Week 5 Blog

I found the video segments interesting because I always like to hear about things that are going on around us that maybe need a little more attention. The first segment explained terrorist acts such as injecting toxins in food in stores, and suicude bombings. It also stated that 60 people had been taken into custody in relation to terrorism acts, which is what much of this video was talking about.
One important topic that was brought up was the question of whether we had the right to detain those 60 people, and how did we narrow it down from 1000 suspects, to those 60? They explained that in order to arrest someone in all cases including terrorism, there needs to be probable cause, and there needs to be some correlation and connection between the suspect and the events. Innocent people may fit the characteristics of the guilty perfectly, and I think there should be more defined, specific characteristics that could tie someone to the event. I think the authorities should be definite and take more time in making an arrest. On the other hand, I think questioning a possible suspect is a good thing to take the correct precautions, especially with such a serious problem. The video also stated that we shouldnt hold people for longer than needed. For example, after someone is questioned and there is no evidence for probable cause, let them go, but be sure of that decision.
Another important point they touched on was the exaplme they gave of the man who went to a foreign country and came back and was immediately questioned because of a terrorist act that had happened. In that case, he may have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ethnicity may have played a factor in the authorities suspicions, because many people put a face to people they think will commit these types of crimes, when in reality for instance, a white American is capable of committing the same types of crimes. I think we are too bias when it comes to placing people with certain crimes.