MEDIA ADVISORY: Law Enforcement, Experts To Discuss Balancing National Security With Civil Liberties

Terrorism has significantly affected U.S. security and civil liberties. The federal government, policymakers and local government agencies have a complex role, balancing the protection of citizens with privacy protections.  

Contact: Kristi Patton at (213) 821-8182, or Emily Gersema at (213) 740-0252 or gersema@usc.edu

WHAT: A panel of experts, local and national, will discuss the challenges of providing national security and ensuring the protection of civil liberties. This is one discussion in a series hosted by USC Price School of Public Policy’s Athenian Society.

They will discuss:

• Authorities granted by the Patriot Act that allowed for intelligence agencies to utilize private data for security purposes
• Challenges in protecting personal data from cyber attacks
• Role of surveillance cameras in national security
• Controversial counterterrorism efforts, such as “stop and frisk” and the TSA’s behavioral detection methods

WHO:

Moderator: Raphael Bostic is director of the USC Bedrosian Center on Governance and holds the Judith and John Bedrosian Chair in Governance and the Public Enterprise.

Panelists:

Joseph J. Levin Jr.: A co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Levin has served as the organization’s legal director, worked for President Carter’s administration, and served as the center’s general counsel.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell: Sworn in as sheriff last year, McDonnell has been working for Los Angeles area law enforcement agencies since 1981.

Patrick R. Fitzgerald: A career federal prosecutor, Fitzgerald is the First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California. A former chief of the National Security Section in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Fitzgerald prosecuted several cases involving terrorism and national security. He has been a lecturer at the USC Gould School of Law.

WHEN: The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and the panel discussion will begin at 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Milennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90071

RSVP: Contact Kristi Patton at (213) 821-8182 or RSVP online at https://priceschool.usc.edu/events/liberties