FAQ Homeland #2

2. What is the Patriot Act and does it threaten my civil liberties?

The Patriot Act is a piece of legislation passed soon after 9/11 that was meant to facilitate intelligence gathering, interagency communication, and other measures designed to prevent acts of terrorism before they occur. It granted few new powers to the American law enforcement community, but instead expanded the procedures already approved for organized crime and drug investigations to include terrorism investigations as well. It also tore down interagency walls that had developed over a period of years that had the effect of restricting information sharing between organizations with a similar mandate. Before the Patriot Act, information gathered through intelligence methods by the CIA could not be passed to the FBI for criminal procedures except in extremely limited circumstances. Some Americans consider the Patriot Act to be a license for unacceptable intrusion into their personal lives and a threat to their civil liberties; others believe it is the only way to keep law-abiding citizens safe. While it does expand the circumstances in which intrusive investigations methods may be applied, their use still requires the approval of a judge issued through a warrant. Additionally, the law enforcement powers expanded through the Patriot Act have been used only rarely since its enactment, indicating that the law enforcement community recognizes its responsibility to act with prudence and care.