Source: https://www.riss.net/default/faq
Timestamp: 2017-05-23 01:01:09
Document Index: 593808078

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23', 'art 23']

Who are the primary customers of RISS?
What is the RISSNET Portal?
Does RISS consider privacy rights?
What is RISSLinks?
What is the RISSLeads Investigative Website?
What are RISS Secure Hosted Websites?
RISS is a proven, trusted, and innovative program that supports local, state, federal, and tribal criminal justice and public safety agencies in their effort to successfully resolve criminal investigations and ensure officer safety. RISS consists of six regional centers and the RISS Technology Support Center. RISS supports
efforts against organized and violent crime, gang activity, drug activity, human trafficking, identity theft, and other regional priorities, while promoting officer safety. RISS offers law enforcement agencies and officers full-service delivery, from the beginning of an investigation to the ultimate prosecution and conviction of criminals. An officer can query intelligence databases, retrieve information from investigative systems, solicit assistance from research staff, utilize surveillance equipment, receive training, and use analytical staff to help prosecute criminals. For more information about RISS, visit www.riss.net
or find RISS at facebook.com/TheRISSProgram.
Make sure to “like” the page to get updates and information about RISS. Shared successes by state can be viewed at the RISS
Impact Website (www.riss.net/Impact).
Download RISS Brochure (PDF)
Provides services to Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and England.
Provides services to Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, as well as Canada.
Provides services to Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, as well as Canada.
Provides services to Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as Canada.
Provides services to Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, as well as Canada, Guam and New Zealand.
RISS provides services to support law enforcement member agency investigations and prosecutions.
Officer safety and deconfliction
Analysis of criminal activity data and development of diverse and varied analytical products
Loan of confidential funds
RISS Gang Program (RISSGang™)
RISSLinks™
RISSGang Website
Federal law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Electronic Learning Portal (ELP)
RISS has unique roles and responsibilities; distinctive operational capabilities; multiple sources, formats, and mechanisms to collect and disseminate information; and different customers than other criminal justice programs. RISS is the only system built by law enforcement for law enforcement and is governed by state and local law enforcement.
Systems such as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN), the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Law Enforcement Online (LEO), the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Intelink-U, and RISS represent critical components of the Information Sharing Environment (www.ise.gov) and offer valuable services for their individual customers. These systems are not duplicative. Each system provides primary services or programs that make it distinct.
RISS works closely with many partners, including HSIN, LEO, and Intelink, to provide criminal justice and homeland security agents at all levels of government with secure easy access to critical information from multiple partner systems. RISS and its partners share information securely using two complementary approaches: (1) Single Sign-On using federated identity technology and (2) system-to-system bidirectional information sharing.
In addition to automated capabilities, RISS provides investigative support, such as analytical services, equipment loans, technical assistance, case funds support, training and publications, and intelligence research. RISS is the only program that offers face-to-face interaction, with direct service to member agencies, including field coordinators as on-site liaisons.
RISS is congressionally funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), Office of Justice Programs,
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), through grant awards. BJA provides funding oversight and program management for the RISS Program. It is important to note that although RISS is congressionally funded, it is locally managed. See "Who governs RISS and what is the role of the RISS National Policy Group (RNPG)?"
RISS is governed by its local and regional member law enforcement agencies through individual RISS Center policy boards. The RISS National Policy Group (RNPG) is composed of the six RISS Center Directors and the chair of each RISS Center’s policy board or his or her designee. Each RISS Center has an established policy board or executive committee composed of representatives from member criminal justice agencies in the center’s multistate region. The primary purpose of center policy boards is to provide direction affecting center policy, operation, and administration. The RNPG is responsible for strategic planning, resolution of operational issues, advancement of information sharing, and decision making affecting the RISS Centers, the nationwide organization, service delivery, member agencies, and related partner organizations.
The RISS National Coordinator represents RISS at the enterprise level and serves as an ambassador for the program. The RISS National Coordinator works with local, state, federal, and tribal governmental officials and agencies to help ensure optimal communication and coordination efforts among RISS and its partners. The RISS National Coordinator fosters opportunities to promote RISS solutions for information sharing, deconfliction, and investigative support.
