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Reducing Homeland Insecurities: Ending Abuse of the Asylum and Credible Fear Program
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis investigates gaps in the credible fear process within the asylum context and provides recommendations for improving the process. As the number of individuals who file credible fear and asylum applications rises, the specter of individuals filing meritless applications increases. Applications for protection filed by criminals, terrorists, and opportunists threaten U.S. national security and public safety, and weaken the integrity of the nation's asylum system. This thesis explores how the flaws in the asylum and credible fear process should be addressed to minimize fraud and abuse in the system. The findings of this thesis are that frivolous applications are being filed, and that criminals and terrorists are gaming the system. The research also concludes that current safeguards insufficiently protect the nation after an individual's asylum approval. The author recommends the formation of an Asylum Review Board to provide additional layers of protection after an individual's asylum claim is approved."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Freudenthal, Anja
2015-03
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Killing Barney Fife: Law Enforcement's Socially Constructed Perception of Violence and Its Influence on Police Militarization
From the thesis abstract: "Police militarization is a complex subject with significant homeland security implications. Efforts to implement militarization reform without a clear understanding of the issue could negatively impact law enforcement's ability to respond to emerging threats from terrorism, homegrown violent extremism, and armed criminals. Conversely, unfettered militarization of domestic policing could result in abuse of authority and loss of public confidence. This thesis proposes a nuanced definition of police militarization based on existing literature. The research then examines the correlation between violence and police militarization. A statistical analysis of crime data found an inverse relationship between levels of reported violence and militarization. However, the research discovered a strong nexus between perceptions of violence by the police and efforts to militarize. Social identity theory was used to explain why isolated acts of violence against police officers are perceived as attacks on the law enforcement community and lead to deep social divisions between the police and the public. This socially constructed reality of violence, which is reinforced by the media and training, has a powerful effect on police attitudes and behavior. The conclusion is that police militarization has been influenced by violence, and appropriate levels of militarized capabilities are needed to protect both the police and the public."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hanley, Matthew D.
2015-09
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Stemming the Growth: Exploring the Risk Factors in Group Membership in Domestic Street Gangs and Foreign Terrorist Organizations
From the thesis abstract: "Despite law enforcement's best efforts, terrorist groups are expanding at alarming rates. One of the easiest ways to prevent terrorist attacks is to prevent individuals from joining terrorist organizations. Counter-terrorism programs that effectively reduce membership, reduce association and increase desistance to terror groups will undoubtedly reduce terror incidents. This research identifies risk factors that greatly influence an individual's decision to join a terrorist group; policy makers can use this information to design new policies aimed at prevention and intervention. If the U.S. government is looking for community-oriented solutions to criminal groups, it need look no further than the study of domestic street gangs. There is vast research into theories, strategies and programs that policy makers can reference. Because these models already exist for street gangs, the government need not waste time developing new strategies from scratch. This research discovered the group dynamic and processes that exist for street gangs exits similarly for terrorist organizations. It is the hope that this research lends new direction to the developing policies and de-radicalization strategies that are currently underway."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dooley, Daniel A.
2015-09
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Fusion 2.0: The Next Generation of Fusion in California: Aligning State and Regional Fusion Centers
"A growing number of states have created multiple fusion centers, including California. In addition to having a state fusion center, California has four regional centers statewide. Each center is separately governed, but intended to work together as a unified, statewide system. Given their recognized autonomy, the relationship between California's fusion centers is voluntary and 'horizontal' versus 'hierarchical,' with no single entity in charge. Consequently, the attainment and sustainment of a robust and synchronized partnership between California's fusion centers is dependent upon each center's commitment to collaborate. Current research has focused largely on building collaboration within fusion centers, as opposed to between fusion centers. This research seeks to identify the appropriate role and mission of California's state fusion center as it relates to strengthening stakeholder relationships, collaboration, and sustainability, through the analysis of data captured from California's regional centers, sheriffs and police chiefs, and examining the roles and methods of other state fusion centers in states with multiple centers. From this research, this thesis recommends a series of collaborative initiatives intended to help strengthen intra-state fusion center collaboration, more properly align state and regional fusion center efforts, and enhance sustainability through maintained relevancy and added value to stakeholders and customers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
MacGregor, David S.
