Global Intelligence Working Group (GIWG)

The Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) Advisory Committee (GAC) formed the Global Intelligence Working Group (GIWG), which operates under the program management of the Office of Justice Programs. Global serves as an advisory body to the federal government—specifically through the U.S. Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General, OJP—to facilitate standards-based electronic information exchange throughout the justice and public safety communities. The GAC is composed of key personnel from local, state, tribal, federal, and international justice and public safety entities and includes agency executives and policymakers, automation planners and managers, information practitioners, and end users. GAC membership reflects the involvement of the entire justice community in information sharing. Global working groups, made up of Committee members and other subject-matter experts, expand the GAC’s knowledge and experience.

In March 2002, law enforcement executives and intelligence experts joined resources at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Criminal Intelligence Sharing Summit to articulate a proposal for an intelligence sharing plan that would coordinate law enforcement agencies at all levels of government in the collection, analysis, and appropriate dissemination of criminal intelligence data across the United States. Summit participants called for the creation of a Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council composed of members from law enforcement agencies at all levels of government.

In order to address past inadequacies in our nation’s intelligence process, OJP, at the request of IACP, authorized the formation of GIWG to develop a collaborative intelligence sharing plan. The National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan was completed and endorsed by former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in October 2003.