Assignment 2: Library Research—Fusion Centers as a Law Enforcement Tool Since the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, there has been a real push in local law enforcement agencies—especially large ones—to incorporate intelligence-led policing techniques. A part of that strategy has been the creation of fusion centers in all fifty states intended to facilitate the sharing of police intelligence information between federal, state, and local agencies. Consider the Lambert (2010) article, "Intelligence-Led Policing in a Fusion Center" and the "US Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report on Fusion Centers" in the  Webliography . The creation of fusion centers and their operations have not been without controversy. Many civil libertarians have expressed concern that instead of focusing only on real threats, fusion centers encourage the government's suspicion toward law-abiding citizens and groups that are suspected of potential hostility toward government. Tasks: Write a 2- to 3-page paper. In the paper: Take a definitive stand, with explanations, for or against the use of fusion centers as a local law enforcement tool. Discuss how these centers may be abused to violate citizen rights. Explain the difference between the cooperation that occurs through fusion centers and that through other kinds of multiagency activities, such as task forces and joint investigations. Identify and discuss the possible steps or policies to minimize concerns that some have raised about potential abuses. Feel free to do additional research on the topic of fusion centers, beyond the reading that has been assigned to further improve your paper. Submission Details: Save the report as M4_A2_Lastname_Firstname.doc. .

1. Assignment 2: Library Research—Fusion Centers as a Law
Enforcement Tool
Since the terrorist attacks against the United States on
September 11, 2001, there has been a real push in local law
enforcement agencies—especially large ones—to incorporate
intelligence-led policing techniques.
A part of that strategy has been the creation of fusion centers in
all fifty states intended to facilitate the sharing of police
intelligence information between federal, state, and local
agencies. Consider the Lambert (2010) article, "Intelligence-
Led Policing in a Fusion Center" and the "US Government
Accountability Office (GAO) Report on Fusion Centers" in the
Webliography
.
The creation of fusion centers and their operations have not
been without controversy. Many civil libertarians have
expressed concern that instead of focusing only on real threats,
fusion centers encourage the government's suspicion toward
law-abiding citizens and groups that are suspected of potential
hostility toward government.
Tasks:
Write a 2- to 3-page paper. In the paper:
Take a definitive stand, with explanations, for or against the use
of fusion centers as a local law enforcement tool.
Discuss how these centers may be abused to violate citizen
rights.
Explain the difference between the cooperation that occurs
through fusion centers and that through other kinds of
multiagency activities, such as task forces and joint
investigations.
Identify and discuss the possible steps or policies to minimize
concerns that some have raised about potential abuses.
Feel free to do additional research on the topic of fusion
centers, beyond the reading that has been assigned to further
improve your paper.

2. Submission Details:
Save the report as M4_A2_Lastname_Firstname.doc.