NCJ Number
203060
Journal
Journal of the Institute of Justice and International Studies Issue: 3 Dated: 2003 Pages: 80-87
Date Published
2003
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article examines the impact of the USA Patriot Act and the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act on civil liberties, especially in the areas of academics and research.
Abstract
The terrorist attacks of 2001 spurred the passage of legislation designed to protect the American people from further acts of violence. While these new laws have no doubt had positive effects on national security, there have been several negative outcomes, many of which revolve around an erosion of individual and collective civil liberties. The article examines how the USA Patriot Act and the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act have impacted academics and research. After providing a brief overview of both Acts, the article makes the argument that these pieces of legislation have curtailed teaching and academic freedoms and present potentially devastating dangers to human health. Teaching and research are impacted by restrictions set forth in the legislation that forbids teachers from providing information that could possibly be used in any terroristic manner to students from the restricted nations list. Human health may potentially suffer as new drugs to combat hazardous agents are approved before testing is completed. Finally, the article questions whether these new laws actually provide more safety to the American public or whether they simply make the American public feel safer. Bibliography