Overview:
Local-to-local (L2L) information sharing was initiated by the
National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) in 2001 and now
operates under the name “Nationwide Pegasus Program”.
The Pegasus Program is administered by a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit entity and is endorsed and supported by NSA.
The Pegasus Program’s mission is to enhance the ability
of local law enforcement to solve local crimes by
connecting local databases of law enforcement, jail and
other repositories of public records. This effort is
intended to enable information sharing and integration
across county and State boundaries in a way that meets
and responds to routine investigative and operational
needs of local law enforcement. The Program also makes
local law enforcement information accessible to federal
law enforcement with the approval of each individual
owner of the records (local law enforcement). Pegasus
conforms to federal standards established by DOJ and
DHS.
Pegasus Local-to-Local (L2L)
Information Services: Pegasus Local-to-Local
(L2L) Information Services are specifically designed to
enable local law enforcement to share law enforcement
information through a highly secure and reliable
communications and information technology
infrastructure using DOJ/DHS-approved and/or
industry-standard browser-based technologies.
Permission-based access, provided by biometric or
other strong access authentication, assures that only
authorized law enforcement personnel have access to
law enforcement information. Strong access
authentication also establishes permissions to
facilitate secure authenticated access to the system.
The major functions of Pegasus Local-to-Local (L2L)
Information Services include:
-
Directory Services:
provides contact information for agencies
nationwide;
-
Automated Data Exchange
Services: presents user-generated queries to
participating law enforcement databases and
combines and presents responses to users;
-
Reporting Services:
provides users with pre-formatted reports of law
enforcement information;
-
Security Management Services:
manages user authentication and access; and
-
System Provisioning, Billing
and Administration Services: provides system
management and administration functions.
Key Pegasus Program
Local-to-Local (L2L) Goals:
1. Create the capacity for rural
law enforcement agencies to share law enforcement data
and information, not categorized as criminal
intelligence, nationwide with a focus on solving
routine crimes.
2. Connect to rural law
enforcement agencies’ existing information systems
without requiring additional investment or upgrade, as
well as enable the capability to search information in
the rural law enforcement agencies’ existing
information systems.
3. Enhance rural law enforcement
agencies’ information sharing capabilities at low cost
by providing reusable and scalable technology
solutions.
4. Develop, provide, or facilitate
the integration of information sharing technology
using secure authentication, which will be provided to
the agencies sharing information to verify the user
either requesting or receiving information.
