Adjusting to Terroism

Adjusting to Terrorism

University of Phoenix

December 12, 2011

Adjusting to Terrorism

Since September 11, 2001, the United States government has taken many precautions as necessary to protect society from terrorist acts. Included in these new procedures was the implementation the Patriot Act, homeland security, and new transportation regulations (Peak, 2010). These changes have occurred at a national level, but there are also things in the criminal justice system at a local level that can be changed in an effort to combat terrorism more effectively. Agencies at all levels can join the fight against terrorism and the protection of the community.

Situation

Up until September 11, 2001 many agency did not acknowledge the fact that terrorism existed and could possible affect the United Stated. Terrorism was not seen as an American problems because it had never affected us to the degree that 9/11 did. Many states did not have terrorism training or tools and did not have a plan of action set up for emergency situations that would occur out of a terrorist attack. Smaller agencies did not have any resources to combat even the smallest terrorist attack. Many agencies did not have any information as too who these terrorist units or cells even where.

Today the United States department of Justice has created Joint Terrorism Task Forces which are small units of local investigators and other specialties within the U.S. law enforcement communities. The task force is a local and federal endeavor led by the Justice Department and FBI for the purpose of combining local, federal, and state resources (United States Department of Justice, 2011).

The Task Force was established for the purpose of coordinating terrorism combating efforts. The task forces are located in 104 cities nationwide; these task forces have grow to be a central point for the sharing of information and the organization of large investigations involving multiple agencies resources (United States Department of Justice, 2011).

. The concept of the Joint Terrorism Task Force seems to be in line with the goals of creating a first line of defense, and protection for domestic terrorist attacks. However, many smaller agencies do not participate in the task force, which creates gaps of unprotected and unprepared respondents. In addition, the Task Force is a source of information