2010-03
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Freed: Ripples of the Convicted and Released Terrorist in America
"The release of convicted terrorists from American prisons is inevitable. This thesis frames and initiates discourse about this unexplored phase of the terrorism continuum. Utilizing a grounded theory approach, we arrive at four findings: (1) we do not yet know to what extent convicted and released terrorists pose a threat; (2) convicted terrorists are treated no differently from an administrative or social standpoint from most other criminals; (3) the American public knows very little about convicted and released terrorists; and (4) there is no defined entity responsible for convicted and released terrorists. We then extrapolate the political, social, and legal implications of these findings, including whether our theoretical or structural frameworks are adequate to the threat. How might such a threat be measured or determined, by whom, and with what policy consequences? We look at existing models ranging from sex offender registries to megacommunities and existing sociological theories of terrorism as potential tools with which to address this complex and interdisciplinary issue." A short video interview on this thesis is also available at the following link: [https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=723434]
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Brown, Michael A.
2011-03
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Friending Brandeis: Privacy and Government Surveillance in the Era of Social Media
From the thesis abstract: "Today, individuals network and interact with each other in radically different ways by using social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. Utilizing this new media, individuals are able to share intimate details of their lives, coordinate activities, and exchange ideas with friends, family and others in ways previously accomplished only in person, by telephone, or in written letters stored at home. At the same time, terrorist organizations and other criminal actors are increasingly utilizing social networking sites, for both recruiting purposes and for the planning, financing, and execution of nefarious acts. As such, social networks have become a valuable source of intelligence for the law enforcement and intelligence communities that enable the collection of information pertaining to individuals in ways not previously possible. However, the law pertaining to surveillance in cyberspace has failed to keep pace with society's adoption of social networking and other cloud computing technologies. This thesis examines the privacy and civil liberties safeguards inherent in the Fourth Amendment and the need to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy in online communications and the government's information gathering requirements necessary to combat emerging criminal and terrorist threats."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Gaffin, Elizabeth S.
2012-06
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Maximizing Intelligence Sharing Within the Los Angeles Police Department
From the thesis abstract: "After the terrorists' attacks in New York, law enforcement agencies at all levels find themselves grappling with their additional responsibilities now that homeland security is tantamount, along with the war on drugs and gangs still being a constant struggle. From the time of the attacks to the present day, most agencies are doing more work with less people; there is no funding, equipment, or new officers to replace the ones retiring. Officers everywhere are not only overwhelmed, but, more critically, they are under-estimated and under-trained. As a result of the attacks, officers are adding homeland security strategies into their existing crime prevention measures. This thesis will suggest ways in which one agency, the Los Angeles Police Department, can maximize its resources, training and equipment, thus capitalizing on the intelligence needed to be a leader in the identification of, prevention of and response to a terrorist attack."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Angeles, Tracey
2013-09
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Crowds As Complex Adaptive Systems: Strategic Implications for Law Enforcement
From the thesis abstract: "Law enforcement attempts to control unruly crowds have come under increased scrutiny in light of recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri; Baltimore, Maryland; and other locales across the United States. Resultant criticism is forcing law enforcement agencies nationwide to review their civil-unrest policies. Crowd behavior resulting from police actions is an important component of crowd control. Viewing crowds from a systems perspective, as done in this thesis, provides powerful new insights to help law enforcement assess potential crowd behaviors. Through this new awareness, this thesis makes recommendations regarding policies, training, and equipment that law enforcement can use to make better-informed decisions related to crowd control."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Leverone, Robert H.
2016-03
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Beating the Red Gold Rush: Copper Theft and Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis is a comparative case study comparing and contrasting the efforts of three countries (United Kingdom, France, Italy) in their fight to reduce copper wire theft incidents within their nations. The ultimate goal of the research is to highlight the significant threat posed to critical infrastructure from copper thieves and to offer best practice recommendations to policymakers within the United States in response, based on the experiences of the three targeted nations. An analysis of the data reveals that the United Kingdom has had the most success in the reduction of reported copper wire theft incidents primarily due to its multi-faceted approach to the problem, which includes heavy regulation of the scrap recycling industry, centralized law enforcement operations, and enhanced criminal statutes."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Cook, James A.
