Introduction

Terrorism is a crime against the public. The crime of terrorism is defined by its public nature in that it is intended to harm or disrupt the government. Terrorism is not a new or novel crime, and has been used by those with political, ideological, or religious intentions through history. However, recent events and novel technological approaches have increased its threat to domestic security and led to increased awareness and attention by lawmakers. The common elements of terrorism are as follows: 1) the commission of an already established crime, 2) the intention to coerce a population or influence a government, and 3) through the use of intimidation or fear. The crime of terrorism may transcend the boundaries of the United States, which is considered international terrorism, or it may be primarily within the boundaries of the U.S., which constitutes domestic terrorism. This crime may take the form of bioterrorism, aiding terrorists, financing terrorists, and the use of weapons of mass destruction, which are all separate federal crimes. Various federal laws have been enacted in response to terrorist acts (for example FISA, AEDPA, and the USA Patriot Act).

Using the events of September 11, 2001 as a starting point for your main post, address the following:

• Describe how the events of September 11, 2001 have impacted law interpretation in a post-9/11 world to tip the scales in favor of or against individual rights.
• Explain whether the government should confront this threat from a criminal justice standpoint, a military issue, or a combination of the two.
• Analyze what safeguards should exist, if any, to ensure legal requirements are being adhered to from a criminal justice professional’s perspective.
• Explore the impacts of the post-9/11 law and court interpretations of law on a criminal justice practitioner based on your current or future career.