Homeland Security
Information sharing to homeland security is vital in enabling the agency to obtain accurate information easily to enhance the nation’s security. After the occurrence of 9/11, Homeland Security has improved its information sharing platforms. It indicates the positive progress of information sharing to Homeland security. The information sharing process was mainly shifted to community intelligence. The agency has strengthened the ability to communicate information about any threats to Homeland regarding using law enforcement officials at both the state and the local levels (Regan & Monahan, 2013). The agency has also refocused its information sharing efforts towards addressing the state and local government needs. Homeland security also seeks to continue improving and expanding the information sharing programs whereby officers are involved about the threats and vulnerabilities facing the local communities.
In spite of the efforts made by Homeland security, there are still exists various barriers to information sharing. It is haphazard for a federal agency to share information with another agency. Kettl (2013) identified that there are difficulties in the extraction of sensitive information from the intelligence agencies. Homeland security will propose the implementation law, which legalizes information sharing between the various intelligence agencies. Most importantly, the federal and state governmental officials have agreed that the current structure is wrong and limits the ability to share information immediately. Thus, it is necessary for homeland security to create a reliable and appropriate structure to promote information sharing. Finally, there are lacks a clarity of the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the homeland security. The absence of clear guidelines leads to the increased difficulties of sharing information (Regan & Monahan, 2013). To minimize the barrier, homeland security should develop appropriate policies and procedures to clarify the roles and responsibilities various personnel regarding information sharing capacity. Therefore, information sharing is important to the overall success of homeland security’s roles in enhancing the national security.
References
Kettl, D. F. (2013). System under stress: Homeland security and American politics. London, UK: Sage Publications.
Regan, P. M., & Monahan, T. (2013). Beyond counterterrorism: Data sharing, privacy, and organizational histories of DHS fusion centers. International Journal of E-Politics (IJEP), 4(3), 1-14.