For more information about this event, go to http://www.consensusproject.org/jmhcp-training-ta-event-feb-2013.

Source: CSG Justice Center

DOJ and NIST Announce Launch of National Commission on Forensic Science

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced today the establishment of a National Commission on Forensic Science as part of a new initiative to strengthen and enhance the practice of forensic science. The commission will be composed of approximately 30 members and will bring together forensic science service practitioners, academic researchers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, and other relevant stakeholders to develop policy recommendations for the Attorney General. The commission will consider guidance on practices for federal, state and local forensic science laboratories developed by groups of forensic science practitioners and academic researchers administered by NIST. The commission will have responsibility for developing guidance concerning the intersections between forensic science and the courtroom and developing policy recommendations, including uniform codes for professional responsibility and requirements for training and certification.

Source: NIST

Register Now for the Tribal-State Public Safety Agreements Webinar—March 26, 2013

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Join the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), with support by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), for a Webinar titled “Enhancing Cooperation: Tribal-State Public Safety Agreements.” These agreements include memoranda of understanding, cross-deputization agreements, and mutual-aid agreements. The discussion will focus on the importance of tribes, states, and localities working together on public safety issues; how to address obstacles to cooperation; and highlight best practices the Navajo Nation has used in forging these agreements in multiple states. The Webinar will be held on March 26, 2013, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST. Space is limited, register early.

Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance

The IJIS Factor—GFIPM Will Change The Way We Share Information Throughout The Nation

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

In a recent IJIS Factor blog, titled “Security as a Service,” the increased need to share information between criminal justice agencies is discussed as it relates to secure user identity management. The Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative’s (Global) Advisory Committee (GAC), a Federal Advisory Committee to the Attorney General, realized early-on that traditional security modules, which require hand crafting of user’s permissions, would become an impediment, especially when applied to the management of a large number of users and evolving security requirements. To address this priority, the GAC developed the Global Federated Identity and Privilege Management (GFIPM) program, which promotes the concept “security as a service.” This concept and its implementation are central to information sharing. GFIPM has now been endorsed by many state, local, and federal agencies nationwide and many resources and implementation guides are now available through the GFIPM Web site—http://www.gfipm.net/, sponsored by BJA in the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Web services models are currently available for download for use in implementing this standard, as well as a powerful federation established to foster GFIPM implementation nationwide.

Source: IJIS Institute

BJA Releases Social Media Policy Guidance for Law Enforcement

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)—with the support of the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) Advisory Committee (GAC), a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) to the U.S. Attorney General on justice-related information sharing, and the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC)—has published a social media resource for law enforcement, titled Developing a Policy on the Use of Social Media in Intelligence and Investigative Activities: Guidance and Recommendations. This resource is designed to guide law enforcement agency personnel through the development of a social media policy by identifying elements that should be considered when drafting a policy, as well as issues to consider, focusing on privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections. All law enforcement agencies, regardless of size and jurisdiction, can benefit from the guidance identified in this resource.

Source: Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative

MAGLOCLEN RISS Center Assists Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, Police in Local School District Public Corruption Case

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

In February 2013, detectives from the Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, Police Department contacted analysts at the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network^®(MAGLOCLEN)—one of six centers in the Regional Information Sharing Systems^® (RISS) network—for assistance in the presentation of investigative data which reflected a year-long inquiry into the theft and fraud perpetrated against a local school district. RISS, a congressionally funded program which is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), provides services and resources that directly impact law enforcement’s ability to successfully resolve criminal investigations and prosecute offenders. This investigation marked one of the largest public corruption investigations in the history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Some of the services MAGLOCLEN provided include a link analysis to illustrate the individuals who were involved, graphical timelines, as well as other demonstrative aids and analytical products. To view the press conference, refer to this link.

Source: MAGLOCLEN

Stay Connected With BJA News and Announcements Via Twitter

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

It is now easier to stay up to date on the latest news coming from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), by following BJA on Twitter (@DOJBJA). BJA is using Twitter—a social media Web site composed of text-based messages containing up to 140 characters, commonly referred to as “Tweets”—as a form of outreach and communication to promote current news, upcoming events, and announcements from the justice community, as well as feature newly available products from BJA’s Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global).

Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance

BJA Announces Justice Information Sharing Solutions Grant

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), is now seeking applications for a FY 2013 Justice Information Sharing Solutions Implementation Program grant which seeks to support implementation of justice information sharing solutions that address critical challenges currently faced by state, local, and tribal criminal justice agencies. The solutions implemented under this solicitation should leverage one or more of the components of the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) Standards Package (GSP)—a package of composable, interoperable solutions specifically supporting an information exchange—and support criminal justice policies, practices, and programs that are evidence-based and data-driven. Eligible applicants range from public agencies of state governments, units of local government, and tribal entities that perform criminal justice functions to national and regional public and private entities, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations, faith-based and community organizations, and institutions of higher education that support initiatives to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system. Applicants must submit a concept paper through Grants.gov by April 4, 2013, to apply for the grant.

Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance

The Juvenile Assessment Center and Information Sharing: The Whys, The Whats, and How It Works in Jefferson County, Colorado

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Highlighted in the March 13, 2012, issue of Police Chief magazine, by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), is the background, purpose, and service activities of Colorado's Jefferson County Juvenile Assessment Center (JCJAC) whose mission is to be “an assessment center that is responsive to the safety and well-being of youth, families, victims, and the Jefferson County Community.” The JCJAC works with youth ages 10 to 17 and focuses on a variety of issues: school concerns such as truancy, suspension, or expulsion; youth in contact with the juvenile justice system who have mental health concerns, conflict with parents, contact with municipalities, or issues with fire setting; and youth who have substance abuse and alcohol issues. The JCJAC’s ability to understand where a youth has been and what may have percipitated or contributed to the current situation is attributed in part to the proper sharing and access to information. JCJAC staff members have access to multiple systems to view information on youth involved in juvenile justice, youth corrections, or human services. The JCJAC also is a local pilot site for the National Juvenile Information Sharing Initiative (NJISI), a program working cooperatively with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), to develop the proper data sharing protocols for juvenile information sharing.