2015-12
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Crime-Terrorism Nexus, and the Threat to U.S. Homeland Security
From the thesis abstract: "Since 2001, violent sub-national groups with disparate ideologies and motivations have been working together to further their objectives. They are collaborating, sharing each other's tactics, and learning from one another's successes and failures. What is the background or historical context of the crime-terror nexus, and what challenges does it present to U.S. homeland security practitioners? This thesis uses a case study approach to examine the history of the nexus between transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations. The three case studies are then used as the data for the analysis chapter, which shows the historical and emerging relationships between states and the three violent sub-national groups. The three case studies suggest the activities of these violent sub-national groups are protean in nature; they are best described by analysts as falling into the 'gray area phenomenon.' The three case studies, the analysis, and conclusion of this thesis support the recommendation that more effort needs to be placed on intelligence collection, especially at the domestic and local levels."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Schofield, Robert Michael
2015-12
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Assessing the Cannabis Legalization Debate: Lessons Learned from the Colorado and Washington Experiment
From the thesis abstract: "Cannabis is illegal as far as federal law is concerned; yet recent trends in the United States indicate it is moving toward more widespread legalization. While both sides of the legalization debate pose valid arguments, it has been difficult to assess aspects of these arguments in the past. Now that Colorado and Washington have fully legalized cannabis, what does data demonstrate to support or rebut these arguments and what problems have sporadic legalization led to in the drug control space? This thesis examines regulatory, financial, and criminal data in Colorado and Washington to identify advantages and disadvantages of legalizing cannabis. Findings indicate commercialization of legal cannabis creates a sizeable economic stimulus due to demand satisfaction and displacement of drug trafficking organizations for supply. Crime levels increased as compared to national averages while drug arrest rates remained stable, which could be influenced by other factors. Overall, as a result of disparate national policy, Colorado and Washington have become source states for cannabis distribution as findings indicate spillage of legal cannabis into black markets nationally. This thesis recommends rescheduling cannabis in the Controlled Substances Act to further research the drug while increasing state civil asset forfeiture options in prohibitionist states to facilitate criminal enforcement."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Neener, Michael C.
2016-03
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Ideal Police Oversight and Review: The Next Piece of the Community Policing Puzzle
From the thesis abstract: "There has been independent oversight of law enforcement complaints for over a hundred years in the United States, but recent cases of perceived excessive use of force by law enforcement officers have thrust independent oversight into the national forefront. This thesis set out to discover frameworks, operation methods, and responsibilities of independent oversight of cases involving police excessive use of force by researching the current structures and practices of oversight bodies across America--how they differ from each other, how they are successful--and determining whether there should be a national standard. This research includes oversight boards from small, medium, and large American municipalities with law enforcement agencies whose ethnic diversity is not reflective of their communities. Through the use of a request for information, 12 independent oversight boards were examined. The research suggests there is no consistency across independent oversight boards, no standard for independent oversight board frameworks, and no tracking of their efficiency toward organizational or academically suggested goals. Nor is there a central repository where lessons learned and best practices can be catalogued and distributed. This thesis provides recommendations for future research on independent oversight boards."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Sajor, Antonio, Jr.
2015-12
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Policy Safeguards and the Legitimacy of Highway Interdiction
From the thesis abstract: "The strategy of highway interdiction was created to counter the negative consequences of drug trafficking organizations using highways to distribute contraband. Although there have been tangible results, the strategy has also resulted in the unintended consequences of racial profiling and illegal searches. This thesis addresses whether policy safeguards could help minimize improper practices of personnel conducting highway interdiction operations. This project convened a series of focus groups consisting of 11 state police organizations that provided information on policy safeguards and their purposes. This thesis examines seven major categories of policy safeguards to determine the level of implementation by the state police organizations. In addition, this thesis includes a comparative analysis of the implementation of policy safeguards and the number of personnel complaints filed to determine whether there is any correlation. Although the findings are not conclusive, the analysis identified potential benefits of implementing policy safeguards."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hood, Kevin M.
2016-12
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Uncommon Law: Understanding and Quantifying the Sovereign Citizen Movement
From the thesis abstract: "This thesis examines possible reasons why some organizations overuse the term 'sovereign citizen.' To do so, the thesis discusses various behaviors that sovereign citizens typically undertake, describes activities that the law enforcement community and researchers classify as sovereign citizen-related, and demonstrates the incongruity in some of those attributions. This thesis also explores how various organizations at times incorrectly apply the domestic terrorist label to sovereign citizens, at variance with both state and federal law. The conclusion proposes behavioral markers as a common language for identifying and quantifying anti-government behavior. The conclusion also demonstrates ways in which organizations should apply the markers to better calculate and assess the sovereign citizen movement."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Mallek, Michelle M.
