Bioterrorism And Its Criminal Implications

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What is bioterrorism? Maybe the most serious of terrorist acts, bioterrorism is a criminal offense with heavy penalties. How is it done, who is doing it and how do we stop them? Find out more about these facets of bioterrorism.

Bioterrorism is the act of releasing or distributing harmful biological agents with the intent to cause fear, intimidation and danger. Bioterrorism comes in two forms namely: naturally-occurring or human-modified. The biological agents involved may be viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms that are highly contagious to plants, animals and human beings. The sources are naturally found in the environment, but the problem is that the contents may have been altered in order to produce disease.

The biological agents can be bombarded at a certain target point where it can then spread via air, food or water. The alterations in the composition of the agents make them highly contagious and more difficult to treat with medicines and lethal to hosts. The use of these agents has been popular among terrorist groups, since the effects do not usually occur for several hours or days. These delayed effects then make the attacks difficult to detect, whether they are man-made or naturally acquired from the environment.

Bioterrorism As A Criminal Offense

Since bioterrorism is a sector of terrorism, the law covers any act related to or included in terrorism. It is a grave criminal offense to endanger or threaten the life of another human being. Derived causes of fear and intimidation like poisoned food and water sources can be charged with second degree murder. Those involved primarily in the criminal act will be charged with first degree murder, mass killing or endangerment of lives and conspiracy or rebellion.

Should any person exhibit delayed and indirect manifestations of the bioterrorist attack, such as life-threatening disease, altered capability to do activities of daily living, or other physical incapacities, these will be accounted for as damages caused by the attack.

Penalizing Bioterrorists

Bioterrorists are usually involved in groups or agencies with the intent to harm or intimidate legal authority. The perpetrators will be charged with multiple first degree murders due to the fact that the action was maliciously planned and includes an aforethought. All individuals related to or connected with the actual attack will be considered as accessories or accomplices and, therefore, will be punished accordingly.

Punishment for bioterrorism is grave since the criminal act aims to injure, threaten, harm or kill innocent people with the intent to disrupt or depose authority or the government. Any direct effects of the action will be penalized under law. Group leaders will be penalized with multiple life sentences without paroles, at least. The death penalty is also very likely among main perpetrators and planners. Accomplices and accessories can be imprisoned from ten years to a lifetime. The government will compensate the victims with treatment, rehabilitation and cure.

Special interests are also included upon capture of bioterrorists. A number will be used for intelligence purposes, in order to identify the faction or nation involved. The felons may receive minimal pardon upon cooperation with the interests of the law and government.

The United States has been very active in providing biological defense tools and strategies. An automated bioterrorism detection system called Real-Time Outbreak Disease Surveillance, or RODS, was created and functions to detect bioterrorist movement and possible attacks.