In order to be effective in its function, all information sharing systems should perform on multiple levels.

1. Tactical – On the primary level, a system needs to function tactically. It should be able to query names, addresses, vehicles and similar property.

2. Operational – A system needs to make operational use of its information by tracking and making connections between ongoing investigations, offense trends, inter-jurisdictional crime, patterns in access to company information, etc.

3. Strategic – Data should be used to examine changes to a situation or area over time. This can help agencies prepare for emerging crime patterns or tip off companies to changes in suspect employee behavior and add an element of prediction to planning.

4. Resources – A system should be used to ensure agencies and private organizations are allocating their resources efficiently by providing evidence of over abundance or lack of personnel, funding, and technology.

5. Policy/procedure – A system should provide data that helps make policy by validating existing policies or revealing that they should be changed.
 

For more information, see our Law Enforcement Information Sharing section.