2016-12
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Framework for Violence: Clarifying the Role of Motivation in Lone-Actor Terrorism
From the thesis abstract: "A major goal of the homeland security enterprise is to prevent terrorism in the United States. Federal, state, and local agencies have responded to this challenge with a number of initiatives that have prevented another large-scale network attack since 9/11. Yet terrorism perpetrated by a lone individual, not in direct communication with a larger terrorist network, continues to occur on a regular basis in the United States. Rather than considering lone-actor terrorism a subset of networked terrorism, this thesis considers lone-actor terrorism as a subset of other grievance-fueled violence such as mass murders and workplace violence. Comparing the motivations of the perpetrators using a case study method, this thesis considers the complexities of addressing the key trait of motivation that separates lone-actor terrorism from other forms of lone violence. As a result of this analysis, five key observations--leading to five policy implications--are postulated to provide clarity to the issue of lone-actor terrorism in pursuance of improving prevention methods."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Hallgarth, Jacob G.
2017-03
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Embracing the Devil: An Analysis of the Formal Adoption of Red Teaming in the Security Planning for Major Events
From the thesis abstract: "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) takes the lead or a significant supporting security role in many of the nation's most celebrated events across the country. Major events that receive the official designation of a national special security event and those rated Level 1 on the DHS special event rating scale share the same subcommittee planning structure. This thesis focuses on the potential vulnerabilities and gaps in the planning process due to groupthink and other organizational and individual decision-making pitfalls. This thesis then reviews what, if any, potential improvements can be made to the process with the formal adoption of a red team component. This thesis examines the potential benefits of incorporating red team techniques, such as simulation exercises, vulnerability probes, and analytical analysis into major-event security planning. Research indicates that their effectiveness varied on the organizational leadership, team composition, and independence afforded these teams in the performance of their assignment. The process of red teaming is vulnerable to being marginalized without proper organizational support. Armed with this knowledge, this thesis proposes two recommendations for the formal adoption of red team techniques into the subcommittee process of major-event security planning."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Landry, Thomas Owen
2017-03
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Transparency, Accountability and Engagement: A Recipe for Building Trust in Policing
"Police departments across the nation are challenged to reduce crime, improve quality of life, and, with diminished resources, face the increased threats to homeland security. Many have struggled to find the right balance between keeping communities safe, while at the same time having transparent and effective counterterrorism strategies. This thesis examines the role race plays in policing and the criminal justice system. A comparative analysis was conducted of the New York Police Department's [NYPD] community policing and counterterrorism strategies and that of the United Kingdom's counterpart, the Metropolitan Police Service. The research focuses on how important police legitimacy and transparency are to gaining the trust of the community at large. It also examines how technology and social media can assist in building trust and enhancing accountability. The research concludes with four recommendations, which, if implemented, will move the NYPD toward a more balanced counterterrorism strategy that actively engages with the community it serves."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
O'Reilly, Kathleen M.
2017-06
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Reducing the Use of Force: De-escalation Training for Police Officers
From the thesis abstract: "The use of force by police officers has captured the attention of society. Allegations of inappropriate or misapplied force happen with regularity. This thesis conducted a survey of the members of the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training to determine the number of training hours dedicated to firearms and force versus de-escalation topics. It analyzes the results through the framework of the Recognition-Primed Decision model, which asserts that in rapidly evolving, time-limited incidents, individuals make decisions based on prior experiences. This thesis hypothesizes that officers are primed to use force rather than de-escalation options due to an overemphasis on force during training sessions. The survey results showed an 8.9 to 1 ratio of training hours on force versus de-escalation. It recommends that police trainers strive to achieve parity in training hours dedicated to force and de-escalation topics. It also recommends that scenario-based training be emphasized to provide experiences to draw upon, and that the scenarios mirror real-world probabilities. Positioning Theory, Crisis Intervention Team principles, and de-escalation strategies of other countries are also examined for methods that could be implemented to reduce the occurrences of inappropriate use of force by police officers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Dayley, Eric H.
