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Breadcrumb

  1. Nationwide SAR Initiative
  2. NSI Resources

NSI Resources

Additional information on the Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) program, training, and partner programs.

NSI Overview
Provides an overview of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI).

Unified Message
This Unified Message document was created to help clarify a unified approach to the process of reporting and sharing information related to suspicious activity.

NSI Hometown Security Partners
This document is an overview of the SAR Hometown Security Partners Training strategy, which provides SAR awareness training for partners with similar missions to those of law enforcement constituencies, or "hometown security partners."

NSI Privacy Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides an overview of the various components of the NSI Privacy Protection Framework, which is an integral element to the protection of privacy throughout the SAR process and to the overall success of the NSI.

Building Community Partnerships
This fact sheet provides an overview of the Building Community Partnerships (BCP) initiative, which was established to assist fusion centers and law enforcement agencies in engaging with and developing productive relationships with the critical sector and community stakeholders they serve to enable partnerships in the protection of critical infrastructure and the prevention of crime and terrorism.

ISE-SAR Functional Standard
Builds upon, consolidates, and standardizes nationwide aspects of those ISE-relevant activities already occurring at the federal, state, and local levels with respect to the processing, sharing, and use of suspicious activity information.

10 Ways to Integrate SAR Into Your Agency’s Operations
This document provides a brief overview of ten strategies that can be implemented by any agency to allow for the timely sharing of SAR information and to integrate the SAR process into its own operations.

Maritime Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (MSI)
This document is an overview of the Maritime Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative (MSI), a multifaceted approach to improve the capability of maritime stakeholders to identify, report, evaluate, and share pre-incident terrorism indicators to prevent future acts of terrorism.

Validation of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative
This executive summary details the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) initiative to compare pre-incident activities of terrorists and violent criminal extremists in the United States to the 16 suspicious activity reporting (SAR) behavioral indicators that are outlined in the Information Sharing Environment (ISE) SAR Functional Standard as being observed behaviors reasonably indicative of preoperational planning related to terrorism or other criminal activity. The START Study verifies the utility of the Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI), which provides law enforcement and homeland security agencies with a uniform method for gathering and reporting raw tips, leads, and reports of suspicious activity.

Campus Safety NSI Awareness Flyer
This resource contains an overview of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign. In addition, it provides links to resources for campus law enforcement, first responders, and campus administrators to assist with developing emergency operations plans, security practices, and safety guidelines for colleges, universities, and trade and technical schools.

Safety for Faith-Based Events and Houses of Worship NSI Awareness Flyer
This resource contains an overview of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign. In addition, it provides links to resources for security personnel, law enforcement, and first responders; nonprofit and private sector resources; and additional resources to assist with developing emergency operations plans, security practices, and safety guidelines for houses of worship and faith-based events.

National Strategy for Information Sharing and Safeguarding (NSISS)
The 2012 NSISS provides guidance for more effective integration and implementation of policies, processes, standards, and technologies that promote secure and responsible national security information sharing.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Process Implementation Checklist
Provides a simplified checklist for chief executives and senior leadership to implement a SAR process within their agencies.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Indicators and Behaviors
This tool for analysts and investigators details potential criminal or noncriminal activities requiring additional information during the vetting process or investigation, as well as defined criminal activity and potential terrorism nexus activity. When the activity involves behavior that may be lawful or is a constitutionally protected activity, the investigating law enforcement agency will carefully assess the information and gather as much information as possible before taking any action, including documenting and validating the information as terrorism-related and sharing it with other law enforcement agencies.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Indicators and Examples
This resource provides the 16 ISE-SAR indicators, their respective definitions, and examples of suspicious activity scenarios that correlate with each of the indicators.

National Strategy for Information Sharing
Sets forth a national plan to build upon progress and establish a more integrated information sharing capability.

NSI Privacy Fact Sheet
This fact sheet provides an overview of the various components of the NSI Privacy Protection Framework, which is an integral element to the protection of privacy throughout the SAR process and to the overall success of the NSI.