Source: IACP's Police Chief Magazine

Developing a Framework to Improve Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) issued a request for information (RFI) in a process to develop a Cybersecurity Framework—a set of voluntary standards and best practices to guide industry in reducing cyber risks to networks and computers supporting critical infrastructure. NIST will use the input gathered to identify existing consensus standards, practices, and procedures that have been effective and that can be adopted by industry to protect its digital information and infrastructure. President Barack Obama called for the cybersecurity framework in a February 12, 2013, Executive Order on "Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity" for essential institutions, such as power plants, and financial, transportation, and communications systems. Stakeholder meetings are a part of this process with the first meeting to be held April 3, 2013, at NIST headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland. (Registration is required.) Comments are being accepted by e-mail to cyberframework@nist.gov with the subject line: "Developing a Framework to Improve Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity” and are due by 5:00 p.m. EST on April 8, 2013.

Source: Federal Register

Illinois Department of Corrections Heads to The Cloud

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) is in the midst of implementing a cloud-based inmate tracking and management system. Approximately 40 percent of the information the DOC uses regularly has been integrated into the system so far. Users of the system can expect better accountability on everything from where the prisoner is to notifying victims upon a prisoner’s release. Having better access to data may also help DOC leaders make more informed decisions. In addition, electronic medical records and some risk assessment analysis components will eventually be added, along with some other tools that help determine where a particular inmate should be assigned in the overall corrections system. The first phase of this transition should be completed by June 2013, with most offender records fully transferred in about a year.

Source: Government Technology

NIEM 3.0 On Schedule for Fall Release, Say Architecture Committee Members

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

During a February 15, 2013, online town hall meeting of National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) stakeholders, Andrew Owen, NIEM technical architecture committee cochair, announced that a beta release of the third version of NIEM—NIEM 3.0—is planned for summer 2013, with release candidates complete by August or September. The Buruea of Justice Assistance (BJA) sponsors and manages NIEM development. NIEM, a set of standardized XML schemas built on a core of commonly defined data components, is used as a data exchange method by federal, state, and local governments. The changes in NIEM 3.0 include intelligence community security markings, a new unified modeling language profile, and enhancements to better accommodate local terminology and acronyms.

Source: FierceGovernmentIT

Workshop on Information Sharing & Safeguarding Standards

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The IJIS Institute and the Standards Coordinating Council (SCC), Sub-Committee of the Information Sharing and Access Interagency Policy Committee (ISA IPC), will conduct a workshop on Information Sharing and Safeguarding Standards (WIS3) on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Reston, Virginia. The Workshop will be co-located with the Object Model Group (OMG) Technical Training event, which is being held March 18–22, 2013. This interactive workshop is intended to bring together government and industry leaders to chart the future for architecture and standards frameworks for the national information sharing environment. Expert panel presentations will be followed by discussion sessions on each of these topics: Privacy by Design—Privacy/Technology Framework; Cross-Domain Information Exchange; Frameworks & Shared Services—Creating Demand; and Cyber Security and Identity Management. Representatives from the federal, state, and local government, as well as the technology industry, have been invited to participate.

Source:

IJIS Institute

Latest Issue of BJA’s “Justice Today”

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has recently released its latest version of Justice Today, a periodic publication developed by BJA to support the justice and public safety community. The following are highlights from the February 2013 issue: a spotlight on BJA-sponsored active shooter training—the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT); current and trending news stories from the field; announcements of current grant and funding opportunities, such as the Tribal Civil and Criminal Legal Assistance Grants, Training, and Technical Assistance grant; a This Month in Law Enforcement section showcasing international best practices in law enforcement; and information on the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program, enacted in 1976 to provide death, disability, and education benefits for eligible law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders.

Source:

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Deloitte Study: Mobile Can Help Feds "Hit The Reset Button"

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

A recent study by Deloitte Consulting titled Gov On the Go: Boosting Public Sector Productivity by Going Mobile shows that corporations have reaped the rewards of embracing mobile technology and suggests that doubling mobile adoption rates in federal agencies could generate $50 billion in added value annually. “The government … has plenty to gain through mobility,” said Rob Frazzini, a principal at Deloitte and leader of the federal digital practice. “With smart phones now outselling PCs and people increasingly relying on their mobile devices for work as well as personal purposes, the time is ripe for the government to jump on the mobility bandwagon … We look at this mobile revolution as an opportunity for government to really not only cut costs, but to increase constituent value and increase efficiency of the workforce considerably," Frazzini told FCW.

Source:

FCW

USGS Offers Rapid Earthquake Alerts Via Twitter

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is now offering earthquake alerts worldwide on quakes registering 5.5 and above, using a new Twitter Earthquake Dispatch (TED) notification system. TED can generally detect large earthquakes before the USGS’ routine scientific instruments can even confirm the data. In fact, "about half of the TED earthquake alerts arrive before instrumentally detected earthquakes," said USGS seismologist Paul Earle in an interview with Federal Computer Weekly magazine. The TED system, using public Twitter data, can detect earthquakes anywhere from 30 seconds to two minutes, whereas seismometers, in remote areas, can take up to 20 minutes to confirm earthquakes. The tweets contain a magnitude descriptor, location, origin time, and a link to the USGS Web page with the most recent information about the event.

Source: United States Geological Survey

New Graduate Certificate in Justice and Public Safety Information Management

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

A new justice and public safety graduate program is being offered by The George Washington University’s College of Professional Studies, in association with the IJIS Institute, for professionals in the law enforcement, public safety, and homeland security fields. This program provides a comprehensive and strategic understanding of policy, best practices, and strategies related to information technology and data management. Enroll in this course to:

Understand the challenges and contemporary solutions related to information sharing and safeguarding
Apply current concepts and standards of enterprise architecture to justice and public safety fields
Integrate past, current, and future policy principles related to information technology to justice and public safety fields
Build collaboration and consensus in government IT projects

This 15-credit graduate certificate may be completed in three semesters, or may be taken as a concentration in the Master’s Program in Safety and Security Leadership. Classes are offered online and one weekend per month at The George Washington University Ashburn, Virginia, campus.

