National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan
The National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (NCISP) offers a path for collecting and analyzing intelligence products. In my opinion, the document is essential to local response to terrorism because it obtains information about terrorist plots within the nation’s borders. The NCISP shares intelligence information among state, local, tribal, and federal law enforcement and makes enhancements and modifications in their internal process to facilitate a smooth flow of intelligence (The National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan, 2003). Thus, it prevents terrorism by sharing information with other components of the federal government that take preventative actions.
The NCISP builds on the recommendations that can promote effective and responsible criminal intelligence sharing. Recommendation 18 asserts that law enforcement officers in all the levels engaging in procedures of intelligence should receive tutoring. The training will be based on the standards set by the NCISP, and personnel will be awarded certificates on completing the training. I believe that recommendation 18 is the best because the training will equip the recipients with the skills and knowledge to ensure only the best decisions are made.
There are several homeland security grants in the Department of Homeland Security, but the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) is the most important in responding to local terrorism. The program offers funds to build capabilities at the tribal, state, regional, and territorial sectors to strengthen the nation’s resilience in absorbing terrorist disruptions. It also implements the goals of the State Preparedness Report (SPR) against terrorism. Therefore, SHSP is essential because it facilitates terrorism preparedness by building capabilities relating to the prevention, protection, mitigation, and recovery from terrorism.
I don’t feel that the appropriate level of funding is being given to the appropriate recipients because federal grants are susceptible to fraud. The programs lack an adequate and effective system of internal controls, accounting records retention, and record control. Therefore, the funds face financial theft, such as embezzlement, false statements, and false claims. In ensuring the recipients receive the appropriate funds, an internal ethics and compliance program can be implemented to encourage the reporting of fraud.