Citizens having similar rights by the constitution

Citizens around the world in developed countries tend to be guaranteed many similar rights by their own country’s constitution. Many governments have patterned their own constitutions after the U.S. Constitution, which was developed in the 1700s based on practices in Great Britain and France at that time (National Archives, n.d.). Arguably, places without constitutional guarantee of rights likely have “human rights,” which require that people be treated with decency and respect.

Terrorism has been recognized as a significant global problem that needs to be reduced. In doing so, does the government or other legal officials have the right to potentially infringe upon citizen’s civil liberties and rights?

In this Discussion, you will review scholarly evidence and argue one side of the argument below based on the evidence:

• Some infringement of civil or human rights is necessary in order to detect and reduce terrorism, and reducing terrorism is worth the cost of infringement; or
• Infringement of civil or human rights is not worth the cost, and measures taken to detect and reduce terrorism must follow laws and customs that protect civil or human rights.

Note: If you are an international student, you may base your Discussion on your local or regional Constitution and relevant legislation, policies, or case law.

To prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources, especially legal decisions designed to detect and prevent terrorism.
• Consider your empathy-bias regarding whether the potential costs of restricting freedom and privacy are worth the benefits of combating terrorism.
• Take a side: the costs to personal freedom and privacy are worth the benefits or the costs are not worth the benefits of combating terrorism.
• Gather scholarly literature, which may include Learning Resources to support your viewpoint.

Justify and explain your position concerning how the costs to personal freedom and privacy are worth the benefits of reducing terrorism, or how these costs are not worth the benefits of combating terrorism.

• Explain how your viewpoint may affect the type of job that you will consider as a forensic psychology professional.
• Support your viewpoint with scholarly resources.