Police and National Security Since 9/11, Essay Example

An Analysis of Critical Improvement in Homeland Security since 9/11 Discussion

According to the table presented in the results section, there has been a drastic move towards change within the Homeland Security Department post September 11^th. Prior to the creation of this department, there was a general sense that the country was safe and that as a consequence, emphasis on protecting it from an outside and inside view wasn’t a prevalent assumption. However, after these attacks, defense spending increased significantly, allowing for the implementation of many of the security programs, such as the NSA and TSA that have been designed to detect terrorist attempts and prevent them from occurring.

Enhanced funding of Homeland Security has also been trigged by the fact that despite our current level of intelligence, there are many factors that our government still cannot predict to keep its citizens safe. In particular, there is a need to determine when and where these attacks are likely to happen. Some professionals suggest that in addition to the programs that are currently implemented by the government, it may be beneficial to screen the social media accounts of terrorist groups for additional monitoring and to use this information to help them gain a better understanding of the character and intents of these individuals. Furthermore, there is great concern that the types of attacks that will be mounted are unknown. In light of increasing technology, there is a belief that biological and chemical warfare can be used in place of conventional terrorist tactics. Thus, it is important for the government to be prepared for such attempts.

Overall, the view of safety in America has changed significantly since the September 11^th terrorist attacks. There is a need to continue investigating the implications of these changes to direct progress in the country that will allow it to disarm any impending attack and to protect the American people.

References

Dancs, S. (2011). Homeland Security Spending since 9/11. Brown, 1-9.

Davis, L.M., Pollard, M., Ward, K., Wilson, J.M., Varda, D.M., Hansell, L., Steinberg, P. (2010).

Long-Term Effects of Law Enforcement’s Post-9/11 Focus on Counterterrorism and Homeland Security. Safety and Justice, 1-177.

Marion, N., Cronin, K. (2009). Law Enforcement Responses to Homeland Security Initiatives. The Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice, 6(1) 4-24.

Waxman, M.C. (2009). Police and National Security: American Local Law Enforcement and Counterterrorism After 9/11. Journal of National Security Law & Policy, 3(377), 377-407.