\nOXFORD, Miss. – How
\nwill law enforcement and federal agents of the future keep Americans
\nsafe from myriad threats, including terrorists attacks and natural
\ndisasters?<\/p>\n
That’s the question to be addressed in a public
\ndiscussion Monday (Sept. 15) at the University of Mississippi. The 7
\np.m. program in Turner Center Auditorium will feature a panel of
\nrepresentatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Futures
\nWorking Group and professors in UM’s Department of Legal Studies.\n<\/p>\n
Discussion will focus on the expanding definition of the term homeland
\nsecurity and what the federal department will look like in seven years,
\nsaid Carl Jensen, assistant professor of criminal justice and a retired
\nFBI agent.<\/p>\n
“Since 9\/11, we have been focused on homeland security,” he said. “We
\ncreated the Department of Homeland Security, but it is still an
\nevolving concept. After 9\/11, homeland security meant security from
\nterrorists. After Katrina, it included natural disasters. Now, the
\ndefinition is expanding even further to include transnational crime,
\npandemics and cyberwarfare.”<\/p>\n
The FBI Futures Working Group is a collaboration between the FBI and
\nthe Society for Police Futurists International. The tragedy of 9\/11 was
\nthe final catalyst for the formal creation of such a group to assist
\nlaw enforcement in dealing with the issues that will confront law
\nenforcement in the coming decades, according to the organization’s Web
\nsite.<\/p>\n
Marie Barnard, assistant applied sciences dean, said national security
\nis a critical issue in the upcoming presidential debate and election.<\/p>\n
“The School of Applied Sciences is focused on promoting the health and
\nwell-being not just of individuals but of communities and the nation as
\nwell,” Barnard said. “This event is a great example of the kinds of
\nwork our faculty are involved in that have important implications for
\nthe nation.\u00a0 Dr. Jensen has brought together a great panel of experts
\nthat promise to lead a lively discussion of the future of homeland
\nsecurity.”<\/p>\n
Jensen said the discussion is important because there is work still to be done.<\/p>\n
“We need to start preparing now if we want – as futurists say – to
\ncreate preferred futures,” he said. “If we are stuck playing catch-up,
\nwe never will catch up.”<\/p>\n
For more information or assistance related to a disability, call
\n662-915-7900. To learn more about the School of Applied Sciences, visit
\nhttp:\/\/www.olemiss.edu\/applied?sciences<\/a> .\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"