The RISS Technology Support Center (RTSC) is located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The RTSC Manager oversees the operations of the RTSC, which consists of the Applications Development Group and the Intranet Operations Group. The RTSC staff develops and maintains technical programs and projects that provide critical information services to RISS and its information sharing partners. The RTSC also maintains the RISS Secure Cloud (RISSNET) and supports the RISS Centers in their information technology efforts.
The primary customers of RISS and RISSNET are local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement member agency personnel. RISS supports the investigative and prosecution efforts of member agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Canada, England, and New Zealand. RISS also provides services and tools to thousands of public safety and private sector partners through the RISS ATIX program.
RISS membership has grown to more than 8,900 law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, including more than 117,000 access officers.
Agency membership is required for access to most RISS resources (some exceptions include RISSafe, RISSGang, and RISS ATIX). Membership is a critical component to ensuring a trusted network of users as well as the integrity of the overall information sharing process and of RISSNET and its related programs and applications.
Each RISS Center has implemented a membership application and policy board approval process. Agency membership is typically open to all local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement agencies; prosecution agencies; corrections agencies; and others, such as multijurisdictional task forces and regulatory agencies with law enforcement or criminal investigative authority. However, it is important to note that membership in a RISS Center is governed by the specific RISS Center’s rules, procedures, policies, constitution, and/or bylaws.
Law enforcement agencies may access RISSafe, the RISS Officer Safety Website, RISSGang, and other resources—after completing a thorough vetting process—without the requirement to establish RISS membership. In addition, those individuals participating in RISS ATIX also complete a vetting and approval process prior to accessing ATIX resources.
RISS has also established information sharing partnerships with member and nonmember law enforcement agencies at the state and federal levels based on federated identity technology. RISS’s federated partnerships provide its members with access to numerous information services that are available on partner systems and provide access to users of partner systems with access to resources on RISSNET.
What RISSNET?
RISSNET is a secure Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) law enforcement information sharing cloud provider. RISSNET provides access to millions of pieces of data, offers bidirectional sharing of information, and connects disparate state, local, and federal systems. Agencies can easily connect to RISSNET, share information and intelligence in a secure environment, and query multiple systems simultaneously. Currently, more than 80 systems are connected or pending connection to RISSNET. In addition, more than 350 resources are available via RISSNET to authorized users; the owners of these resources rely on RISSNET for its secure infrastructure. RISSNET enables users to connect quickly using secure web-based technologies at both National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Level 2 and NIST Level 3.
Through information sharing partnerships based on federated identity technology, RISSNET provides secure access for users on partner systems to RISSNET resources and for RISS members to resources provided by federal agencies such as the FBI’s Joint Automated Booking System (JABS), the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Intelink-U Website, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Electronic Learning Portal (ELP).
Currently, more than 80 partner agencies are connected or pending connection to RISSNET. RISSNET serves state law enforcement systems, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) network systems, and federal and other systems electronically connected to RISSNET. Examples of connected systems include:
California Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation
Colorado Law Enforcement Intelligence Network
Delaware State Police Intelligence System
United States Secret Service, National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC)
For staff of member agencies, access to RISSNET can be achieved through a single computer connection using an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or via a RISSNET node connection of an agency information technology system. Member agency staff should contact their in-region RISS Center for an enrollment package. The enrollment package provides step-by-step instructions for connecting to RISSNET. In addition, RISS has moved to an industry standards secure web-based authentication technology. To find out how to connect to RISSNET, contact your in-region RISS Center. For RISS Center contact information, click here.
Users of partner systems that use federated identity technology to access RISSNET are eligible to access certain resources on RISSNET. These federated partner systems provide their users with a link to the RISSNET Portal. If the user has already logged on to the user’s home system, the user will be connected to RISSNET without requiring a second log-on. If the user of the partner system reached the RISSNET Portal without having logged on to the user’s home system, the user will be redirected to the user’s home system to complete the log-on process. Contact your system administrator or Help Desk to discover whether your system has a federated partnership with RISS.
