State and major urban area fusion centers (fusion centers) serve as focal points within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) and private sector partners. Located in states and major urban areas throughout the country, fusion centers are uniquely situated to empower front-line law enforcement, public safety, fire service, emergency response, public health, critical infrastructure protection, and private sector security personnel to understand local implications of national intelligence, thus enabling local officials to better protect their communities. Fusion centers provide interdisciplinary expertise and situational awareness to inform decision-making at all levels of government. They conduct analysis and facilitate information sharing while assisting law enforcement and homeland security partners in preventing, protecting against, and responding to crime and terrorism.”
http://www.dhs.gov/state-and-major-urban-area-fusion-centers
Fusion centers have been greeted as a major success – but also been declared a failure. Organizations such as ACLU have described them as repositories of false information and rumors that doesn’t prevent crime.
https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security-technology-and-liberty/fusion-centers-too-much-bad-information
Write 700 words about Fusion Centers and address the following:
– why where they created
– what do they do
– what is the benefit according to law enforcement
– the critique against fusion centers