Adjusting to Terrorism

What is Terrorism and why do we need criminal justice agencies to be more effective in the way they combat terrorism. Well to answer that question we must first understand where the word Terrorism comes from and why it is important to improve our ability to be ready for a terrorist attack. Terrorism involves violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that violate federal or state law. Terrorism appears to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and Occur primarily outside the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., or transcend national boundaries in terms of the means by which they are accomplished, the persons they appear intended to intimidate or coerce, or the locale in which their perpetrators operate or seek asylum. This paper will describe the changes that occurred after terrorism, the reasons for the proposed change, and the anticipated positive results or potential negative consequences of the change. It will also identify the resources the change would require or make available, financial resources, human resources, and training dollars and the management support the change would need.

The United State is unknown for being the World Power and consists of different branches of criminal justice agency that support fifty states. After the senseless act of September 11 these states joined together and developed Intelligence Fusion Centers. Among these states were Arizona, New York and Washington. Arizona established the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center (ACTIC) which is nationally recognized for their tactical and strategic intelligence support to law enforcement agencies across the US and for being one of the states to be joint with the FBI’s Terrorism Task Force.

The center is operated by The Department of Public Safety and oversees statewide training on intelligence, which includes maintaining and researching ongoing threats. New York formed an intelligence center called Upstate New York Regional Intelligence Center (UNTRIC) is a multi agency center that collects and analyze information across the state of New York. The center also provides accurate information to law enforcement agencies out the US in 54 counties outside New York State. The center consists of representatives from New York National Guard, Department of Motor Vehicle, The Department of Parole and Corrections, State Police and Homeland Security. Washington State formed want is known as Washington State Joint Analytical Center (WAJAC), this center is linked to and functions under the Seattle FBI branch. WAJAC obtains the intelligence information from local law enforcement agencies and nine groups in the region that also shares information statewide.

The Department of Defense distributed vehicles worth $15.4 million, aircraft worth $8.9 million, boats worth $6.7 million, weapons worth $1 million and ‘other’ items worth $110.6 million” to local police agencies. Some positive outcomes due to funding local and state law enforcement agencies are work together to standardize training programs and tools for state and local law enforcement agencies to improve terrorism prevention and response capabilities. Working together at all levels and maintaining the exchange of information to all law enforcement agencies level. Conclusion

As we all sometimes look back at the senseless act that made a nation wake up and realized what a great nation we live in. Since 9/11 each law enforcement agencies in all 50 states have been preparing themselves for what if and have been doing a great job with training, paroling and educating. If we are ever attack, again this nation will be strong and well prepared to handle any terrorist attack.

References
Last Name, F. M. (Year). Article Title. Journal Title, Pages From – To. Last Name, F. M. (Year). Book Title. City Name: Publisher Name.