CRJ 5210 Civil Liberties Versus National Security
(formerly CRJ 521)
The world as we know it changed, perhaps irreversibly, following the events of September 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks of that day, the worst of their kind on U.S. soil, prompted not only a substantial military response by the United States, but also other new national security measures aimed at ensuring that such an attack would not take place again. For example, the U.S. Congress enacted the USA PATRIOT Act (and acronym for the Uniting (and) Strengthening America (by) Providing Appropriate Tools Required (to) Intercept (and) Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001) ('the Act"). The Act reduced restrictions on law enforcement agencies' ability to search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, financial and other records; eased restrictions on foreign intelligence gathering within the United States; expanded the Secretary of the Treasury's authority to regulate financial transactions; and broadened the discretion of law enforcement and immigration authorities in detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. Many believe that civil liberties have become a casualty of new national security measures. Others insist that the exigencies of national security demand restrictions on liberties. This course examines the arguments on both sides of the security vs. civil liberty debate, and the trade-offs in attempting to balance national security interests and civil liberty interests.
Distribution
Criminal Justice & Legal Studies