Non-Subscriber Extract
Joint Terrorism Task Forces: a users' manual
By Richard Weitz
12 October 2007
One of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most significant inter-agency data-sharing initiatives involves the increased employment of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs). These organisations share and analyse classified information to co-ordinate federal, state and local counter-terrorism efforts within the United States.
US state and local law enforcement agencies are uniquely positioned to complement federal intelligence capabilities in the area of counter-terrorism: their presence in nearly every US community gives them superior knowledge of local individuals and groups. The US may be atypical in the resources and authority vested in non-national police agencies, but other countries might wish to draw on the JTTF model to enhance their own ability to counter terrorist threats.
The initial model for the JTTFs was in place before the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US. The FBI established the first joint task force, combining both federal and local law enforcement personnel, in New York City in 1980 following a surge in bank robberies. The new structure, called the FBI New York Bank Robbery Task Force, proved successful in enhancing co-operation between federal and local anti-crime efforts.
The FBI then extended the use of the task force structure to other geographic regions and for other law enforcement purposes and it has successfully modified this to deal with post-9/11 terrorist threats within the US. This adaptation has occurred as part of larger restructuring efforts that aim to focus the FBI on preventing terrorism and other national security threats, while still supporting its mission of prosecuting terrorists and other criminals.
Most significantly, in November 2001, FBI Director Robert S Mueller established several new offices designed to enhance the bureau's capacity for sharing counter-terrorism information. This encompassed information technology, intelligence, records management and law enforcement co-ordination with state and local partners. In addition, the FBI has created new or enlarged existing task forces and other inter-agency bodies to integrate the counter-terrorism efforts of numerous federal, state and local agencies as well as private and non-profit groups.