RD247 - Plan for Implementing the Public Safety Information Exchange Program Established by Code of Virginia § 2.2-224.1 - October 2011


Executive Summary:
After the tragic events of September 11, 2001, it was determined that a system was needed to ensure that information and intelligence are shared both vertically and horizontally between local, state, federal and private partners in order to prevent and deter criminal activity, to include terrorism. State and major urban fusion centers were developed by state and local governments to serve as focal points in order to receive, analyze, gather, disseminate and share threat-related information between federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and private sector partners.

Currently, there are 72 state and local fusion centers throughout the country; these centers are uniquely situated to support front-line law enforcement, public safety, fire service, emergency response, public health, Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource (CIKR) protection, and private sector partners. These fusion centers can also provide state and local context to the national threat picture, thus providing critical information to decision makers at all levels of government. Section 2.2-224.1 of the Code of Virginia requires the Secretary of Public Safety to establish an information exchange program with those states that share a border with Canada or Mexico and are willing to participate in the exchange. The Secretary designates the Superintendent of the Virginia State Police as the administrator of the program and the Virginia Fusion Center as the information sharing platform. The purpose of the information exchange is to share criminal information and intelligence information to address specific threats within the Commonwealth. The Virginia Fusion Center performs a vital role in ensuring the requirements of Virginia Code § 2.2-224.1 are met. As previously mentioned, the national network of fusion centers ensures that information is shared between states; including states that share a border with Canada and Mexico. The border states of Canada (Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, and Maine) and the border states of Mexico (California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas) have all established fusion centers. A platform currently exists that allows the Virginia Fusion Center to share information and intelligence with these states regarding the following threats enumerated in § 2.2-224.1:

• The organization or operation of criminal enterprises by transnational gangs.

• The production, transportation, distribution, or use of illegal drugs, firearms, or explosives.

• The activities of international or domestic terror organizations, agents, or sponsors thereof.

• The criminal repercussions that result from the presence in the Commonwealth of persons or organizations illegally present in the United States.