Collects critiques of the Justice Department's handling of American civil liberties under John Ashcroft, offering a series of essays categorized according to the specific issues on which they focus.

Thirteen essays by legal and civil liberties experts examine post-Sept. 11 security developments including the USA PATRIOT Act, secret detentions, racial profiling, and increased surveillance, discussing their impact on immigrants and ramifications for personal privacy, public information, and America's image abroad, as well as why Americans should care about these issues. Essays provide details about legislation, orders, and agency rules, many of which were enacted in haste, as well as historical perspective on similar efforts in other times of crisis. Annotation 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)