Source:
George Washington University

Working to Counter Online Radicalization to Violence in the United States

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

On February 5, 2013, the White House released a policy statement to counter violent extremist use of the Internet to recruit and radicalize violence in the United States. The federal government plans to initially focus on raising awareness about the threat and providing communities with practical information and tools for staying safe online. The initiative will work closely with the technology industry to consider policies, technologies, and tools that can help counter violent extremism online. Companies already have developed voluntary measures to promote Internet safety—such as fraud warnings, identity protection, and Internet safety tips—and the government will collaborate with industry to explore how they might counter online violent extremism without interfering with lawful Internet use or the privacy and civil liberties of individual users. To more effectively organize these efforts, the Administration is establishing a new Interagency Working Group to Counter Online Radicalization to Violence, chaired by the National Security Staff at the White House and involving specialists in countering violent extremism, Internet safety experts, and civil liberties and privacy practitioners from across the United States Government. For more information on Countering Online Radicalization to Violence, refer to this fact sheet (PDF).

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

CBP Recognized for Helping Make El Paso, Texas, the Safest City in the Nation Per Capita for Third Consecutive Year

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The El Paso County, Texas, Commissioner's Office signed a proclamation paying tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for their roles in making El Paso the safest city in the nation per capita. The signing took place at the El Paso County Courthouse on February 11, 2013. According to the recent CQ Press City Crime Rankings for 2012-13, El Paso was named the “safest large city” in the nation with a population of more than 500,000. These rankings are based on yearly data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI’s) Uniform Crime Report. “I am proud to be part of a law enforcement community that has been successful in impacting the safety of the citizens that we serve,” according to Scott A. Luck, chief patrol agent of U.S. Border Patrol, El Paso sector. “Our employees take pride in securing our nation’s borders against all threats,” he added.

Source: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

President Obama’s Cybersecurity Executive Order Scores Much Better Than CISPA on Privacy

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

In his State of the Union address February 13, President Barack Obama released a cybersecurity executive order outlining new policies aimed at thwarting attacks on American companies’ and government agencies’ online infrastructures, Forbes reports. “We know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private e-mail. We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets…We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy,” Obama said. The order requires government agencies to share data on cybersecurity threats with the public sector. Meanwhile, the controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act is expected to be reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today.

Source:

Forbes

OMB Charges CIOs With Improving Section 508 Standards

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

In an Executive Memorandum, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) tasked agency chief information officers (CIOs) with improving their agency's Section 508 standards. Section 508, part of the Rehabilitation Act, requires agencies to purchase electronic and information technology (EIT) that is accessible to people with disabilities. The Strategic Plan for Improving Management of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which was developed based on extensive community feedback and stakeholder input, includes actions agencies need to take to increase transparency, strengthen accountability, and improve collaboration regarding accessible EIT. Deadlines are also cited which require CIOs to meet certain milestones outlined in the plan. "Implementation of Section 508 across agencies is not consistent, and a more comprehensive approach is needed to build and sustain an accessible federal technology environment," OMB wrote.

Source: Office of Management and Budget

February 15th—Palo Alto Police Chief Hosts A “Virtual Ride-Along”

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

In what may be a first among the nation's police chiefs, Chief Dennis Burns of the Palo Alto Police Department, California, will be hitting the beat this Friday night, February 15, 2013, in his very own "virtual ride-along" via Twitter. Starting at 2 p.m. and running for 12 hours, Palo Alto Police Chief Dennis Burns will don a uniform and get behind the wheel of a patrol car to help his officers handle calls, patrol neighborhoods, and investigate crimes. A member of the Public Information Officer team will be riding with him and live-tweeting calls for service, crimes in progress, arrests, vehicle accidents, and anything else that may come up during the course of the shift on the official Department Twitter account, @PaloAltoPolice. “My goal is to give everyone insight into the realities of policing in Palo Alto and also to bring attention to our social media channels. In the event of a disaster or widespread critical incident, we want people to turn to our social media outlets for emergency information.” Twitter users can ask questions during the ride-along, and the team will answer questions as time allows. They estimate sending between 100 and 250 tweets during the twelve-hour ride-along, depending on the volume of calls of service and the level of engagement with the public.

Source: Palo Alto Police Department

TSA to Network Boarding Pass Scanners to Terrorist Watch List

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) plans to roll out fraudulent document technology scanners to airports which will be networked with the no-fly list. The scanners are meant to replace the current system in which a TSA officer called the "travel document checker" looks intently at a boarding pass and passenger identification under ultraviolent light before scrawling an assent for the passenger to proceed. In a January 18, 2013, privacy impact assessment, TSA says it plans to connect the scanners to watch lists via its Secure Flight program, which matches passenger data to databases of suspected terrorists. TSA announced a three U.S. airports pilot of the scanners--dubbed the Credential Authentication Technology/Boarding Pass Scanning System--in April 2012.

Source: FierceGovernmentIT

Virginia Releases Emergency Preparation Smartphone App

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Virginia has gone mobile in its effort to keep citizens informed about statewide emergencies and disaster planning. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) launched the Ready Virginia mobile app earlier this month, featuring a variety of notification and planning amenities that can be used in the event of a flood, hurricane, or other catastrophe. The app includes location-specific weather watches and warnings and flood information issued by the National Weather Service; disaster news from the VDEM; maps detailing where open American Red Cross shelters are; evacuation routes and storm surge zones; a template to create family emergency plans; and various informational links.

Source: Government Technology

NASCIO Releases Federal Priorities: Modernizing Regulations, Cybersecurity, and Collaboration are Essential for States

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has released 2013 Federal Advocacy Priorities. Through this report, NASCIO hopes to put a spotlight on modernizing outdated federal rules and regulations, bolstering nation’s cybersecurity, building a public safety broadband network, and pushing greater collaboration to expand the maturity and use of information exchange models and secure identities in cyberspace. With technology and telecommunications evolving faster than federal rules and regulations, NASCIO is looking to work with federal partners to ensure citizens’ tax dollars are not being wasted due to regulations that do not complement current technologies and best practices in information technology management.

