September 11, 2001 was one of the most devastating and horrific events in the history of the United States. The American sense of a secure nation had been shattered. Over 3,000 people and more than 400 police officers and firefighters were killed during the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; in New York City and Washington, D.C. Today the term terrorism is known as the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in support of objectives political or social (Birzer, Roberson). This term was clearly not defined for the United States because we had partial knowledge and experience with terrorist attacks; until September 11, 2001. At that time, President George W. Bush declared in a televised address from the Oval Office: “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our greatest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundations of America . These acts shatter the steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.” President Bush confirmed this statement because the United States was on the verge of reacting and changing the face of the criminal justice system for terrorism. Since September 11, 2001, the criminal justice system has improved its methods to protect our nation from terrorist attacks. These improved methods can be summarized into four types of categories and actions. The first key action taken by the Department of Justice was to protect America through criminal investigations and prosecutions. Subsequent changes were legal in nature and were made to enhance counter-terrorism efforts and aid in investigations and prosecutions. Then there are the structural changes in agency operations to enhance counterterrorism efforts.... half of the document... the previous law. The latest act is the FISA Act of 2008 “The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act,” which allows intelligence professionals to monitor terrorist communications, while protecting Americans' civil liberties, more quickly and efficiently. (USDOJ) These legal changes have not only made investigations and prosecutions of terrorists more effective, but have also helped change the structure of agency operations to strengthen counterterrorism efforts. Works Cited Birzer, Michael L. and Cliff Roberson. Police field operations: theory meets practice. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon, 2008. Print."USDOJ: Fact Sheet: The Department of Justice Ten Years After 9/11." USDOJ: Fact Sheet: The Department of Justice Ten Years After 9/11. Np, 11 September 2011. Web. 12 April. 2014. .