Scientific methods and data collection in criminal justice professional practices

Scientific Methods

The law enforcement in the U.S.A. today is better equipped to handle the terrorism attacks and any terrorism threats than it was before the 9/11 incidence in America. This is evident in the general ways through which the security measures are implemented in the country and the intricate manner of investigations that take place to counter terrorism.

Due to the nature of the data and information that is needed here, the scientific method employed was statistical data collection. This was due to the fact that there is need to have objective information on the facts surrounding the various arms of law enforcement. The best way to have facts behind the changes that took place after the 9/11 in terms of the quality of training and the number of law enforcement agencies, it was not feasible to conduct interviews among the Americans as they would only give a general view and feeling about the state of law enforcement and they may not necessarily have hard facts to support the pronouncements, yet this is a sensitive area that needs backing of data from reliable sources.

Survey was also a scientific method that was not feasible since due to the intricacies involved in the security matters and the sensitivity of some quarters say of training, it would be impossible to move anywhere closer to the information one needs than the public exhibition of the training. Observation would also be as limited just as survey since the secretive nature of the training that the counterterrorism units go through may not allow a researcher to observe any tangible amount of information and come up with the objective conclusion of the state of preparedness of our law enforcement units. This left only statistical data collection as the most viable option to conduct this research.

Most of the data that was collected was expressed in numerical except those that needed to explain facts in the law enforcement preparedness then in that case the explanatory information was considered for the research content.

Data collection process

In the course of the data collection, there was a strict focus on the type of data that was obtained as it needed to be as accurate and reliable as possible. This prompted the selection of very reliable websites like the reliable and well established organizational websites, regional and federal government (and their departments) websites, educational institutions websites and the websites sponsored by the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S.A.

For the verifiability of the data, there was a double checking of information, especially those obtained from educational institutions websites with another website information and on conclusive tally, the data was taken as reliable hence usable in this particular type of research.

Data collected

Some of the out standing data that was collected on the level of preparedness of he law enforcement are as below;

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is noted to have had post 9/11 a border patrol agents base of 9,000 personnel, 4,500 inspectors put in place as well as 2,000 immigration special agents hence giving them one of the greatest potential among all the law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism (National commission on Terrorist Attack Upon United States, 2004).

The National Security Agency (NSA) is also noted to have been given legal powers to engage in various counterterrorism activities including interception of information that is suspected to be from a terrorist agency or agent among other roles that are enshrined in the NSA mandate (U.S. Department of Justice, 2006). This is a body that is viewed as crucial to the security of the U.S.A. And the world at large especially towards the fight of terrorism.

The various law enforcement agencies have also bee equipped with various security information and skills that can enable them to track any terrorism activities that may be planed over the internet and even through calls. This was improved further with the realization that the mastermind of the 9/11 went online and did a thorough research of the aviation schools in the U.S.A.