The National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System is a sophisticated message switching network linking local, state, and federal agencies together to provide the capability to exchange criminal justice and public safety related information interstate. The system is operated and controlled by the states.
New agencies continue to join at an average of about one per year.
State law enforcement agencies in every state link together local agencies within their geographic boundaries by means of computers, terminals, and communication lines. Using this concept coupled with a standardized nationwide addressing scheme, a local agency may transmit and receive from another agency outside of his or her state in a matter of seconds.