The Patriot Act and Private Security

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the Patriot Act has supported the expansion of private security within the nation and globally. The paper relates that this growth has become a positive factor for the nation, its businesses and the government because of the expertise that private security officers can provide. The paper also explores, however, the negative outcomes that have been associated with private security agencies who have used the power awarded to them under the Patriot Act to function inappropriately and arbitrarily determine the fate of innocent people. The paper concludes that the continued success of these agencies will be dependent on their ability to apply the provisions of the Patriot Act in an ethical manner.

From the Paper:

"The United States Patriot Act, or the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, was signed into law in October of 2001 following the terrorist attacks of September 11th. It was the intention of the act to provide for federal authority to gather information, provide for knowledge about terrorists prior to their ability to act against the United States and aggressively monitor suspected activities in order to prevent the events of 9/11 from reoccurring. While there did not appear to be initial significant changes in the private security industry following the 9/11 attacks related to procedure, as time has progressed the focus on terrorism has monumentally changed the core of private security functions for many personnel. This has created conflict for some agencies that have been forced to release information that is confidential to the support of businesses and the individuals that interact with those companies."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Growing use of private security. (2001). National Center for Policy Analysis. Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://www.ncpa.org/pi/crime/pdcrm/pdcrm63a.html
• Lax security procedures persist nine months after 9/11. (2002). Kroll. Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://www.seiu.org/docUploads/2002%20SEIU%20Homeland%20Security%20Report.doc
• New patriot act questions. (2005). Online Hews Hour. Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/fedagencies/july-dec05/act_11-7.html
• Tyson, A. (2005). Private security workers living on edge in Iraq. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10547-2005Apr22.html
• Zielinski, M. (1996). Armed and dangerous: Private police on the march. Media Filter. Retrieved April 1, 2007, from http://mediafilter.org/caq/CAQ54p.police.html

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