RISS uses XML (Extensible Markup Language), a worldwide technology standard, for communication between web-based applications. RISS supports multiple XML exchanges, both in-house formats and community-based standards, to facilitate the sharing of criminal intelligence information with RISS member agencies and law enforcement standards. RISS has been actively involved with the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) Intelligence Working Group to develop standards for the justice community. Data exchanges developed by RISS are compatible with such standards as the Global Reconciliation Data Dictionary (RDD), the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM), the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM), and the Logical Entity eXchange Specifications (LEXS). For more information on Global and XML, visit www.it.ojp.gov.
RISS firmly recognizes the need to ensure that an individual’s constitutional rights, civil liberties, civil rights, and privacy interests are protected throughout the intelligence process. RISS endorses the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan recommendation to ensure that &QUOT;the collection, submission, access, storage, and dissemination of criminal intelligence information conforms to the privacy and constitutional rights of individuals, groups, and organizations&QUOT; and that &QUOT;law enforcement agencies shall adopt, at a minimum, the standards required by the Criminal Intelligence Systems Operating Policies federal regulation (28 CFR Part 23).&QUOT; RISS Centers have adopted a privacy policy that fully complies with 28 CFR Part 23 and is based on the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) privacy guidelines. All RISS member agencies have also agreed to comply with the requirements of 28 CFR Part 23 with respect to any criminal information they submit into applicable RISS criminal intelligence databases. RISS strongly encourages its member agencies and, indeed, all law enforcement agencies to voluntarily adopt appropriate and clearly defined privacy and security safeguards for all agency intelligence missions to manage and control collection, retention, and dissemination activities.
To access the RISS Privacy Policy, visit www.riss.net/Policy/Privacy.
RISSIntel is a web-based application that provides for real-time, online federated search of RISS and partner intelligence databases, including state intelligence systems, California’s criminal gang-focused intelligence system (CalGang®), and systems connected via the National Virtual Pointer System. RISSIntel permits federated searching across many systems without requiring the RISSNET user to have a separate user account for each partner system. Member agency personnel may also contact their in-region RISS Center intelligence research staff via telephone, fax, or e-mail for assistance in performing searches.
Millions of records are available via RISSIntel and between connected partner systems. Records include individuals, organizations, and associates, as well as locations, vehicles, weapons, and telephone numbers. When information is located in any of the connected databases, the user is referred to agencies that have additional information. The databases are designed to encourage exchange of information and coordination among member agencies.
One of RISS’s primary goals is to provide law enforcement with a conduit for sharing criminal intelligence information. By leveraging the RISSIntel applications, agencies can utilize existing technology through an instance of RISSIntel known as RISS7. Offering this resource provides agencies with a solution without developing new stand-alone systems. Instead, law enforcement agencies can operate an autonomous criminal intelligence database to aid in their investigative efforts while being a part of the broader RISSNET community.
All RISS criminal intelligence databases comply with 28 CFR Part 23, issued by the Office of Justice Programs, BJA. All criminal intelligence
databases electronically connected to RISSNET, which are available for member agency access, must also comply with 28 CFR Part 23. RISS provides member agencies with training and on-site technical assistance to ensure compliance with the regulation. For additional information on 28 CFR Part 23, visit www.iir.com/28CFR).
RISSLinks is an online data visualization and analysis capability that enables RISS staff and agency officers to view, in a link chart format, information found in the RISSIntel and RISSGang criminal intelligence databases.
RISSLeads enables authorized law enforcement officers to post information regarding a particular case or other law enforcement issues. Case information is posted with the intent of generating investigative leads. Member agencies share intelligence by viewing and responding to posted information. RISSLeads provides geographically disparate law enforcement professionals with the opportunity to convene electronically to discuss crime trends or specific cases and share investigative techniques. Both open and private information sharing platforms are available.
The RISSGang Program consists of the RISS National Gang Intelligence Database, the RISSGang Website, and informational resources. The database, which is 28
CFR Part 23-compliant, provides law enforcement agencies with access to gang records, including suspects, organizations, weapons, locations,
and vehicles, as well as visual imagery of gang members, gang symbols, and gang graffiti. The website provides a vast amount of resources,
information, and publications. In an effort to increase the sharing of gang information, RISS provides access to the RISSGang Program resources to
all criminal justice agencies without the requirement to establish RISS membership.
