Correctional Intel Units: An Agency-Wide Effort

Correctional Intelligence Units (CIU) have the ability to provide critical intelligence on activities such as fentanyl trafficking, gang operations, cartel activities, and immigration violations. These units frequently collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies, including the DEA, ICE, and FBI, to share vital information that strengthen national efforts to address crime, particularly in states along the U.S.-Mexico border. Expanding the presence of these units nationwide can further enhance efforts to combat drug trafficking, gang activity, human trafficking, and immigration violations. To ensure optimal performance of these units, comprehensive training and technical assistance are essential.

To inform the development and deployment of correctional intelligence resources to the greater corrections community, this project aims to collaborate with local, state, and community corrections agencies along with their respective national associations. Through these collaborative efforts, fifteen (15) experienced corrections personnel with expertise in correctional intelligence will be identified from various levels and roles within corrections agencies. These roles may include intelligence analysts, CIU directors/coordinators, correctional officers with investigative experience, and administrators providing oversight of intelligence operations. Upon identification of these subject matter experts, a one-day listening session will be convened to solicit information on the current challenges, trends, training and technical assistance needs, and promising practices in establishing, maintaining, and enhancing CIU’s.

The goals of this listening session are:

1. identify and analyze the challenges faced by correctional agencies in establishing and enhancing CIUs;
2. identify specific recommendations for training curricula and technical assistance programs;
3. compile promising practices and successful strategies for CIU operations;
4. identify a framework for improved interagency collaboration and intelligence sharing;
5. create listing of software and hardware resources, and;
6. discuss recommendations to mitigate identified legal and policy barriers.

Target audience/Who should apply?

Corrections personnel with specialized subject matter expertise in creating, maintaining, supporting, and/or expanding correctional intelligence units in local, state, and federal correctional systems.

Projected Time Frame and Sustainability:

The information obtained from this listening session will serve as the blueprint that informs the future development of specialized training and technical assistance for agencies requesting support in establishing new or enhancing existing CIU’s.