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The Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative (Global) serves as a Federal Advisory Committee (FAC) and advises the U.S. Attorney General on justice information sharing and integration initiatives. Global was created to support the broad scale exchange of pertinent justice and public safety information. It promotes standards-based electronic information exchange to provide the justice community with timely, accurate, complete, and accessible information in a secure and trusted environment.
Global is a ''group of groups,'' representing more than 30 independent organizations, spanning the spectrum of law enforcement, judicial, correctional, and related bodies. Member organizations participate in Global with a shared responsibility and shared belief that, together, they can bring about positive change by making recommendations and supporting the initiatives of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
GAC Leadership
GAC Chair:
Kevin J. Bowling, J.D. MSJA
National Association for Court Management
GAC Vice-Chair:
Sheriff Michael W. Milstead
National Sheriffs' Association
To help steer and facilitate Global efforts, the U.S. Attorney General reached out to key personnel from local, state, tribal, federal, and international justice entities to form the Global Advisory Committee (GAC). GAC's efforts have direct impact on the work of 4 million justice and public safety professionals and positions Global to impact citizens of the United States, Canada, and beyond.
Global's mission-the efficient sharing of data among justice entities-is at the very heart of modern public safety and law enforcement.
The GAC includes agency executives and policymakers, automation planners and managers, information practitioners, and, most importantly, end users. This last group distinguishes GAC as a committee whose members remain actively dedicated to information sharing because they continue to be producers, consumers, and administrators of crucial justice-related data. GAC membership reflects the tenet that the entire justice community must be involved in information exchange. Experts represent the following constituencies:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Prosecutors
- Public defenders
- Courts
- Corrections agencies
- Probation and parole departments
- Additional agencies directly involved in the justice process.
The GAC operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act provisions and convenes up to twice a year in Washington, DC. Meetings are announced in the Federal Register, and the public is welcome to attend as observers.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) aids the member organizations of Global, and the people they serve, through a series of important initiatives. These include the facilitation of GAC Groups; development of technology standards, such as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM); creation of white papers on data sharing issues, such as the National Criminal Intelligence Sharing Plan (NCISP); and the dissemination of information via the Global website.
The GAC establishes groups, such as short-term ad hoc task teams, to work collaboratively to address policy, connectivity, and jurisdictional issues that hamper effective justice information sharing. Global groups are comprised of GAC members and other subject experts who expand GAC's knowledge and experience. The groups are formed around timely issues impacting justice information sharing.
The work of the GAC has implications of the highest importance-making it the foremost voice for justice information sharing.
Global Strategic Plan
Since inception, the GAC has taken significant steps to join disparate components of the justice community into a cohesive effort. Technological advances offer new hope that broadscale justice information sharing can become a reality. The Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative Strategic Plan addresses the technical, programmatic, and policy issues involved in carrying out the justice information sharing mission and outlines Global's mission statement, the GAC's guiding principles, Global's objectives for implementing its mission, and outreach methods.
White Paper on the U.S. Department of Justice Global Advisory Committee
This white paper details the mission of the DOJ GAC. It discusses challenges faced, current priorities, and successes to date. More important, it captures how DOJ’s Global Initiative is working to help achieve its most important, overarching goal—continued protection of the American people.
Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative Strategic Plan
Global Advisory Committee Charter and Bylaws
The GAC Charter and Bylaws provide for the justification and governance of the GAC. The Charter provides an overview of the GAC, its purpose, role, and governance. The Bylaws provide more detailed information about the GAC's mission, guiding principles, and goals as well as its source of authority, organization, and structure.
Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative Advisory Committee (GAC) Bylaws
The GAC bylaws define the GAC as an advisory committee to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the U.S. Attorney General and identify its mission, guiding principles, and goals. This document also provides the source of authority for the establishment of the body and describes its policies for organization, structure, meetings, election of officers, record keeping, and amendment of the bylaws.
Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative Advisory Committee (GAC) Charter
The GAC Charter provides an overview of the GAC, its purpose, role, and governance. This document outlines the GAC's objectives and scope of activity, duration, reporting, support services, duties, operating costs, meetings, establishing authority, and delegation of authority to appoint members. Refer to this link for a copy of the charter, signed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The GAC operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, often referenced as “FACA.” This act enumerates the establishment, operating procedures, and responsibilities to the public of federal advisory committees such as the GAC.
