research paper topic unit I

BCJ 4385, Workplace Security 1

UNIT I STUDY GUIDE

The Role of Security in Society

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit I Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Examine historical developments in private and corporate security. 2. Evaluate levels of safety and security within the private, corporate, and

local level. 3. Analyze the role of law enforcement and the military in security from a

historical perspective. 4. Determine contemporary methods of security in the workplace.

Unit Lesson General Overview There are various arguments about what actually influences or motivates behaviors. Some criminologists have argued that criminal behavior is no different from any other form of behavior in that its motivation is often grounded in the pursuit of legitimate goals and it is a behavior that is learned, just like any other behavior. Threats against security are considered forms of criminal behavior. There are various theories that have attempted to explain why such behaviors exist. Some theories argue that threats to security are the result of the individual’s conclusion that committing the act of violating security would be more pleasurable to him or her than the pain associated with the punishment for committing that violation. Such rationales have their roots in classical theory. Other theorists have argued from the routine activities approach in which they argue that crime is a result of the existence of a victim, an offender, and an opportunity to a commit a criminal act. In order for the criminal act to occur all three components must exist at the same time. These theorists assert that if you eliminate one of the elements (the victim, the offender or the opportunity) then the criminal act would not occur. So, it is the manipulation of the environment through prevention and intervention strategies that one is able to control human actions and even natural disasters that could cause harm to society. The provision of security services is one way to eliminate the various elements associated with crime so that criminal activity can be addressed through prevention and intervention strategies. Security, especially in the United States since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is intertwined in every aspect of our daily lives. The role of security is involves multiple disciplines and facets, such as criminal and civil law, business management, investigations, policy development, psychology, and sociology. These facets influence contemporary security operations which span various areas, such as disaster recovery, energy management, information protection, and workplace violence prevention. In our contemporary society, security is no longer synonymous or exclusive to the role of military or law enforcement. Instead, private entities also operate to ensure and maintain security. While it is possible for security personnel to also be law enforcement personnel, it is also possible for security personnel to not be

Reading Assignment Chapter 1: History and Overview

Learning Activities (Non-Graded) See information below.

Key Terms Refer to the key terms within the textbook.

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law enforcement personnel. So, security environment is impacted by the way in which security and public safety (law enforcement) interact. However, this should be no surprise when one reviews the history of security throughout the world. The role of a non-law enforcement security personnel existed far before there was ever an understanding, or even quantification law enforcement personnel or formal military security forces existed. In order for an act to be considered criminal there must be a law (spoken or unspoken) that exists in which the act is defined as criminal. We learned about mala in se and mala prohibita crimes: an act that is wrong within itself and act that is prohibited and is considered criminal. The earliest forms of law that can be identified are traced back to the Code of Hammurabi which was drafted by a Babylonian king, and the Egyptian judicial system which was instituted by an Egyptian Pharaoh. The current law enforcement system in the United States was derived from the English common law system in which there was a Shire Reeve existing in communities to help enforce the common law. This individual could deputize a posse to go and apprehend criminals who had violated the common law. It is not a far stretch to see how our current system of law enforcement, especially the office of Sheriff, was created. From these systems the role of law enforcement continued to be defined in various acts such as the Highwayman Act of 1692 (start of bounty hunting) which resulted in various community responses to crime such as the Bow Street Runners in London. When evaluating the key influencers of the law enforcement in America, we cannot overlook the impact of Sir Robert Peel and the Metropolitan Police Act in which the “Bobby” was created and designed to operate separate from the militia. The history of private security and investigation in the United States dates back to 1851. Over time the private security industry has been redesigned and redefined. We identify private security now with companies like Wackenhut Corporation and the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) which have been in operation since the 1950s. However, it was not until 1976, when the National Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals produced a report on private security in which private security was encouraged by the task force to improve the types and quality of its services and to work with law enforcement in their communities to assist in fighting crime, that we began to see major shifts in the private security industry in the areas of technology, training, and service provision. Responding to suggestions by the task force, especially the area of collaboration between security personnel and law enforcement, has not been an easy task. Amid concerns about the loss to, and the adequate training of many private security personnel, public law enforcement agencies have not always been willing to rely on private security to assist in the maintenance of public safety. However, gradually there has been an erosion of the fine line between what constitutes private security services and public law enforcement services. Public law enforcement exists as an extension of the executive branch, (primarily at the state county and local levels) and attempt its role is to keep the peace, maintain order, and to investigate and respond to any violations of law. However, public law enforcement is not able to enforce policies and procedures that have been drafted by private organizations. Thus, private security personnel are often utilized to enforce the policies and procedures for private organizations, as well maintaining peace and order in the surrounding communities. There is a push for more public/private partnerships in which public and private law enforcement work together to maintain the security of local communities and the nation. Such cooperative relationships involve activities such as working together on investigations, preparing emergency response strategies, developing crime prevention programs, and the privatization of some public law enforcement services. These collaborative relationships also include the sharing of existing technologies and resources. Thus, both agencies benefit from the collaboration in that they are able to increase their ability to implement prevention and intervention strategies in their communities.

