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. *Wrote in third party. NO Opinions..
Assignment 2 Grading Criteria
Maximum Points
Justified the stand for or against the use of fusion centers as a
local law enforcement tool.
12
Analyzed and explained the potential use or abuse of fusion
centers with regard to violating citizen rights.
28
Analyzed and explained the differences in cooperation between
the fusion centers and multiagency activities.
28
Discussed the steps that the police may take to minimize
concerns of potential abuses through fusion centers.
12
Wrote in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrated
ethical scholarship in the accurate representation and attribution
of sources; and displayed accurate spelling, grammar, and
punctuation.
20
Total:
100