The Washington/Baltimore HIDTA's Investigative Support Center (ISC) serves as the center for collection, analysis and dissemination of law enforcement intelligence information. Through its five branches, Watch Center, Analytical Support Unit, Crime Mapping Unit, Gang Unit and Trends Analysis Unit, the Center assists the region's law enforcement agencies in targeting, investigating and prosecuting individuals and organizations involved in drug trafficking, as well as, money laundering.
WATCH
Center
The Watch Center provides tactical
intelligence support services to the HIDTA region's law enforcement
officers. These services include "one-stop" access
to numerous federal, state and local law enforcement databases
and an event deconfliction service.
Strategic
Intelligence Section
The
Strategic Intelligence Section provides intelligence analysis
services and strategic intelligence reports to the W/B HIDTA initiatives
and area law enforcement agencies investigating drug trafficking,
money laundering and weapons trafficking cases. The intelligence
analysts collect intelligence data on drug traffickers and
criminal organizations, and study changes and emerging trends
in drug trafficking and drug-related crime. They also investigate money laundering, currency movement in the Washington/Baltimore area and provide case development assistance and post seizure analysis services to law enforcement agencies throughout the HIDTA region. In addition, the Strategic Analysis section
prepares the W/B HIDTA’s annual Threat Assessment and
Strategy, as well as special reports on topics of interest
to this region’s law enforcement and criminal justice
communities.
Crime Mapping Unit
The Crime Mapping
Unit offers state of the art crime mapping services and
assistance in evaluating the effectiveness of law enforcement
operations to both W/B HIDTA initiatives and law enforcement agencies
throughout the region. The Crime Mapping Unit’s staff uses the latest
in mapping software and geographic analysis techniques to
develop maps tailored to the needs of the agency or initiative
requesting them.
Analytic Support Unit
The
Analytic Support Unit provides case support services
to the W/B HITDA law enforcement initiatives and participating
agencies. A great deal of the work is focused on the
areas of communications and financial analysis. The Analytic Support Unit's
intelligence analysts use automated law enforcement databases
and specialized intelligence analysis software (Visual Analytics,
Penlink and i2 Analyst Notebook) to assist investigators and
prosecutors with complex conspiracy cases. The analysts also
provide time sensitive analysis of DNR and pager data, Title
III information, seized documents and financial data.
GangNet
GangNet is a regional gang intelligence database that is provided free of charge by the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA to law enforcement, corrections officials, and prosecutors within the Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia area. GangNet provides access to timely sharing of gang intelligence information in an effort to prevent and control crime while abiding by the privacy and constitutional rights of individuals. |