RISSafe is an officer safety event deconfliction system. RISSafe stores and maintains data on planned law enforcement events—such as raids, controlled buys, and
surveillances—with the goal of identifying and alerting affected agencies and officers of potential conflicts impacting law enforcement efforts. RISSafe is used in
conjunction with mapping software to verify data on event locations when an event is entered into the system. If a conflict is identified, immediate notification
to the submitting officer occurs, as well as notification to the conflicted officers by a RISSafe Watch Center. RISSafe makes a significant contribution towards
enhancing officer safety and supporting criminal investigations.
RISSafe Mobile enables officers to access RISSafe from the following mobile operating system platforms: iPhone® OS (including the iPad®), Windows Mobile®, Android™ devices, and BlackBerry®. RISSafe is currently connected to HIDTA’s Case Explorer. In addition, work is under way to connect to SAFETNet.
The RISS Officer Safety Website serves as a nationwide repository for issues related to officer safety, such as concealments, hidden weapons, armed and
dangerous threats, officer safety videos, special reports, and training. RISS members and registered users of the VALOR Web Portal who are sworn law
enforcement are able to access the RISS Officer Safety Website and vice-versa. Users of federated partner systems who are also designated as
Sworn Law Enforcement Officers are also able to access the RISS Officer Safety Website.
In addition to the many online resources available to RISSNET users, RISS offers its partners the ability to establish secure, full-function collaboration websites on a nationwide, regional, local, or team level. These secure collaboration sites are hosted by RISS on RISSNET, in coordination with the in-region RISS Center, using the many built-in features of Microsoft’s SharePoint® and are available, as approved by the in-region RISS Director, to any RISS law enforcement partner or prospective partner regardless of RISS membership who has a legitimate need for this service. Access to the information stored on secure hosted sites is under the control of the partner-assigned website Owner.
RISS works with its partners to develop each secure hosted website so that members of the partner’s group can share information, post materials, and communicate with each other. There are currently more than 30 sites housed on RISSNET. Examples of these sites include:
Assured SBU Network Interoperability Working Group
RISS Centers have actively engaged with fusion centers in a variety of ways, including collocating efforts, participating as formal members of fusion center governance bodies, and using HSIN. In addition, almost all fusion centers have access to RISSNET, thus further fostering the collaboration between RISS Centers and fusion centers. RISS intelligence analysts interact daily with staff at various fusion centers, and in some instances, RISS Center staff members are assigned to a fusion center. Fusion center and RISS staffs benefit from daily interactions that enable them to capitalize on each other’s knowledge and experience.
RISS is working with 17 fusion centers to connect their existing intelligence systems via RISSIntel. This project is being referred to as the Northeast Fusion Center Intelligence Project.
A need existed to enable authorized users from systems outside of RISSNET to access information on RISSNET using a digital credential originating at the user’s home system. To provide this access, RISS initiated the Trusted Credential Project, which enabled RISS to create and accept credentials in the form of Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) Assertions and exchange them with other systems.
The GFIPM and LEISP projects took slightly different approaches and included different participants, but both proved useful to their partners and resulted in the creation of two ongoing identity-based federations that actively connect critical criminal justice and public safety information with the authorized people. The GFIPM Demonstration Projects resulted in the establishment of a set of standards and procedures used to create the National Information Exchange Federation (NIEF), and the LEISP pilot resulted in the establishment of the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP).
As of June 30, 2014, there were more than 21,000 users from trusted partner systems using Federated Identity Management to access RISSNET resources.
NIEM’s mission is to develop a unified strategy, partnerships, and technical implementations for national information sharing by joining together communities of interest. NIEM leverages the data exchange standards efforts successfully implemented by Global and extends the GJXDM to facilitate timely, secure information sharing across the whole of the justice, public safety, emergency and disaster management, intelligence, and homeland security enterprise. For more information about NIEM, visit http://www.niem.gov. How does RISS measure the effectiveness of the program?