The Challenge Of Terrorism Against The United States Has Led ✓ Solved

The challenge of terrorism against the United States has led th

You will create this assignment following the Assignment Detail instructions below.

The challenge of terrorism against the United States has led the U.S. government to create the Department of Homeland Security with the hope of leveraging federal, state, and local police agencies as well as intelligence and immigration agencies to cooperate in communicating findings and creating joint efforts to stop threats of terrorism or confront a terrorist attack. The current threat of terrorism has made many senators and representatives in the U.S. Congress think about combining all of the police agencies in the United States into one national police organization.

The centralization of power would stop the discombobulated nature of the three government levels of police and provide a clear, overall standard on how to police not only terrorist acts but also crime in general. Answer the questions below in 3–4 pages. Give your opinion concerning the topics, and provide examples. Discuss your findings regarding any statistics about the victims that you list. Discuss your thoughts about what options might be taken regarding victims of racial profiling. Be sure to back up your opinions with facts from cited sources.

Do you believe that labeling terrorism as a crime that can be committed domestically has changed policing? How? Why? Provide examples. Have the number of victims of racial profiling increased over the last decade? What laws and services are available for victims of racial profiling? What other actions might be taken on behalf of victims of racial profiling? Has the Department of Homeland Security helped fight terrorism, or has it simply duplicated the efforts and jurisdictions of other agencies? How has it helped?

Use the library, Internet, and other resources available to you to conduct your research. Provide APA citations and references.

Paper For Above Instructions

The landscape of terrorism within the United States has significantly influenced law enforcement's structure and its operational dynamics, particularly following the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The creation of this agency was a response to the growing threat posed by terrorism, aiming to enhance coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This centralized approach is intended to facilitate a more cohesive strategy in combating terrorism and preventing attacks.

One of the core discussions related to this topic is whether the act of labeling terrorism as a domestic crime has transformed policing practices within the United States. This transformation is evident; with the acknowledgment that terrorism is not solely an external threat, law enforcement agencies have revised their strategies to include proactive measures that acknowledge potential threats within the domestic sphere. For instance, the FBI and local police forces are now collaborating more intensively, sharing intelligence to preemptively address threats that were previously overlooked due to their domestic nature.

Additionally, the policy shift has not just victims of terrorism in its radar but has also impacted broader policing tactics, including racial profiling. Over the last decade, many have noted an increase in victims of racial profiling, often influenced by societal responses to terrorism and perceived racial threats. For instance, the post-9/11 environment saw a rise in discriminatory practices where individuals of Middle Eastern descent were often unjustly profiled as potential threats, leading to significant harm against societal trust and community relations.

Statistics reveal that racial profiling has tangible impacts on victim populations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) indicates troubling trends; research indicates that people of color, specifically African Americans and Latinos, are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement (ACLU, 2019). Laws such as the End Racial Profiling Act are established to protect against these injustices, yet the implementation and acknowledgment of these policies vary significantly across jurisdictions. Furthermore, insufficient data reporting makes it challenging to quantify the full extent of racial profiling, leading to calls for improved transparency and standardized reporting practices.

When focusing on the potential responses to racial profiling, several avenues emerge. Community-based programs designed to foster relations between law enforcement and marginalized communities are valuable. Initiatives such as police-community forums can effectively bridge gaps and encourage dialogue, aiming to rebuild trust that has been eroded by years of profiling practices. Victims of racial profiling also have legal recourse at their disposal; however, access to effective legal advocacy remains inconsistent, reinforcing the need for comprehensive public policy measures (Lombardo, 2016).

The question of whether the Department of Homeland Security has been a successful entity in the fight against terrorism or simply a duplication of existing efforts is contentious. Supporters argue that the DHS has consolidated resources and intelligence that allow for a more streamlined response to threats, representing an evolution in how threats are managed. Critics, however, contend that its formation created redundancies that complicate jurisdictional boundaries, leading to inefficiencies and miscommunication (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2018).

Current research highlights mixed results regarding the performance of the DHS. For example, the National Center for PTSD explores psychological ramifications for individuals affected by terrorist acts, emphasizing recovery's need to involve a multi-agency approach that includes mental health resources alongside law enforcement (National Center for PTSD, 2018). The interplay between law enforcement, victim assistance programs, and mental health resources reveals the multifaceted nature of addressing terrorism and its fallout.

In conclusion, the response to the challenge of terrorism in the United States illustrates a complex landscape where law enforcement's role continues to evolve. As policing methods adapt to encompass a broader definition of crime that includes domestic terrorism, the implications for both victim populations and community relations are profound. Recognizing the impact of racial profiling highlights the essential need for reform in policing practices, while the assessment of institutions such as the DHS prompts continued dialogue on enhancing effectiveness and accountability in combating terrorism.

References

  • ACLU. (2019). Racial Profiling: Definition and Policies. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org
  • Lombardo, C. (2016, October 22). 6 solutions to racial profiling. Retrieved from https://nij.ojp.gov
  • National Center for PTSD. (2018). PTSD: National Center for PTSD. Retrieved from https://www.ptsd.va.gov
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (2018). State and major urban area fusion centers. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov
  • Romaniuk, S. N., & Njoku, E. T. (2016, July 25). The psychological effects of witnessing terrorism. Geopolitical Monitor. Retrieved from https://geopoliticalmonitor.com
  • National Institute of Justice. (2016). Race, trust and police legitimacy. Retrieved from https://nij.ojp.gov
  • Congressional Research Service. (2019). The Department of Homeland Security: A History of Policy and Challenges. Washington, D.C.
  • Hoffman, B. (2017). Inside Terrorism. Columbia University Press.
  • Sherman, L. W. (2013). The Counter-Terrorism Puzzle: A Guide for Decision Makers. International Journal of Police Science & Management.
  • Reilly, B. (2020). The Efficacy of Counterterrorism Policies: CSIS Findings. Center for Strategic and International Studies.