2016-09
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Sovereign Citizen Movement: The Shifting Ideological Winds
From the thesis abstract: "The FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] has identified the Sovereign Citizen Movement (SCM) as a significant threat to the domestic security of the United States. The movement's adherents are capable of significant acts of violence and creating civil unrest. They also embrace harassing tactics such as filing lawsuits, false liens, and restraining orders as a method to harass government and financial institutions. This is known as paper terrorism. The modern SCM has its roots in the Posse Comitatus movement and in racialist philosophies such as the Christian Identity Movement. It was primarily a movement embraced by right-wing Caucasians. Over time, the SCM has morphed from a primarily racialist platform to a more inclusive anti-government platform. The current SCM model is decentralized and largely leaderless, and its narrative is often driven by circumstances. Using social identity theory as a framework, what conclusions can be drawn regarding this change, and how can the government prepare for the emerging ideation of SCM? If not handled appropriately, government reactions to economic and social crisis could validate the SCM narrative. Government entities must embrace training, transparency, and ethical decision making in an effort to nullify the SCM narrative."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Bell, Devon M.
2016-03
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Race to Force the Issue: A Use-of-Force Doctrine in Policing
From the thesis abstract: "In response to public outrage over police use of force, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) dedicated its Critical Issues Seminars to discussing use-of-force reform. From the seminars, PERF produced 30 guiding principles, which included best-practice policy recommendations that called for agencies to adopt standards that went higher than the Graham v. Connor standard of reasonableness in the eyes of the officer involved. The focus of this thesis was to study what the effect of going beyond current legal standards might have on use-of-force incidents in practice and in the public perception. It also looked to find whether the policy principles put forward could make policing safer for officers and the public they serve. The research showed there was serious debate over the applicability and understanding of PERF's policies. Experts felt the PERF policies should not be adopted as stand-alone policies and further context was required. PERF failed to define the problem it was attempting to solve and only created more confusion with its policy recommendations; no change to law or policy will make policing safer. This thesis recommends that law enforcement, anti-police advocates, and politicians work together to bridge the gap that is felt at every angle of the debate."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Avelar, Tracy A.
2017-03
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Social Media Screening of Homeland Security Job Applicants and the Implications on Free Speech Rights
From the Thesis Abstract: "Social media screening of homeland security job applicants may infringe on their free-speech rights, which diminishes homeland security agencies as defenders of the law and hampers their recruitment efforts. When homeland security employers screen the social media of job applicants, what are the free-speech rights of those applicants, and do existing social-media screening policies support or undermine applicants' free-speech rights? Content analysis of existing case law reveals no established precedent for the free-speech rights of government job applicants. Legal and social science analysis indicates applicants should enjoy the full First Amendment protections of private citizens and not be subject to the same limitations placed on public employees. Publicly available social media screening policies have elements that may chill free speech by encouraging applicants to self-restrict social media activity. Homeland security agencies should be aware that social media screening may impair the free-speech rights of job applicants, notify applicants when they will screen social media profiles, provide clear guidance on what speech is considered disqualifying, and avoid suggesting that social media screening is used to perpetuate the existing agency culture."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.); Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Sweeney, Denis
2019-03
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Trusted National Fusion Center Network: Are Baseline Capabilities and Accreditation Needed?
"Much of the current fusion center debate focuses on three areas of concern: the ability of the centers to be a vital link in the national counter-terrorism effort while maintaining their state and local autonomy, the lack of consistency in the development and operation of the centers, and the potential for violation of civil liberties. This thesis analyzes the two handbooks most widely adopted by fusion center leadership, explores the disparity among the centers and their continuing challenges, and applies the characteristics of accreditation programs to the issues at hand in an effort to determine whether published baseline capabilities coupled with an accreditation process is the solution to the long-term success of fusion centers."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Ladner, R. Don, Jr.