Source: NASCIO

Piecing Together Digital Evidence

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Today, investigators face a daunting task of processing large numbers of seized cell phones, desktop computers, camera footage, laptops and more. This has become a common trend, recovering digital evidence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Computer Analysis Response Team (CART) is the FBI’s go-to force for providing digital forensic services, not only to FBI investigators but also to local, state, and federal partners. The cases that CART examiners work span the gamut of FBI program areas: from cybercrimes and computer intrusions to violent crimes, financial crimes, organized crime, and national security matters. CART consists of nearly 500 highly trained and certified special agents and other professional personnel working at FBI Headquarters, throughout 56 field offices, and within the network of Regional Computer Forensics Laboratories across the nation. During fiscal year 2012, CART—while supporting nearly 10,400 investigations—conducted more than 13,300 digital forensic examinations involving more than 10,500 terabytes of data.

Source: FBI

Online Interview: Linking Cyber, Physical Threat Data: Implementing Federal Information Sharing Strategy

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Listen to an interview between Kshemendra Paul, Program Manager for the Information Sharing Environment (ISE), and the Information Security Media Group regarding the implementation of the National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding. Sharing information about physical and cyber threats needn't be segregated under the national strategy, says Paul. "Our stakeholders all of the time tell us 'We want an integrated view of the threat . . . Something that goes on in the physical world may give you clues on what's going on in the cyber-world and vice versa. ... There is a nexus there, so that is why people want to look at it in an integrated way," says Paul. In the interview, Paul also addresses challenges the government and stakeholders face in implementing the strategy; managing risk in an information sharing environment; and determining the success of the strategy. To listen to the interview, select this link and select “play” on the media player.

Source: Bank Info Security

Newly Released: Timely Global Training Video for State and Local Officers

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) is pleased to announce the release of the Responding to First Amendment-Protected Events—The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers training video, recommended by the Global Advisory Committee, the Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council, and the Global Intelligence Working Group. This resource, part of a First Amendment-protected events resource package, is available at https://www.ncirc.gov/training_firstamendment.cfm.

Source: Global

Houston Police Department Grant Connects Departments

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

A Houston Police Department (HPD) grant aims to give law enforcement agencies all over the region access to regional crime data necessary to solve crimes across jurisdictional boundaries. Several area departments will join HPD in the Law Enforcement Information Exchange initiative. The interface will allow deputies to track criminals who come from other areas and give law enforcement partner agencies secure access to regional crime and incident data. “We hope to be able to share information with our law enforcement partners to help us do a better job, work smarter not harder,” said Precinct Four Constable Ron Hickman.

Source:

IJIS Institute

National Institute of Justice Accepting Grant Applications for Two New Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Grants

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for funding for two forensic science grants. The first, the Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, supports applied research and development projects that will: (1) increase knowledge or understanding necessary to guide forensic science policy and practice; or (2) result in the production of useful materials, devices, systems, or methods that have the potential for forensic application. The second, Basic Scientific Research to Support Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes, will fund basic scientific research in the physical, life, and cognitive sciences that is designed to increase the knowledge underlying forensic science disciplines intended for use in the criminal justice system. Applicants must register with Grants.gov prior to submitting an application. OJP encourages applicants to register several weeks before the application submission deadline. The deadline to apply for these grants is 11:59 p.m. eastern time on April 1, 2013.

Source:

National Institute of Justice

DHS Determines 13 States Meet REAL ID Standards

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

On December 20, 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determined that 13 states have met the standards of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (“Act”) for driver’s licenses and identification cards and has granted a temporary deferment for all other states and territories. These are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. DHS commends these states on the substantial progress in working toward these goals and the improvements in security for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards since 9/11. Beginning January 15, 2013, those states not found to meet the standards will receive a temporary deferment that will allow Federal agencies to continue to accept their licenses and identification cards for boarding commercial aircraft and other official purposes. DHS’s goal is to implement the REAL ID Act, as required by law, in a measured, fair, and responsible way. Secure driver's licenses and identification documents are a vital component of a holistic national security strategy. Law enforcement must be able to rely on government-issued identification documents and know that the bearer of such a document is who he or she claims to be. For more information, DHS has posted frequently asked questions on its Web site.

Source:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

NIC’s Frontline Learning Center Extends e-Learning to Correctional Line Staff

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) began offering online classroom registration, Virtual Instructor Led Training, and self-paced e-courses several years ago to first-line supervisors, managers, and executives via the NIC Learning Center. In partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), NIC has also created the PREA Learning Center to support the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act and has made it available to all staff working in a corrections setting. In 2012, NIC launched the NIC Frontline Learning Center, a free, online learning resource for front-line/first-line staff, such as correctional officers, detention officers, probation and parole officers, re-entry specialists, and correctional health professionals. As of December 2012, 2,372 correctional line staff have signed up for an account, and have completed more than 6,000 online courses. About half of the learners who have enrolled to-date work in detention agencies. Link to full article.

Source:

National Institute of Corrections

FBI Posts Google Map of Bank Heist Photos So Locals Can Finger the Perps

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has begun collecting tips on the names of unidentifiable bank robbery suspects through a new Google map that pictures heists nationwide, bureau officials announced this week. The new site, https://bankrobbers.fbi.gov, shows visitors the location of incidents down to the street level, as well as the traditional Wanted poster photos and physical descriptions. Users can search by location, weapon used, and the unidentified robber’s nickname, among other clues, to help authorities ascribe names to faces. The

site is intended to protect citizens from gun violence, not just financial losses, FBI officials said in a statement (FBI Press Release).

Source: Nextgov

Statewide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Efforts: Strategies to Support and Sustain Local Initiatives

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Council of State Governments Justice Center has released "Statewide Law Enforcement/Mental Health Efforts: Strategies to Support and Sustain Local Initiatives." This Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)- supported report examines how states have developed structures and standards to make encounters between police and people with mental illnesses safer for all involved and to produce better mental health and criminal justice system outcomes.

Source:

The Council of State Governments

Application Deadline Approaching for Nine BJA Sponsored Justice-Related Grants

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

February and March deadlines are quickly approaching for nine grants sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). These funding opportunities focus on a range of justice-related initiatives. These include representation for potentially wrongfully convicted defendants; establish or enhance drug court services; address neighborhood-level crime issues as part of a broader neighborhood revitalization effort; provide technology career training to incarcerated persons; reduce gun and gang-related violent crime; assist residential substance abuse treatment recipients through evidence-based practices and training; support anti-human trafficking efforts and improve victim services; assist American Indian and Alaska Native governments in public safety, victim services, and crime prevention; and improve capital case litigation representation and reliability of verdicts in state capital cases. To view these full grant announcements, which contain detailed information about the opportunity, applicant eligibility, application requirements, and directions on how to apply, refer to BJA’s Funding Web page.