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There are three primary functions of security: physical, personnel, and information. In addition to the three primary functions of security there are two elements of security management: technical security and operations security. These elements of security have become increasingly important as more attacks on security are being committed through various forms of cybercrime. There are four primary ways in which security organizations manage the provision of their security services: contract security services, proprietary security, hybrid security organizations, and virtual security organizations. The leadership role in security organizations is often held by a security manager whose function is not law enforcement, but the protection of business interests, such as loss prevention and asset protection. As a result, since the 1970s there have been various task forces commissioned in the United States that have researched and reported on the need to have regulatory standards for the private security industry. Uniformly these recommendations have always included training requirements, some form of licensure, and some form of background check. While these forms of regulation have continually been suggested, there is not 100% consensus on what types of regulations are necessary to regulate the private security industry. Regulation of the private security industry is further complicated by debates about whether or not it is the state’s right or the role of the government to apply regulations to the private security industry. In spite of the disagreement over private security regulation standards, in the United States, since the 1970s, professional certification education programs have continued to develop globally. Various international organizations have developed training programs for physical security personnel, professional certified investigators, loss prevention personnel, and general security education programs providing associates, bachelors and masters degrees have also been developed. Security is a necessary aspect of our current society. While questions arise about how private security can best work with public law enforcement and what regulations and training should be provided to private security agent; there is no debate about the need for private security services. Threats to security have existed since the beginning of time, and have continued to evolve as time has progressed. Thus, both private and public law enforcement must continue to evolve and develop its intervention and prevention strategies to ensure that security is maintained in both the public and private sectors. Questions to Consider

1. Why is the area of security multifaceted and interdisciplinary? 2. In what ways should security personnel work with local law

enforcement to help reduce community crime? 3. To what extent should the services of security personnel be different

from the services provided by public law enforcement? 4. What are the benefits of a collaboration or partnership between

private law enforcement and public law enforcement? 5. What types of regulations exist and should exist for private security

organizations? 6. What levels of education, training, and certification should require of

security personnel and security agencies?

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Learning Activities (Non-Graded)

1. Think about the various organizations in your community that process a lot of information. Pick one organization and conduct an INFOSEC risk assessment and analysis. You can search the internet for ideas about what specific criteria are assessed, instructions about how the assessments and analyses are conducted, and examples of the finished product. Were there any identified risks that surprised you? Were there risks that you expected to find that you did not?

2. As a continuation of activity #1, brainstorm about the information protection strategies that you would utilize to protect the organization’s information assets. What control strategies would you use? What information security legislation is relevant and what related policies would you implement? How would you ensure personnel security associated with the organization’s information assets?

3. Conduct an internet search on hacking using the timeline discussed in the textbook to see if you can identify specific examples of hacking that support the discussions in the textbook. Did you make any new discoveries about the evolution of hacking and the current hacking strategies utilized?

4. As a continuation of activity #3, select one of the current hacking examples and explore the computer protection strategies that were implemented, that should have been implemented, and will need to be implemented in the future. Are any of Carroll’s 10 strategies applicable? What type of security research is needed and what types of strategies, policies and/or programs should be developed?

Non-graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.