2010-09
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Local Jurisdictions and Active Shooters: Building Networks, Building Capacities
From the thesis abstract: "The emerging threat of terrorism, specifically small unit active shooter attacks, is a concern for American law enforcement agencies. Events like Mumbai (November 26, 2008) and Beslan (September 1, 2004) demonstrate the vulnerability of local law enforcement officers in defending against multiple attackers and multiple locations. Smaller jurisdictions (populations less than 100,000 people) are challenged with administrative and operational capacities considerably more than larger jurisdictions. Therefore, smaller agencies must find ways to enhance their capacities within tightening budgetary constraints. To investigate this problem and find workable solutions, qualitative research methods of case studies and interviews were employed. Specifically, Mumbai, Beslan and two high-profile United States incidents (Columbine High School shooting (April 20, 1999) and North Hollywood Bank shoot out (February 28, 1997) were studied. Individuals from the U.S. cases were interviewed to explore information not necessarily documented. Data from the case studies and interviews were collated and reviewed for common themes. These themes were analyzed to draw conclusions on how smaller jurisdictions should proceed in building capacities to deal with active shooter scenarios. Findings suggest that smaller jurisdictions can build capacities by creating a megacommunity within local law enforcement. This includes developing systems to share smart practices, training for small unit attacks, and creating multi-jurisdictional interoperability standards."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Frazzano, Tracy L.
2010-12
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Social Media Integration into State-Operated Fusion Centers and Local Law Enforcement: Potential Uses and Challenges
From the thesis abstract: "The push by the Obama administration for a more transparent, citizen-centric government has created a new way of thinking among federal, state, and local governments: citizen participation has become a mainstay of newly written policies across the country. The adoption of Web 2.0 technologies, particularly social media, within fusion centers and local law enforcement entities could enable a more expedient exchange of information among fusion centers, law enforcement, and the public. The ability to collect and disseminate information on a real-time basis via fusion centers and law enforcement is key to the overall success of the homeland security mission; it is impossible for the federal government to have sole responsibility for safeguarding the homeland from the confines of Washington, D.C. Because fusion centers and law enforcement agencies are state and local entities, they have the capability to obtain information at a grassroots level and have the advantage of knowing the local environment, including potential targets and vulnerabilities. Social media, if leveraged appropriately, could enhance communication among fusion centers, law enforcement, and private citizens to better detect and deter terrorism. This research explores potential benefits and implementation challenges of integrating social media into fusion center and local law enforcement frameworks."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Fresenko, Victoria L.
2010-12
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Striking the Right Balance: Fusion Centers and Privacy
"After the events of 9/11, the number of fusion centers rapidly multiplied. As a result, state and local agencies that operated the centers adopted a myriad of policies. This thesis seeks to answer how fusion centers can implement policies as to operational structure and transparency that simultaneously safeguard against abuse of citizens' privacy while facilitating the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information. Two methods of research are utilized: policy analysis and policy options analysis. This thesis examines existing federal guidelines, federal case law, and various federal statutes and regulations. Moreover, the thesis explores three policy options as possible decision-making tools for fusion centers: 1) mandatory federal guidelines, 2) imposition of a balancing test and administrative review process, and 3) a compulsory reasonable-suspicion requirement. In the end, this thesis recommends imposition of all three policies."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Skahill, Tina M.
2010-09
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21st Century Strategies for Policing Protest: What Major Cities' Responses to the Occupy Movement Tell Us About the Future of Police Response to Public Protest
From the thesis abstract: "The study of a law enforcement response to a national movement is a homeland security issue. How America polices its population establishes the benchmark for how it treats the world and is worthy of exploration. What can the experiences of four major U.S. cities, in their response to the Occupy Movement, tell us about using emergent strategies for policing protest in the twenty-first century? In the fall of 2011, the Occupy Movement protests swept across the United States in a matter of weeks. Activists demonstrated against income inequality and the state of the economy, and they established camps in major urban areas, occupying public spaces. I conducted case studies of New York City; Oakland, California; Portland, Oregon; and Dallas, Texas, and analyzed the results. That analysis revealed common themes, including a lack of negotiated management, restricting access to traditionally open public spaces by the police and the use of emergent practice in the complex adaptive environment of demonstrations. From this analysis, I am able to provide strategic recommendations for city and police leaders in dealing with protests in the twenty-first century utilizing a sense-making framework that will assist leaders in strategic planning for protests for large and small cities alike."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Geron, Stephen Max
2014-03
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Minding the Gap: The Growing Divide Between Privacy and Surveillance Technology
