Pre-Crime and Counter-Terrorism 

The imperative to prevent terrorist attacks has accelerated and consolidated a long established trend towards anticipating risks or threats and pursuing security in criminal justice. Counterterrorism advances a pre-crime logic aimed at preempting latent threats. Counterterrorism is uniquely suited to a shift to pre-crime frameworks because the term terrorism itself is preemptive, existing prior to and beyond any formal verdict. This article sought to contribute to understanding the emerging pre-crime society in the context of counterterrorism measures implemented after the 2001 attacks on the United States. It describes the contours of the shift from post to pre-crime in terms of changes to criminal justice implemented through domestic counterterrorism measures. It argues that the move to pre-crime that is taking place, embodies a trend towards integrating security into criminal justice and integrating national security into criminal justice. The article also attempts to trace the antecedents of the shift from post to pre-crime. It also argues that the shifts that have advanced under the mantle of counterterrorism can be traced through a number of interlinking historical trajectories, including the wars on crime and drugs, criminalization, and control and repression embodied in counter-insurgency practice and theory. The article concludes by identifying a number of challenges and opportunities for criminology in the shift from post-crime criminal justice to pre-crime national security. References 

18 p.; 23 cm