Source: Bureau of Justice Assistance

Mark Your Calendar: NIEM Town Hall, February 14

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Join the community at this free Town Hall on February 14 at 2:00 p.m. EST, and learn about the latest National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) activities (including the NIEM justice domain). The agenda features an update on NIEM 3.0, Commonwealth of Virginia interoperability success story, and a question-and-answer session. A good turnout is expected, so be sure to register today and e-mail your questions with the subject “Town Hall.”

Source: NIEM.gov

Register Now! CONNECT South Dakota—A Global Success Story

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

For Global and long-standing partner JISP, highlighting successful information sharing projects is a way to contribute to a body of knowledge that serves as a by practitioner, for practitioner reference about which solutions work, which approaches need refinement, and who is available to help. On Monday, January 28, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern time, take advantage of this free opportunity to learn about, benefit from, and be inspired by one such story—CONNECT South Dakota (SD).

Continue on to the full article to find out more about Connect SD and the details of registering for this fee event.

Source:
Donna Lindquist

2013 National Symposium on Jail Operations Announced

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The National Sheriffs' Association Institute for Jail Operations announces the 2013 National Symposium on Jail Operations in Washington, DC, on February 1, 2013. The symposium will feature presentations on the following topics: Use of Force; First Amendment/Legal Issues; Emergency and Contingency Planning; and Not So “Best Practices”—Legal-based versus Best Practices. This seminar is free of charge to any jail or corrections staff. Seats are limited, register early.

Source: National Sheriffs’ Association

WIS3: Workshop on Information Sharing and Safeguarding Standards

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The Workshop for Information Sharing and Safeguarding Standards (WIS3), or Standards Palooza, is an interactive workshop that brings together government and industry leaders to discuss and plan information sharing and safeguarding standards.

WIS3 will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. The registration fee is $150. Please click the link to learn more about registering for this event.

You can also read the outbriefs and notes from Kshemendra Paul in our blog from the 2011 workshop. Most important, ISE wants to hear your feedback. Please use the comment section to share your views about WIS3 and how useful the WIS3 content was for your mission, what did you enjoy the most, and what you think could be improved. Or feel free to e-mail us at outreach@ise.gov.

In case you missed the conference, files have been made available for your reference, here.

Source:

Information Sharing Environment (ISE)

How to Talk Security So People Will Listen

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

The statistics are staggering: Last year, Symantec blocked a total of over 5.5 billion malware attacks, an 81% increase over 2010, and reported a 35% increase in Web-based attacks and a 41% increase in new variants of malware.
If those findings, documented in the company's latest annual Internet Security Threat Report, cause IT leaders to wonder if they've done everything possible to protect their companies, they might consider looking in the mirror.
That's because security folks, in struggling to establish policies and procedures that are both effective and easy to use, often forget a third and crucial step, experts say: Communicating their security goals in such a way that the broad corporate population not only understands but responds.

Source:

ComputerWorld

Mobility Is Key to Transforming Federal Operations for a More Autere Future

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

Over the past 10 years, federal technology has evolved remarkably swiftly. We can attribute much of that change to The E-Government Act of 2002, which focused on making the government more transparent, accountable, accessible, and efficient through the use of technology, specifically the Internet.
Agencies have made many important strides that have expanded information sharing and participation in government processes and improved efficiency. As a sampling, citizens can conveniently file taxes online, review information and begin the process of filing for benefits online, and quickly access millions of federal documents. In addition, individuals, businesses, and state and local governments can participate in federal regulatory rule making by providing online comments and conveniently research and file for grants via a centralized portal. Furthermore, the law has made it easier for businesses of all sizes to understand the requirements for operating outside the United States.

Source:

Nextgov

IACP President Comments on Proposal to Place Armed Police Officers in All Schools

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 08:00:00 GMT

While the IACP (International Association of Chiefs of Police) has long supported the hiring and deployment of School Resource Officers, the simple reality is that after years of cutbacks, hiring freezes, and layoffs, the ability to meet this demand is beyond the capabilities of many, if not most, law enforcement agencies. This proposal would be a massive undertaking. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there are approximately 760,000 state and local law enforcement officers in the United States. It is important to recognize that the deployment of at least 1 officer to each of the roughly 100,000 schools in this nation would result in the reassignment of nearly 1/7th of American law enforcement officers.

Source:

IACP

Obama Unveils National Information Sharing Strategy

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

President Obama has issued a National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding that he says aims to strike the proper balance between sharing information with those who need it to keep the country safe and safeguarding it from those who would do it harm.
"While these two priorities—sharing and safeguarding—are often seen as mutually exclusive, in reality they are mutually reinforcing," Obama says in the introduction to the strategy, which was issued December 19. "This strategy, therefore, emphasizes how strengthening the protection of classified and sensitive information can help to build confidence and trust so that such information can be shared with authorized users."

Source:

GovInfo Security

Doing the Math on Public Safety Technology Investments

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

In early October, Cost-Benefit Knowledge Bank for Criminal Justice (CBKB) convened a roundtable of criminal justice experts to discuss ways of improving the choices public safety agencies make about technology. During the meeting, members of the group cataloged some of the factors influencing these decisions, a list that, regrettably, included lobbying, hunches, and the urgent need to spend unused grant money. All agreed that careful and methodical assessments are too often missing from the equation. Fortunately, such assessments do exist, and I’d like to draw attention to a couple of recent studies—one on license plate readers and another on electronic monitoring—that exemplify a more evidence-based approach.
Cynthia Lum and fellow researchers at George Mason University investigated the impact of license plate readers (LPRs) on crime in two Northern Virginia jurisdictions. According to a 2010 survey by Lum, et al., nearly 50 percent of law enforcement agencies either have LPRs or plan to acquire them soon. LPRs are capable of scanning vast numbers of license plates for instantaneous comparison against an agency database of stolen or suspect vehicles, completely automating a process that otherwise requires constant radio communication with dispatchers (or an elephant’s memory). Now that’s a device with tremendous intuitive appeal.