From the thesis abstract: "Pervasive mass surveillance in a given in U.S. society. However, whether U.S. citizens sacrifice privacy as a result remains under debate. Does privacy fade away in light of the connected world in which we all live? The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in U.S. v. Jones did not address whether pervasive mass surveillance by the government constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment, and, thereby, triggering constitutional review. The lack of legal guidance presents challenges for law enforcement investigations, as it can takes years for a court to decide a privacy case and surveillance technology evolves at a far more rapid pace. Given the refusal, or inability, of the courts to answer what constitutional privacy protections are afforded U.S. citizens in light of the growing use of sensor technology to conduct mass surveillance, inclusive of GPS [Global Positioning Satellite], RFID [Radio Frequency Identification], and LPR [License Plate Recognition], comprehensive legislative privacy options must be explored. To date, privacy has been left to the individual states, which results in privacy protections based upon geography. Federal privacy legislation is limited, focusing on certain technologies, such as eavesdropping under Title III, or certain privacy issues, such medical record data under HIPAA [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act]. Further, very few laws govern the use and dissemination of the PII [Personally Identifiable Information] data that derives not only from governmental surveillance, but also from commercial data collection. A federal data protection act would define the privacy interests protected, rather than using the law to limit the government's specific use of a surveillance technology, which would ensure that the rules of engagement for the government surveillance were clear and held the government accountable to its citizens."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Kirby, Debra
2013-06
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Fear Factors In: Political Rhetoric, Threat Inflation, and the Narrative of September 11
From the thesis abstract: "The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon transformed the way the nation views homeland security and terrorism. It changed the priorities of the nation. The current frame of reference on terrorism, national security, and fear of future attacks were informed by political remarks and speeches made in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks. Political rhetoric that defined the terrorist attacks as acts of war laid the foundation for a period of public insecurity and vulnerability to the threat of terrorism in the homeland and provided justifications for counterterrorism legislation that impinged individual freedoms and civil rights. The purpose of this research is to analyze political rhetoric in the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks, to determine whether political rhetoric contributed to threat inflation, public fear, and misperception of the security threats faced by the American public. An examination of the divergent scholarly perspectives on the role of political rhetoric on public perception, emotion, and reaction is performed to uncover mechanisms that impacted critical assessment, minimized debate of policy alternatives, and fostered public fear. The study exposes the characteristics of political rhetoric and the discursive devices employed in response to the terrorist attacks, which influenced public threat perception and fear. It argues that the rhetorical choices, which emphasized fear, were part of the mechanics for threat inflation seen in the aftermath of the September 2001 terrorist attacks."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Atmore, Lorna Y.
2014-12
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Community-Oriented Counterterrorism: Incorporating National Homeland Security Mandates into the Local Community Policing Philosophy
From the thesis abstract: "Since 9/11, many local police agencies have been chipping away at important community policing programs in order to meet new homeland security responsibilities. With this in mind, the current study set out to answer the question: Do newly acquired homeland security responsibilities require police agencies to reduce or eliminate community policing programs, or can homeland security mandates be effectively integrated into an agency's already established community policing philosophy? In order to answer this question, the study looked at 720 municipal law enforcement agencies from all 50 states that responded to a variety of community policing and homeland security questions in both 2000 and 2007 Bureau of Justice Statistics Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics surveys. These agencies incorporate most major U.S. police departments as well as a representative sample of smaller agencies. The study provides strong evidence that since 9/11, police agencies have significantly reduced the attention given to community policing, while at the same time substantially increasing their focus on homeland security. The study also strongly suggests that police agencies that instead integrate community policing and homeland security not only excel in counterterrorism preparedness, but they also enjoy lower crime rates. This supports the idea that community-oriented counterterrorism is a viable policing strategy and should be implemented as a preferred organizational practice."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Adcox, Kenith Roland
2014-12
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School Shootings: Law Enforcement and School District Networking
From the thesis abstract: "School shootings have happened in the past and will happen again. The history of school shootings prompts all stakeholders to look at ways to prevent them from happening, and if they do happen, to be resilient. Change is needed in the prevention of school shootings. The case studies of Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook, E. O. Green Junior High, and Beslan school shootings reveal that the lack of information sharing and lack of communication were flaws; and the incidents might have been preventable. Prevention is a key element that both schools and law enforcement need to improve upon. In order to make strides in prevention, there needs to be advanced planning, continuous information sharing amongst stakeholders regarding those individuals that conduct themselves in ways that cause concern, a change in organizational culture with law enforcement and schools regarding sharing information, legal solutions, as well as resiliency if a shooting does occur. School shootings can never be completely preventable; however, it is feasible to have systems that prevent school shootings and increase the safety of the students and the community."
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Center for Homeland Defense and Security; Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Topadzhikyan, Tigran
2013-12
