Law enforcement (LE) and the intelligence community (IC) are a part of a complicated system of measures targeted at the productive prevention and suppression of terrorism. Besides some shared features, these two systems vary in many ways, including purposes, authorities in charge, and the time they can be applied. While the primary function of law enforcement is to provide obedience to the law, intelligence measures are assigned to guard national security (Derencinovic & Getos, 2007). Nevertheless, because of the development of new forms of terrorism, both LI and IC recognize the necessity to share, collaborate, and exchange information to support domestic prosecution and evaluate foreign capabilities and intentions.
The consequences of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, made most observers and specialists come to the conclusion that the USA Intelligence Community and the law enforcement agencies need more close cooperation. Moreover, to address transnational issues, including counterintelligence, terrorism, and drugs, Congress introduced the USA Patriot Act of 2001, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) (AFCEA Intelligence Committee, 2007). The given acts eliminated many obstacles to active cooperation between IC and LE and obliged operational agencies to exchange information associated with international terrorist threats.
To ensure the further progress of the cooperation between IC and LE, political leaders and officials should consistently deliver the need for change and make everybody realize the importance of sharing information. In addition, the government should earn the trust of the public via building confident leadership, developing guidelines and transparent laws, and implementing advanced technologies. In this regard, the Markle Foundation task force indicated, “For information sharing to succeed, there must be trust” (AFCEA Intelligence Committee, 2007). The final recommendation concerns the practical training of staff in operational agencies, which ensures the confidence of community members in the proper operation of information.
References
AFCEA Intelligence Committee. (2007). The need to share: The US intelligence community and law enforcement. AFCEA International.
Derencinovic, D., & Getos, A. M. (2007). Cooperation of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in prevention and suppression of terrorism. Revue Internationale de Droit Pénal, 78(1), 79-112.