NCJ Number
215221
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume: 48 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 413-421
Date Published
June 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The issues addressed in this article concern the political and ethical implications of shifting from a uniform, rule-based system of airport security to one based on risk assessment.
Abstract
"Rule-based" security refers to the use of uniform security practices in which every person is accorded the same degree of scrutiny, probably meaning that all individuals are being treated as moderate risks. A risk-based security system, on the other hand, is selective in its scrutiny of individuals and situations in accordance with a risk profile. The difficulties of using only a risk-based system is that criteria for determining risk may be inaccurate and that people intent on doing harm will probably be familiar with the criteria used to measure risk and take steps to avoid meeting those criteria. This means they will avoid any type of scrutiny. Rule-based and risk-based systems are not mutually exclusive, however. Rule-based security systems tend to be based less on the individual characteristics of a person and more on a detection of tactical weapons identified as likely to be used in a terrorist attack, such as bomb-making materials and instruments that could be used to injure or kill airplane passengers and crew. When all persons entering an airplane are subjected to such screening, potential threats are identified and removed; however, high-risk individuals may go unidentified unless experienced screeners are qualified to determine whether a particular individual was both carrying potentially harmful materials and had the criminal intent to use them to do harm. 9 references