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National Information Exchange Model (NIEM)

Adopting the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) is an important step in implementing justice and public safety information sharing initiatives. NIEM provides a vocabulary that practitioners use to represent the meaning and structure of the information they share. This vocabulary represents best practices and common understanding across the country, which is what allows NIEM to ensure semantic interoperability across jurisdictions, while accelerating the definition of information requirements within a jurisdiction.

SEARCH has been involved with NIEM (and its predecessor, the Global Justice XML Data Model [GJXDM]) since its inception, and is well placed to offer practitioners advice on its proper and efficient use. Because it is a comprehensive model, NIEM can be daunting at first, and the assistance of an expert-especially at the outset of a project-can make the difference between success and struggle.

Using NIEM involves building Information Exchange Package Documentation (IEPD) for specific exchanges-a process that involves several complex steps and tools. SEARCH has been a leader in developing this process, and can assist jurisdictions in navigating it. SEARCH is also aware of pre-built IEPDs available from the community and specialized NIEM tools such as the Law Enforcement Exchange Specification (LEXS), and can assist jurisdictions in applying these off-the-shelf assets where appropriate.