When the FBI Comes Calling…®
INTERPOL AND OTHER FORMS OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE
Legat
The FBI is becoming more involved in international investigations, and currently operates offices known as Legal Attachés in 46 locations around the world. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GEN., U.S. DEP'T OF JUSTICE. AUDIT REP. 04-18, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION LEGAL ATTACHÉ PROGRAM i (2004) also available here (last visited June 2, 2005). The mission of the Legat "is to facilitate and support FBI investigative interests in the overseas arena that pertain to threats against the United States, its persons or interests." Id. at ii. Legat offices try to create networks that prevent crime, or ensure access to critical information needed by the FBI to locate and extradite inter- and trans-national criminals. Id. at ii-iii. Legats have no law enforcement authority in foreign countries, so investigations are usually conducted with foreign law enforcement agencies, adhering to local laws and procedures. Id. at iii. They do, however, serve as an effective method of transmitting and receiving intelligence. Legats "serve as a conduit between FBI headquarters and field offices needing investigative assistance or information from foreign countries and law enforcement officials in those countries. At the same time, foreign law enforcement agencies transmit their requests for investigative assistance in the United States via [Legat] offices to FBI domestic offices." Id. at 8.Furthermore, Legats facilitate the rapid deployment of FBI personnel in response to major cases such as the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the attacks on the U.S. embassies in East Africa. Id. Finally, Legats also provide or arrange training for foreign police officials by making presentations at training sessions, arranging technical assistance from FBI headquarters, and interviewing candidates in foreign law enforcement agencies to attend training sessions in the United States and elsewhere. Id. at 9.
RISSs
"In 1974 Congress provided state and local law enforcement with the resources to reach beyond their boundaries by funding six Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISSs)."McDonald at 4. Like the LEIU, Interpol, and Europol, RISSs exist to share intelligence and coordinate efforts across jurisdictional lines. REG'L INFO. SHARING SYS. RISS OVERVIEW, AVAILABLE HERE (LAST VISITED JUNE 2, 2005). There are six multistate centers which are designed to operate on a regional basis. Id. There are currently nearly 7,100 law enforcement and criminal justice agencies which are members of RISS. Id. at 2, available here (last visited June 2, 2005).
The six centers are as follows:
- Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN) includes the following states and countries:
- Delaware,
- Indiana,
- Maryland,
- Michigan,
- New Jersey,
- New York,
- Ohio,
- Pennsylvania,
- the District of Columbia,
- England,
- Ontario
- Quebec, and
- Australia.
- Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center (MOCIC) includes the following states and countries:
- Illinois,
- Iowa,
- Kansas,
- Minnesota,
- Missouri,
- Nebraska,
- North Dakota,
- South Dakota,
- Wisconsin, and
- Canada.
- New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) includes the following states and countries:
- Connecticut,
- Maine,
- Massachusetts,
- New Hampshire,
- Rhode Island,
- Vermont, and
- Canada.
- Rocky Mountain Information Network (RMIN) includes the following states and countries:
- Arizona,
- Colorado,
- Idaho,
- Montana,
- Nevada,
- New Mexico,
- Utah,
- Wyoming, and
- Canada.
- Regional Organized Crime Information Center (ROCIC) includes the following states and territories:
- Alabama,
- Arkansas,
- Florida,
- Georgia,
- Kentucky,
- Louisiana,
- Mississippi,
- North Carolina,
- Oklahoma,
- South Carolina,
- Tennessee,
- Texas,
- Virginia,
- West Virginia,
- Puerto Rico, and
- the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Western States Information Network® (WSIN) includes the following states territories and countries:
- Alaska,
- California,
- Hawaii,
- Oregon,
- Washington,
- Guam, and
- Canada.