Information Analysis

Prevention through detection and deterrence is the cornerstone of California's Homeland Security Strategy. Prevention has at its core cooperation and information sharing between agencies and across the full range of public safety disciplines.

The plan to detect, deter and prevent terrorism in California is based on public safety partnerships in information sharing and analysis that bring together federal, state and local agencies, and their respective law enforcement, public safety and criminal information systems. To complement the efforts of the federal government through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, California's prevention efforts are focused on four key initiatives:

• The State Terrorism Threat Assessment Centers (STTAC), a partnership of the California Department of Justice, the California Highway Patrol and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security (OHS) and includes participation of a number of state and federal agencies. The STTAC provides statewide analysis products, information tracking, pattern analysis, geographic report linkages and other statewide intelligence products to public safety agencies throughout California. Through the STTAC we have direct linkage to the National Counter Terrorism Center and their National Watch List through the Homeland Security Operations Center.
• Our state prevention strategy also created four Regional Terrorism Threat Assessment Centers (RTTACs). Their areas of responsibility will mirror those of the four FBI Field offices in California, minimizing reporting conflicts, providing statewide coverage and facilitating coordination with the FBI. The RTTACs and FBI field offices maintain daily contact and information exchanges. The RTTACs maintain a regional threat assessment, and directly connect to each other and the state to share information and produce reports and other products.
• At the local level law enforcement and public safety agencies designate Terrorism Liaison Officers (TLO) who are trained in the review and assessment of local reporting and in conducting outreach to other public safety agencies, critical infrastructure operators and community groups. The TLO is the local agency point of contact for all terrorism-related alerts, requests for information, warnings and other notifications from regional, state or federal homeland security agencies. Through a single web-based state terrorism website, the TLO and his agency will have access to all available terrorism alerts, notices, information and documents through a searchable database and daily information exchange with key federal, state and local agencies.
• The state has a web-based terrorism-information portal for law enforcement and public safety agencies throughout California. Through this site, California Joint Regional Information Exchange System (CAL JRIES), eligible TLOs and senior public safety official can gain direct access to the entire range of law enforcement sensitive Homeland Security alerts, reports, analysis and daily reporting.