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Training Resources for State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers
On Privacy and Civil Liberties Issues in the Information Sharing Environment
Live Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Training Program for State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers
The DHS Privacy Office and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties have created a “Fusion Center Privacy, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) Training Program.” Resources include:
- our on-line “one-stop-shop” web portal containing privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties resources,
- this training “toolkit” of resources,
- Training of Trainers sessions to help fusion centers conduct their own training in these areas, and
- on-site training in partnership with fusion centers.
Interested in applying for on-site privacy, civil rights and civil liberties training or discussing other support? Contact us at [email protected].
SARs Privacy/Civil Liberties Protections in the ISE-SARs
Watching/Reading Materials:
Privacy Line Officer Training Video
The Importance of Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Protections in American Law Enforcement and Public Safety training video assists local, state, and tribal law enforcement line officers in understanding their role in the protection of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties as they perform their everyday duties. The video provides an introductory overview of what privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections are; examples of these protections; and the important function line officers have in upholding these protections. The short video may be used during roll call and in-service training, incorporated into agency distance-learning capabilities, and used to complement other agency privacy-related training efforts.
Duration: Approximately 8 minutes
Audience: 
Format: 
- NSI Overview: (nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/Nationwide_SAR_Initiative_Overview_2012.pdf) (2 pp. PDF) provides an overview of the NSI
- P/CRCL Protections: A Key component of the NSI (nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/NSI_Privacy_Briefing.pdf) (4 pp. PDF) provides an overview of the various components of the NSI privacy protections which serve as a foundational element and are required to participate, including the fusion center privacy policy, the ISE-SAR Functional Standard, training, and the SAR Vetting Process.
- NSI Technology Fact Sheet (nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/NSI_Technology_Fact_Sheet.pdf) (2 pp. PDF) provides an overview of the technology used within the NSI and includes technical diagrams for the ISE-SAR Shared Space.
- SAR Vetting Tool for Analysts (attached) (2pp. PDF) provides analysts with common practices for vetting reports.
- Vetting ISE-SAR Data: A Pathway to Ensure Best Practices (attached) (11pp. PDF) provides a more thorough background and process for vetting reports.
Additional Reading:
- ISE-SAR Functional Standard (nsi.ncirc.gov/documents/ISE-FS-200_ISE-SAR_Functional_Standard_V1_5_Issued_2009.pdf) (36pp. PDF) provides the framework for the consolidation and standardization of SAR reporting. Pages 6-11 and 29-30 should be highlighted as the relevant sections for prerequisite familiarization with NSI SAR.
Other Reading/Videos:
Guidance Regarding the Use of Race for Law Enforcement Officers
This course is intended to help federal law enforcement personnel understand what racial profiling is, the results of racial profiling, and how to achieve race neutrality. It offers a concise explanation of the Department of Justice’s Guidance on Racial Profiling and cites the DHS memo referencing this Guidance for DHS personnel. The course discusses racial profiling in the context of traditional law enforcement activities, such as traffic stops, and in the context of national security and border integrity (border patrol and immigration activities). The course is intended for federal law enforcement personnel but is also useful for state and local law enforcement. The course is designed for individual users and contains periodic “knowledge checks” test the user’s learning.
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Information Sharing
Information Sharing Environment (ISE) Core Awareness Training
This course provides a broad overview of how the ISE was developed and the various agencies and functions involved at the state, regional, and federal levels. It includes a look at the legislative and policy “building blocks” of the ISE. The course includes some discussion of developing and implementing Privacy Guidelines for fusion centers and it discusses key interagency and intergovernmental efforts to promote terrorism information sharing. Real-life scenarios provide examples of the function and capabilities of the ISE. Interspersed with “reflective questions,” the course can be used for individual training or as a group presentation. In a group setting, the questions can be used to guide discussion. The course includes a document library and a short glossary. A course completion certificate is available.
Duration: About 30 minutes for an individual.
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Cultural Competence
The First Three to Five Seconds: Arab and Muslim Cultural Awareness for Law Enforcement
This post-9/11 course is intended to help law enforcement personnel understand the culture of Arab and Muslim Americans and to help them distinguish the differences between a cultural norm and a threat in a non-crisis situation. Topics include eye contact, why an individual’s name may differ among documents, background on Islam in America, and tips on visiting a mosque, interviewing, or searching Muslims. The video is presented in two sections, one on Arab Americans and one on Muslim Americans, which may be viewed separately as part of role call training. Although it is primarily intended for law enforcement personnel, the information presented is helpful for anyone who wants to know more about Arab American and Muslim American viewpoints. The video was produced by the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service and is available via the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties’ Civil Liberties Institute website. The site also offers a transcript and limited resources and glossary.
Duration: approximately 10 minutes in two 5 minute segments
Issues: Cultural competence for law enforcement and community; community outreach and engagement
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Diversity Series: Religions, Cultures and Communities
BJA is pleased to announce the release of Diversity Series: Religions, Cultures and Communities. This DVD series explores some of the many religions and cultures with which law enforcement officials come into contact. Each video clip offers tips on working with people of different faiths and backgrounds, including suggestions for inoffensive law enforcement techniques.
Audience: Format:
Guidance for Building Communities of Trust
The Building Communities of Trust (BCOT) guidance provides advice and recommendations on how to initiate and sustain trusting relationships that support meaningful sharing of information, responsiveness to community concerns and priorities, and the reporting of suspicious activities that appropriately distinguish between innocent cultural behaviors and behavior that may legitimately reflect criminal enterprise or terrorism precursor activities. The guidance was developed in partnership with select sites that participated in the Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) Evaluation Environment.
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Building Communities of Trust: A Guidance for Community Leaders
This document is a complementary piece to the Guidance for Building Communities of Trust, and was developed to assist community leaders working with law enforcement agencies to facilitate dialogue and discuss ways to work together to prevent crime and terrorism.
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Immigration/Asylum
Asylum Seekers Overview
This Department of Homeland Security (DHS) course was produced to train DHS law enforcement who encounter foreign nationals who may be eligible for asylum in the United States. Law enforcement associated with fusion centers in border states and other ports of entry may find this course useful in identifying asylum seekers and their rights, the basic government obligations affecting aliens seeking asylum, the signs of trauma related to persecution or torture, and effective communication techniques with survivors of severe trauma and torture. A knowledge check at the end of the course tests the user’s learning. The “resources” tab offers links to the relevant federal immigration statutes and international conventions. Available on CD-ROM from DHS/Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties’ Civil Liberties Institute by writing to [email protected]. A tip sheet for use of this course by state and local law enforcement will be available in June 2009.
Duration: Suggested course duration – 45 minutes
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Other
Training on 28 CFR Part 23
“The 28 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 23 is a guideline for law enforcement agencies. It contains implementing standards for operating federally funded multijurisdictional criminal intelligence systems. It applies to systems operating through federal funding under Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended.” These classes are made possible by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), through funding to the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). Visit IIR's website for free technical assistance and training on 28 CFR Part 23.
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