The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force

Working both inside and outside the courtroom, the ACLU of Colorado has been investigating and calling public attention to activities of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task (JTTF) that pose a threat to civil liberties.

 

There are over five dozen JTTFs around the country, including one at every FBI field office. They are staffed with FBI agents as well as detectives from local law enforcement agencies who are assigned to work full-time for the FBI. A detective from the Denver Police Department’s Intelligence Unit has been working full-time for the Denver JTTF since 1997. Since 2003, the Denver Police Department has assigned two full-time detectives to the JTTF. The Aurora Police Department, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department, and the Colorado State Patrol also contribute personnel to the Denver JTTF.

 


Follow the Chronology

During the litigation of the Denver Spy Files case, the ACLU of Colorado obtained documents that indicate that the JTTF has been collecting information about peaceful political activities that have nothing to do with terrorism. Read how the investigation unfolded.

 


Learn More About the Case

The ACLU's lawsuit relies on the Colorado public records laws seeking disclosure of the Memorandum of Understanding that sets out the terms of the Denver Police Department's participation in the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Learn more about the case, including accessing court documents.

 


Meet Our Clients

Who are the ACLU of Colorado’s clients? Why do they believe they are in the files of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force? Get all the details on the ACLU's clients.

 


Read About Our Legal Advocacy

On December 2, 2004, the Colorado ACLU invoked the Freedom of Information Act on behalf of 16 organizations and 10 individuals, seeking information from the FBI about the JTTF files on their peaceful political activity. Read more about our legal advocacy.

 


Access JTTF Documents

The ACLU of Colorado requested FBI documents under the Freedom of Information Act. Access the documents obtained through our request.