The right to privacy is a fundamental civil liberty, deeply rooted in American law and culture. Yet, with recent changes in the political and legal landscape, almost anyone can become the focus of criminal investigation during which justice officials can violate the privacy of a person’s body, place, expression, communication, identity, or property.
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.
