Under a Watchful Eye - by William Bloss (Hardcover)

About the Book

Throwing light on a timely and controversial subject, this volume considers the privacy rights of alleged criminals, convicted criminals, crime victims, and justice personnel--and the violation of those rights--in light of post-9/11 privacy policy changes.
This revealing book answers many crucial questions. What legal surveillance, search, and seizure authority do criminal justice officials have when investigating crimes, monitoring criminals, or regulating justice personnel? What factors have contributed to changing guidelines and practices? What protections do persons have when they interact with the criminal justice system? What are the privacy implications of surveillance and search practices in public places, such as schools, workplaces, or public areas? What methods and technologies are used in surveillance, search, or seizure? How do we balance individual privacy rights against public safety?

Using real-life stories, Under a Watchful Eye: Privacy Rights and Criminal Justice reveals the threats to personal privacy when individuals come under investigation--whether warranted or not. Covering privacy of the home, workplace, computer, personal records and communications, and other areas of personal concern, this book is an important reminder that, when it comes to invasion of privacy, we are all vulnerable.

Book Synopsis

Throwing light on a timely and controversial subject, this volume considers the privacy rights of alleged criminals, convicted criminals, crime victims, and justice personnel--and the violation of those rights--in light of post-9/11 privacy policy changes.

This revealing book answers many crucial questions. What legal surveillance, search, and seizure authority do criminal justice officials have when investigating crimes, monitoring criminals, or regulating justice personnel? What factors have contributed to changing guidelines and practices? What protections do persons have when they interact with the criminal justice system? What are the privacy implications of surveillance and search practices in public places, such as schools, workplaces, or public areas? What methods and technologies are used in surveillance, search, or seizure? How do we balance individual privacy rights against public safety?

Using real-life stories, Under a Watchful Eye: Privacy Rights and Criminal Justice reveals the threats to personal privacy when individuals come under investigation--whether warranted or not. Covering privacy of the home, workplace, computer, personal records and communications, and other areas of personal concern, this book is an important reminder that, when it comes to invasion of privacy, we are all vulnerable.

Review Quotes

"Bloss (criminal justice, The Citadel) explores recent changes in the US legal system that affect the right to privacy and uses real-life stories to illustrate these vulnerabilities in a post 9/11 world. Written for both students of criminal justice and general readers, this book analyzes the increased investigative authority resulting from new policies of public safety and shows how citizens are more vulnerable in terms of surveillance, search and seizure practices. The methods and technologies used to monitor homes, schools, workplaces, communications, computers and personal documents are also revealed." --Reference & Research Book News

About the Author

William P. Bloss is professor of criminal justice and director of the International Criminal Justice Studies Program at The Citadel in Charleston, SC.