Source:

Cost-Benefit Knowledge Bank for Criminal Justice

The Convergence of Social Science and Technology

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We are beginning to see an unusual coming together of cultures and disciplines that looks a lot like a convergence of views and purposes. Social scientists and technologists are not known for their frequent collaborations, but this fortunate circumstance may indeed be emerging.
A better and more complete way of sharing knowledge and communicating objectives would help everyone to produce the kind of innovation that the law enforcement and justice community seeks to solve some of the tougher problems. Whether this is done by conferences, Web sites, or social media, the evidence is coming in that the mutual focus on solving significant problems would dramatically improve the quality of justice and law enforcement.

Source:

IJIS Institute

ISE Begins Work On Creating a Standards-Based Acquistion Process

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Dozens of federal agencies, state governments, and international governments are making the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) the standard for secure information sharing. The story around the Federal Identity Credentialing and Access Management (FICAM) framework is similar to that of NIEM. Federal and state government agencies recognize the value of adopting the common approach to identity management.

Source:

FederalNewsRadio.com

State Courts Go Digital as Budget Pressures Mount

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC), during a press conference, shared that between FY 2009 and FY 2012, 43 state court systems were hit with budget cuts. NCSC explained how state courts were managing to perform their duties smarter and cheaper. For example, Utah, pressed by fiscal realities, brought its courts into the twenty-first century, switching to digital audio versus professional court recorders. The civil side of the system has gone completely paperless, with all filings, including warrants, and payments made online. The transition to a paperless system, however, is not always easy, as the California courts discovered. Despite facing interoperability obstacles getting systems to talk with each other, California courts are reorganizing and planning for a better electronic court system.

Source:

Governing

OJJDP Bulletin Analyzes Long-Term Impact on Serious Juvenile Offenders Transferred to Adult Court

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Office of Justice Programs’ (OJP) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released the bulletin Transfer of Juveniles to Adult Court: Effects of a Broad Policy in One Court, which examines the effects of transfer from juvenile court to adult court on a sample of serious adolescent offenders. The findings are the result of the OJJDP co-sponsored Pathways to Desistance study, which investigates factors that lead serious juvenile offenders to cease or continue offending. Over a seven-year period, the Pathways research team followed a group of 1,354 young offenders in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Maricopa County, Arizona, after their conviction, collecting comprehensive data on their offending and their lives. The study examines the factors that lead youth who have committed serious offenses to persist in or desist from further offending. The authors also discuss the implications of the findings for future changes in transfer statutes.

Source:

Office of Justice Programs

Defense Intelligence Office Marks 10 Years of Progress

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently marked ten years of progress combating security threats through the establishment and successes of the DoD’s undersecretary of defense position. In 2001, eight DOD agencies had intelligence responsibilities. Even then, defense officials understood the need to improve the department’s intelligence management, but the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil made the need more urgent. An entry in the National Defense Authorization Act created the position which, for the first time, harnessed and focused the department’s diverse intelligence assets. Today, Michael G. Vickers is the third undersecretary of defense for intelligence in an office whose 500 combined personnel are boosting the department’s ability to tackle conventional and emerging national security threats and its work as a partner with those in the broader intelligence community. “The silent professionals in the intelligence community are really some of the most dedicated and hardest working people I have ever met and are really committed to trying to protect this country and rarely get the recognition they deserve for the great work that they do to protect this country,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said at a dinner held to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the position.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense

NASCIO Call-to-Action for Maturing Identity and Access Management Services in States

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

In a newly published call-to-action titled The Necessity for Maturing Identity and Access Management in State Government, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) encourages states to create a strategic vision for state-based identity, credential and access management efforts to address the challenges associated with trust, interoperability, security, and process improvement. The call-to-action urges states to adopt the State Identity Credential and Access Management (SICAM) Guidance and Roadmap that NASCIO released in September 2012. The publication includes discussion of the programs, processes, technologies, and personnel used to create a trusted digital identity environment.

Source:

NASCIO

Benton County Sheriff's Office Mapping and Statistics Tool

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Benton County Sheriff's Office, Arizona, has launched a new online crime mapping tool that was developed completely in house. The map shows all reported crimes from 2011 and 2012, from a purse snatching to car wrecks and illustrates data on incidents and accidents, inmates, sex offenders, and more. The data represents all data for the year up to one week prior to the current date.

Source: Benton County Sheriff's Department

SEARCH Offers Online Training Course on Public Safety Project Management Success Factors

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, is pleased to offer an online version of its popular training course on Public Safety Project Management Success Factors. The 4-hour course provides senior-level public safety managers with an overview and practical application of project success factors to help them successfully execute their duties related to their public safety projects. SEARCH developed this course through funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC). The course covers the top 10 public safety project management success factors, including governance, scope, time, cost, quality, and risk management. It focuses on the duties and responsibilities of a senior-level public safety professional as they relate to executive sponsorship and improving project success and features audiovisual presentations, exercises and self-assessments, and downloadable templates. Students are able to print a Certificate of Completion at the end of the course.

Source:

Corona Police Department Begins Social Media

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Corona Police Department (CPD), California, is utilizing social media outlets to send important, valuable community information directly to residents using the latest technology. CPD will send community alerts, news, advisories, and other relevant safety and community event information using social media, as well as via cell phone text message and/or e-mail. This service is free to the public and allows CPD to reach an extensive community audience.

Source: City of Corona, California

California Releases State Findings on Human Trafficking

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The California Department of Justice released The State of Human Trafficking in California describing the state’s progress in combatting human trafficking since the formation of the California Alliance to Combat Trafficking and Slavery Task Force in 2007. Considered the world’s second most profitable criminal enterprise after drug trafficking, human trafficking is defined in California as control of a person through force, fraud, or coercion to exploit the victim for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or both. The report addresses common challenges such as the prevalence of human trafficking among local and transnational gangs, the use of new technologies and social media to recruit victims, defining the scope of human trafficking in California, and providing assistance and protection to victims. Recommendations from the report include using California’s fusion center system to share and gather comprehensive information on human trafficking, tailor law enforcement and prosecution operations to handle human trafficking cases, create cross-border partnerships, leverage technology, and improve services and benefits available to victims.

