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Program Description
State and local first responders are on the front line in
responding to critical incidents - from terrorist attacks
to major accidents or natural disasters. Critical incidents
can be extraordinarily complex events. Through the effective
use of technology, public safety agencies can better prevent
or respond to critical incidents.
Through its Critical Incident Technology (CIT) Program, N I J
strives to provide public safety agencies with better tools
to deal with major threats to lives and property, such as
terrorist attacks and other disasters. The Institute's research
and development efforts in this area have been ongoing since
1997. The CIT Program is designed to assist in all aspects
of the problem, including prevention of terrorism, mitigation
of effects, emergency response, and recovery. (View CIT
overview presentation in pdf.)
 Critical
incidents require a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency response.
Usually, a response requires resources from agencies in multiple
jurisdictions. The program addresses both the unique needs
of law enforcement and those shared with other types of agencies,
such as public health, fire departments, hazardous material
teams, and emergency medical services. In recognizing that
responder needs for all critical incidents - from terrorist
attacks to major accidents or natural disasters - are similar,
N I J focuses on developing “convertible technologies” that
address the needs of multiple public safety disciplines or
multiple types of incidents.
Assessing Needs
N I J has conducted an inventory
of State and local law enforcement technology needs to combat
terrorism and published a user
needs assessment for bomb robots. N I J is completing assessments
of user needs for improved x-ray diagnostic systems for bomb
technicians and of the chemical and biological agents terrorists
are most likely to use.
Developing New Technologies and Tools
Agencies responding to critical incidents often face problems
that new or improved technology or tools could solve. The
CIT Program concentrates on developing and demonstrating those
technologies and tools in five areas:
- Infrastructure Security - Technologies to help
secure infrastructures by providing better ways to identify
threats, including detecting concealed weapons, and other
contraband. (View Infrastructure
security presentation slide in pdf.)
- Personnel Location - Emerging technologies to
give responders ways to detect and track their people and
to find victims at the scene, and give law enforcement the
ability to find suspects and victims behind walls. Some
of these same technologies are now being developed for urban
search and rescue operations. (View Personnel
Location presentation slides in pdf.)
- Explosive Detection and Remediation - Technologies
that help bomb technicians "see, understand, and deal" with
improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This includes improved
x-ray diagnostic systems, handheld computers that provide
bomb technicians ready access to vital bomb data at the
scene of an incident, and improved means to disrupt IEDs.
(View Explosive
Detection and Remediation presentation slides in pdf.)
- Communications, Information & Training Technology
- Technologies that help manage an effective response despite
imperfect data sharing and communication among agencies,
and provide improved training opportunities. N I J has established
a testbed to assess user needs for incident management software
and the ability of available software to meet those needs.
(View (View Communications,
Information & Training Technology presentation slides
in pdf.) (See also the Communication
Interoperability/ Information Sharing Web site for information
on similar projects.)
- Chemical and Biological Defense - Technology and
tools that deal with the threat of chemical and biological
weapons including developing a wearable device to warn responders
of exposure to chemical and biological agents, and a
threat assessment model for chemical facilities. (View
Chemical
and Biological presentation slide in pdf.)
Developing Standards
N I J plays a key role in the national effort to provide the
standards needed for independent, objective testing of equipment
by responder agencies. The N I J funded Office
of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) serves as the executive
agent to the InterAgency Board
for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability (IAB)
in implementing a first responder equipment standards suite.
The IAB is the responder community's spokesman for interoperability
and standardization issues.
OLES is both developing standards and coordinating and funding
the activities of other agencies such as the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National
Fire Protection Association. The first responder equipment
standard, for self-contained
breathing apparatus, was released by NIOSH in January
2002.
Through N I J’s network of National
Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Assistance Centers
(NLECTC), N I J is helping first responders build capability
to deal with critical incidents every day. Each regional center
can assist public safety agencies in choosing appropriate
technologies, applying them in real-world situations, and
identifying training and other assistance.
Building Partnerships
Beyond the partnerships established in the development of
standards, N I J develops partnerships with public safety agencies
and practitioner groups, such as the FBI and the Kansas-Missouri
Bomb Technician Working Group, to determine program needs
and test newly developed tools. N I J also partners with other
Federal research organizations to leverage its investment
to the greatest benefit. N I J's major research partners include
Department of Defense and Energy research offices and laboratories,
the Technical Support Working
Group (TWSG)--a Federal working group of about 70 agencies
that is focused on technology development to combat terrorism,
and the Federal Aviation Administration's
Technology Center.
Counterterrorism Institutes (Formerly in N I J, now
in DHS)
With the creation of the Department
of Homeland Security, two congressionally founded counterterrorism
institutes formerly managed by N I J are now part of that organization:
the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism
(MIPT) in Oklahoma City, OK, and the Institute for Security
Technology Studies (ISTS) at Dartmouth College. Both institutes
continue to serve in the same capacity as they did when under
N I J.
- Institute
for Security Technology Studies (ISTS) : ISTS and its
core program on cyber-security and information infrastructure
protection research serve as a principal national center
for counter-terrorism technology research, development and
assessment. The Institute will study and develop technologies
addressing counter-terrorism especially including counter-cyber
terrorism issues in the areas of threat characterization
and intelligence, threat detection and interdiction, preparedness
and protection, response, and recovery. The core research
program studies threats to electronic information infrastructure
systems and technologies of the United States, and seeks
appropriate and effective technological preparedness, response
and recovery actions, as well as training and information
needs.
- Memorial Institute for the
Prevention of Terrorism: MIPT was established in September
1999. The mission of MIPT is to prevent and deter terrorism
on U.S. soil or mitigate its results. The unique experience
of Oklahoma City provides a platform for MIPT to launch
into the broader national interests for combating terrorism
on U.S. soil. With the foregoing in mind, MIPT has identified
five basic strategic goals. These goals include:
- Develop a world class, needs focused, counterterrorism
research and development program.
- Serve as an interactive lessons learned focal point.
- Become the premier source of information on anti-terrorism.
- Provide a neutral forum for stakeholders.
- Develop an outreach program to improve public awareness
and education
- To accomplish the above goals, MIPT solicits proposals
from interested parties.
N I J Technology Programs Areas
N I J also offers Technology
Assistance to criminal justice and public safety agencies.
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