DHS Science and Technology Directorate Grant: Research on Insider Threats in American Law Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is committed to using cutting-edge technologies and providing scientific expertise in its quest to make America safer. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is tasked with researching and organizing the scientific, engineering, and technological resources of the United States and leveraging these resources to develop tools, methods and research to help protect the homeland. The Social Sciences Technology Center (SS-TC) advances technology and knowledge to improve performance, policy, strategy, tactics, techniques, procedures, and operational impacts to enable communities to augment their existing programs and prevention and response plans to ensure that they include effective protocols and strategies to address the immediate and long-term needs of victims, families, first responders and communities after mass violence or terrorism incidents and, human trafficking crimes.

Due to the growing number of threats our nation is combating, SS-TC supports the evolving threat landscape of a dynamic world with changing motivations, actors, communication models, and weaponry. Effective response requires a sophisticated understanding of the threat environment and innovations in technology and applications. These challenging tasks requires access to a broad set of expertise drawn from the fields of psychology, economics, criminology, political science, sociology, biostatistics, and other social and evaluation disciplines. Knowledge and findings from this research will be transferred to federal, state, local, and private organizations to enable education and awareness to reinforce a whole-of-society prevention architecture while respecting civil rights and civil liberties. These prevention efforts will equip and empower local efforts – including peers, teachers, community leaders, and law enforcement—to minimize a threat as it evolves while enhancing emergency preparedness and response.

Through this solicitation, SS-TC aims to assist in the development of science-based policy, programs and technologies in support of the DHS Strategic Plan 2020-20241; specifically, Goal 1 (Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats) and Goal 5 (Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience). This solicitation is also in support of the 2020 Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence2.  Objectives of this effort will identify high quality data to understand the risks posed to the United States by the potential for violent extremist organizations or lone actors to infiltrate law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and other government institutions. Findings from this research activity aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of insider threats drawn from historical precedent, existing practices and policies, and training. In addition, these data will inform the generation of best practices for insider threat prevention programming and policy in local, state, and federal agencies, as well as promote continuing research through objective and scientific means.The base effort for this solicitation will provide scientific evidence to inform research, design, and assistance in developing partnerships, policies and procedures to address domestic law enforcement agency insider threats. The awardee(s) will assist with a range of activities, including designing data collection strategies, collecting data from primary and secondary sources, and analyzing data while identifying subject matter experts to participate in interviews and/or focus groups. Reviewing and analyzing research from fields such as criminology, mental health, psychology, and sociology will help determine gaps in current knowledge and counter the threats posed by violent extremists and violent ideologies to United States LEAs and the public.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is committed to using cutting-edge technologies and providing scientific expertise in its quest to make America safer. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is tasked with researching and organizing the scientific, engineering, and technological resources of the United States and leveraging these resources to develop tools, methods and research to help protect the homeland. The Social Sciences Technology Center (SS-TC) advances technology and knowledge to improve performance, policy, strategy, tactics, techniques, procedures, and operational impacts to enable communities to augment their existing programs and prevention and response plans to ensure that they include effective protocols and strategies to address the immediate and long-term needs of victims, families, first responders and communities after mass violence or terrorism incidents and, human trafficking crimes.

Due to the growing number of threats our nation is combating, SS-TC supports the evolving threat landscape of a dynamic world with changing motivations, actors, communication models, and weaponry. Effective response requires a sophisticated understanding of the threat environment and innovations in technology and applications. These challenging tasks requires access to a broad set of expertise drawn from the fields of psychology, economics, criminology, political science, sociology, biostatistics, and other social and evaluation disciplines. Knowledge and findings from this research will be transferred to federal, state, local, and private organizations to enable education and awareness to reinforce a whole-of-society prevention architecture while respecting civil rights and civil liberties. These prevention efforts will equip and empower local efforts – including peers, teachers, community leaders, and law enforcement—to minimize a threat as it evolves while enhancing emergency preparedness and response.

Through this solicitation, SS-TC aims to assist in the development of science-based policy, programs and technologies in support of the DHS Strategic Plan 2020-20241; specifically, Goal 1 (Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats) and Goal 5 (Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience). This solicitation is also in support of the 2020 Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence2.   Objectives of this effort will identify high quality data to understand the risks posed to the United States by the potential for violent extremist organizations or lone actors to infiltrate law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and other government institutions. Findings from this research activity aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of insider threats drawn from historical precedent, existing practices and policies, and training. In addition, these data will inform the generation of best practices for insider threat prevention programming and policy in local, state, and federal agencies, as well as promote continuing research through objective and scientific means.The base effort for this solicitation will provide scientific evidence to inform research, design, and assistance in developing partnerships, policies and procedures to address domestic law enforcement agency insider threats. The awardee(s) will assist with a range of activities, including designing data collection strategies, collecting data from primary and secondary sources, and analyzing data while identifying subject matter experts to participate in interviews and/or focus groups. Reviewing and analyzing research from fields such as criminology, mental health, psychology, and sociology will help determine gaps in current knowledge and counter the threats posed by violent extremists and violent ideologies to United States LEAs and the public.