Source:

Front & Center Newsletter

NGA Center for Best Practices

Sunnyvale Unveils Online System for Reporting Nonemergency Crimes

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Sunnyvale Police Department, California, has unveiled an online reporting system for nonemergency crimes that allows residents to quickly obtain an electronic copy of an official report. Such nonemergency crimes include check fraud, insufficient funds, theft that does not involve robbery, phone harassment, lost property, vandalism, identity theft, and vehicle tampering. More than a fifth of the crimes reported in Sunnyvale in 2011 can now be reported online. The police report will be available within 24 hours for use in filing insurance claims and getting driver's licenses replaced. With online reporting, victims can enter information themselves and receive an e-mailed link to a report as early as the same day.

Source: City of Sunnyvale, California

NCJA Webinar: Addressing the Intersection Between Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Systems

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

It is often been noted that the largest mental health facilities in this country are local jails and state prisons. The Council of State Government estimated that 14 percent of men and 31 percent of woman in jail and state prison suffered from chronic and persistent mental illness in 2007. On January 23, 2013, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm EST, in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA) is sponsoring a Webinar titled “Addressing the Intersection Between Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System.” The Webinar will discuss two state-level strategies aimed at preventing those with chronic mental illness from either entering or returning to state and local justice systems. It will highlight the training and technical assistance provided to counties by the Pennsylvania Mental Health and Justice Center of Excellence and Oklahoma’s Collaborative Mental Health Reentry Program. To register for this event, refer to the NCJA Registration site.

Source:

NCJA

Armenian Police Officers Receive American Training in IACP Pilot Program

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The International Association of Chiefs of Police's (IACP) International Police Education and Training Program (IPET) aims to increase the capabilities of international senior police officials and police organizations; encourage effective and mutually beneficial relations between U.S. and international police organizations; and provide current and future international police leaders with broad theoretical and practical exposure to state-of-the-art policing concepts, practices, technology, and trends. Armenia was selected to participate in an IPET pilot, which offers training and assistance to officers in developing change proposals for their home agency. Armenian officers, who travelled to the United States for the first phase of the IPET pilot, identified two focus areas: community policing and intelligence-led policing. They also identified several goals, such as establishing a citizen advisory council, refocusing existing school resource officers, and adding more crossing guards. In addition, they will attempt to standardize their report formatting to improve intelligence and data mining. After the fellows returned to Armenia, they worked with the Police of the Republic of Armenia to gain approval for the plan that they had developed while in the United States. Further assistance was provided through site visits to Armenia by IACP officials and subject-matter experts (SMEs) as a follow-up visit by IPET mentors.

Source: IACP

Attorney General Eric Holder and High-Level Officials Launch Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:00:00 GMT

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and European Union (EU) Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström launched the Global Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse Online at a ministerial conference on December 5, 2012, in Brussels. The initiative aims to unite decision-makers all around the world to better identify and assist victims and prosecute perpetrators. Participants include 49 countries: 27 EU member states and 22 countries outside the EU. "Our responsibility is to protect children wherever they live and to bring criminals to justice wherever they operate. The only way to achieve this is to team up for more intensive and better coordinated action worldwide,” said Commissioner Malmström. The countries of the alliance are committing themselves to a number of policy targets and goals aimed at combating this pervasive problem.

Source:

U.S. Department of Justice

Introducing the Bureau of Justice Assistance Strategic Plan

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) has released its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2013–2016. The plan is based on one overarching guiding principle: Reduce crime, recidivism, and unnecessary confinement, and promote a safe and fair criminal justice system. Recognizing the need to be innovative, yet evidence-based and results-driven, BJA will focus on major strategic areas during this five-year period. Read the Strategic Plan to learn more about the specific goals and strategies that will guide BJA's future efforts.

Source:

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Google Joins AMBER Alert Network

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently announced a new partnership with Google that will allow users to receive AMBER Alerts—urgent child-abduction bulletins—through Google Maps and Google Search features. The AMBER Alert program is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Justice and is a voluntary partnership of law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, Internet service providers, and the wireless industry. The AMBER Alert program was created in 1996 after the abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman and is credited with the recovery of 595 abducted children.

Source:

Department of Justice

Information Sharing for Prosecutors

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We have been focused for decades on improving information sharing about case, offender, and event information, mostly in structured databases, and there is no question that we must improve our ability to automate information sharing among the police, prosecutors, courts, and corrections. Together, with a high degree of attention on this topic, and with the development of standards such as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM), we are indeed making progress. But there is a lot more information that should be shared from unstructured sources. Before she was appointed by President Obama to be Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Denise O’Donnell served as the Commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, and, in that capacity, she approved a grant of BJA funds for a little exploratory project to create a place on the Internet where prosecutors could share information on strategies and cases of wide interest. What ultimately emerged from this modest beginning is now the Prosecutors Encyclopedia (PE), a national repository and sharing vehicle with 4.7 million pages of highly searchable information. PE, as it has come to be called, contains a plethora of useful information for helping prosecutors prepare for and execute a strategy for major cases. It includes links to federal and state case law since 1970, case strategies for complex and difficult cases, reams of transcripts and video testimony of expert witnesses in such cases, learning opportunities, and even a national directory of prosecutors and expert witnesses.

Source:

IJIS

FBI Builds Facial Recognition App

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The FBI is creating a mobile tool for collecting facial images, iris scans, and other biometric indicators to tag suspects in the field, according to federal acquisition documents. Authorities are two years away from completing a $1 billion facial recognition system that will modernize the bureau’s 13-year-old biometric fingerprint database. The envisioned app will be able to contribute to the system’s growing compilation of crime scene photos, iris scans police file, and other digitized images of physical traits.

