Regional Information Sharing System

Regional Information Sharing System
Name	Regional Information Sharing System
Abbreviation	RISS
Formed	1970s
Jurisdiction	United States
Agency type	Intelligence fusion center network
Parent agency	United States Department of Justice; Federal Bureau of Investigation

Regional Information Sharing System

The Regional Information Sharing System is a United States network for law enforcement information sharing linking local, state, tribal, and federal agencies. It connects data sources and analytic tools used by organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Marshals Service. The system supports investigations related to narcotics, gangs, terrorism, human trafficking, and organized crime involving partners like the National Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and regional fusion centers.

Overview

RISS operates as a cooperative program involving the United States Department of Justice, state law enforcement associations such as the National Sheriffs' Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and multi-agency entities including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the California Department of Justice. It interoperates with federal initiatives including Joint Terrorism Task Force, Secret Service protective networks, and the National Crime Information Center. RISS provides analytical platforms used by investigators from agencies like the New York Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Chicago Police Department, and tribal police units collaborating with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

History and Development

RISS traces origins to the 1970s and 1980s when regional task forces addressing narcotics and organized crime emerged alongside programs such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. Expansion accelerated after events that reshaped interagency coordination, including responses connected to the World Trade Center bombing (1993), the Oklahoma City bombing, and policies following the September 11 attacks. Subsequent reforms influenced by reports from the 9/11 Commission and directives from the Office of Management and Budget encouraged data sharing standards similar to those used in programs such as the National Information Exchange Model and interoperability efforts led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Structure and Governance

Operational governance includes a central coordinating office alongside regional centers affiliated with state associations like the Pennsylvania State Police, Texas Department of Public Safety, Ohio Attorney General's Office, and the Michigan State Police. Advisory oversight has involved entities such as the Office of the Inspector General (DOJ), congressional committees including the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the United States House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and independent auditors tied to the Government Accountability Office. Legal frameworks reference statutes enforced by the United States District Court system and guidance from the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security.

Operations and Capabilities

RISS provides case management, criminal intelligence analysis, secure communications, and criminal record linkage services used in investigations by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and local prosecutor offices such as those in Cook County, Illinois and Los Angeles County. Tools include analytical software comparable to products used by the Defense Intelligence Agency and data exchange protocols aligned with the National Security Council policies. RISS supports task forces like the Gulf Coast Violent Offender Task Force, coordinated operations with the Interstate Criminal Enforcement of Narcotics programs, and assists prosecutors in jurisdictions overseen by offices such as the United States Attorney's Office.

Privacy, Civil Liberties, and Legal Issues

Concerns over data retention, access controls, and Fourth Amendment implications have prompted review by civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and policy scholars from institutions like Georgetown University Law Center, Harvard Kennedy School, and Brookings Institution. Courts including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and state supreme courts have adjudicated issues about investigative databases, while legislators in the United States Congress have proposed oversight measures referencing the Privacy Act of 1974 and standards advocated by the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Internal compliance aligns with guidance from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel and audits by the Office of the Inspector General (DOJ).

Criticism and Controversies

RISS has faced criticism from civil liberties organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union and investigative journalists at outlets such as The New York Times and ProPublica over potential misuse of data, inadequate audit trails, and cooperation with federal programs like the Terrorism Liaison Officer networks. Oversight hearings in the United States Congress and reports by the Government Accountability Office have highlighted issues similar to controversies involving the National Security Agency surveillance revelations and debates around the Patriot Act. Lawsuits brought in federal courts, and inquiries from state attorney generals such as those in California and New York have led to reforms in access policies and retention schedules.

Category:Law enforcement databases Category:United States intelligence community