Updated Privacy Policy Review Process
This document details the new privacy policy review process. It has been recently modified to support fusion centers and expedite the finalization of their privacy policies.

Fact Sheet: Privacy, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Analysis and Recommendations Report for the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI)
This fact sheet provides a brief background on the NSI and a description of the privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties framework. It also lists highlights and observations and details recommendations for NSI implementation.

National Information Exchange Model (NIEM)
NIEM is designed to develop, disseminate, and support enterprise-wide information exchange standards and processes that can enable jurisdictions to effectively share critical information in emergency situations, as well as support the day-to-day operations of agencies throughout the nation.

Best Practices Leveraging Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) to Enhance Suspicious Activity Reporting
This guidebook was developed to provide law enforcement and fusion centers with promising practices and recommendations on how to develop or enhance the process of querying Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) data to derive or develop information, tips and leads, or suspicious activity.  This includes suspicious activity reports (SARs) meeting the requirements outlined in the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.

Joint DHS-FBI eGuardian Awareness Flyer
This informative resource provides an overview of the DHS-NSI and FBI's shared management of the eGuardian system. eGuardian is a web-based platform where federal and state law enforcement entities can collaborate, coordinate, and deconflict investigative activity. eGuardian allows other federal agencies, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement (FSLTT) entities, the Department of Defense, and Fusion Centers to document, share and track potential threats, suspicious activity, and cyber, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, or criminal activity with the FBI and with each other.

SAR Standardized Technical Assistance Consultation and Training Services Overview
This document provides an overview of the suspicious activity reporting (SAR) standardized technical assistance consultation (STAC) and training services, as well as SAR analysis advisory, available to fusion center analysts.

Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) for Public Health and Health Care Partners
This document provides information on the online Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) for Public Health and Health Care Partners Training and the importance of public health and health care professionals in the overall SAR effort. A chart of SAR indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Emergency Management Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Emergency Management Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how emergency management professionals may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Explosive Precursors Point of Sale Training
Suspicious Activity Reporting Explosive Precursors Point of Sale Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how retail professionals at the point of sale for explosive precursors may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Fire and Emergency Medical Services Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Fire and Emergency Medical Services Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how fire and emergency medical services professionals may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Maritime Sector Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Maritime Sector Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how maritime industry professionals may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Private Sector Security Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Private Sector Security Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how private sector security officers and those charged with protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Probation, Parole, and Corrections Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Probation, Parole, and Corrections Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how probation, parole, and corrections professionals may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Public Health and Health Care Partners Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Public Health and Health Care Partners Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how public health and health care partners may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

Suspicious Activity Reporting Public Safety Telecommunications Training Overview
Suspicious Activity Reporting Public Safety Telecommunications Training is a module of the NSI’s Hometown Security Partners suite of online training. This overview provides an introduction to the NSI, relates how public safety telecommunications professionals (e.g., 9-1-1 operators) may fit into the suspicious activity reporting process, and includes instructions on accessing the training. A chart of suspicious activity reporting indicators and behaviors is included.

First Responder's Toolbox: Reporting Suspicious Activity - Critical for Terrorism Prevention
The First Responder Toolbox is an ad hoc, Unclassified Reference Aid intended to promote counterterrorism coordination among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government authorities and partnerships with private sector officials in deterring, preventing, disrupting, and responding to terrorist attacks.

State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training (SLATT®) Program
The SLATT Program provides law enforcement personnel with specialized training and resources to combat terrorism and extremist criminal activity.

ISE in the News
The Information Sharing Environment (ISE) frequently posts articles about ISE Mission Partners. As a part of the ISE fabric, the NSI is often highlighted in these articles.

Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative Concept of Operations
Provides a common understanding of the NSI process so that implementation activities can be planned, executed, and measured.

Last Updated: 11/15/2023
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IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, CALL 9-1-1.

Do not report suspicious activity to the Department of Homeland Security. Instead, notify local law enforcement.

You can use this website to learn more about the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) and for awareness training information.

Do not report suspicious activity through this website.