Source:

Nextgov

IJIS Institute Announces New Associate Program for Government, Academic, and Nonprofit Employees

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The IJIS Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on mission-critical information sharing for justice, public safety, and homeland security, announces the creation of a new Associate Program. The new Associate Program will support the IJIS Institute’s mission of uniting the public and private sector to jointly address the challenges of information sharing. For the first time, government, academic, and nonprofit employees, who are interested in information sharing technology and standards, are invited to join the IJIS Institute in the role of an Associate and to work alongside their industry counterparts.

Source:

IJIS

Could a Cyber Ecosystem Automatically Defend Government Networks?

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:30:00 GMT

Since its inception, the Internet has grown wild, which has spurred innovation, activity, and information sharing, but has left security and standards unattended. The result is an online environment where outlaws can roam free. Now a multiagency effort wants to impose a little order with a structured cyber “ecosystem” that could automatically assess and respond to threats, learn from previous incidents, and even heal itself. Through a recent request for information issued in September, the Homeland Security Department and the National Institute of Standards and Technology are examining the current state of technology and the advances needed to create what they call a healthy and resilient system capable of using a defensive concept called Automated Collective Action. The goal is a broad-based, multiagency or even global system that could, through machine learning and automated information sharing, detect, mitigate, and respond to threats while maintaining mission-critical operations.

Source:

GCN

VanRoekel: Agencies to Adopt NSTIC

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Office of Management and Budget wants agencies to adopt the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, or NSTIC, to enable shared, citizen identity management across government. "NSTIC basically orders government to trust a level of assurance across government boundaries," said Federal Chief Information Officer Steven VanRoekel October 11 while speaking at the World Government Summit on Open Source in Washington, DC. In employing NSTIC, agencies will adopt a federated identity management model that allows trust relationships across agencies.

Source:
FierceGovernmentIT

Feds Pilot "Rapid DNA" to Potentially Identify Casualties, Immigrants

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Pentagon in January will start testing portable DNA analysis equipment intended to identify individuals within an hour, federal research documents show. If successful, government agencies could use the technology to detect border trespassers and enemy combatants, according to the documents. During the next two years, the University of North Texas will evaluate “rapid DNA” tools for certification before widespread rollout, under terms negotiated with the Defense Biometrics and Forensics Office. The school’s genetics laboratory is the only independent, accredited institution capable of running samples against the FBI’s DNA index, officials stated in a spending disclosure to justify awarding the project without competition.

Source:

Nextgov

Predictive Policing a Success in Santa Cruz, California

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Burglaries are down in the iconic beach community of Santa Cruz, California, and police are crediting the drop in crime to the use of predictive policing technology. The Santa Cruz Police Department compared crime statistics from the first six months of 2012 to the same timeframe in 2011 when the advanced analytics and prediction technology wasn’t being used. Without adding more officers to the streets or changing beats and shift times, the results were a 19 percent reduction in property theft. Zach Friend, press information officer and crime analyst for the Santa Cruz PD, said the program’s success really started being noticed a few months after the department installed the system as a pilot project in July 2011. Crime data is pumped into a database and a complex computer algorithm predicts hotspots around the city where officers can expect illegal activity to occur.

Source:

Government Technology

New Resource for Probation, Parole, and Community Corrections: APPA's Community Corrections Automated Case Management Procurement Guide with Bid Specifications

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:20:00 GMT

With support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA)--long-standing Global member agency--developed and published guidance on procuring automated information solutions (such as case management systems) in one concise volume. This report addresses preparing for change (e.g., strategic planning, evaluating the current technological climate), choosing between developing or procuring a solution (or a combined approach), preparing and developing a Request for Proposal (including an RFP template), information sharing considerations, and tips for evaluating proposals. The appendix includes an extensive list of system requirements/bid specifications for agencies' tailoring and use in their own RFPs.

Source:

APPA

Data Sharing Fights Crime in the Desert

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 08:00:00 GMT

Touted on its Web site as one of America’s fastest-growing cities, Mesa, Arizona—15 miles outside of Phoenix—boasts a population nearing 500,000. Law enforcement in Mesa is increasing its crime-fighting odds with an analytics tool cited as evidence of a new trend in policing.

Source:

Government Technology

A Big Data Road Map for Government

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:00:00 GMT

No entity produces, gathers, and stores more data than the American government. So the challenges and opportunities of so-called Big Data loom large for the many agencies and departments of the United States government. The Obama administration acknowledged that reality last spring when it announced a major research initiative in Big Data computing in government, with funding commitments that totaled $200 million. Research is one step, but to really harness the Big Data opportunity there needs to be a proliferation of useful projects across government. The goal is to find insights and make better decisions using data from traditional databases as well as from the fast-growing new sources of digital data, including the Web, biological and industrial sensors, video, e-mail, and social network communications.

Source:

BITS

The Promise of Big Data in Public Safety and Justice

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 13:00:00 GMT

The world is overwhelmed by data—and the prospects are for more than we can drink in for as far as we can see. Studies by IBM and Cisco have concluded that 90 percent of the data in the world today has been acquired in the past 18 months, and that we will double this vast store every 18 months for the foreseeable future. These same studies calculate that we generate 2.5 quintillion bytes of data each day. A major source of the increasing store of data comes from the Internet, including social media, online shopping, and the posting of incredible amounts of detail on stories and everything from movies to books to newspapers to you name it. As Internet use grew, companies that were growing rapidly and supporting searches across the data repositories on the Internet, as well as online personal consumption records captured in the course of doing online business, realized that there was a massive amount of data being captured about people. If they had a way to analyze and sort through all of this data, then they would be able to introduce a new model where personalized interaction was possible as long as there was enough detail data to create individual preferences. This commercial drive led to the creation of what is now called big data. It is based on the use of a new approach to analysis using highly sophisticated models and a new distributed file system called Hadoop designed to break processing and computation down across hundreds or thousands of individual computers. The low end of the Hadoop processing world covers hundreds of gigabytes.

Source:

IJIS

Justice Gives NASCIO Grant to Promote Info Sharing Across Borders

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:00:00 GMT

The Bureau of Justice Assistance has awarded the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) a grant to advance justice information sharing at the state government level. The National Justice Information Sharing Initiative grant, in the amount of $200,000, continues the partnership that began in 1998 between NASCIO and the Bureau of Justice Assistance to advance enterprise architecture and information sharing in the states, NASCIO officials said.

Source:

Government Computer News