Some say the use of racial profiling calls into question the underlying fairness of the criminal justice system because it deprives a person of the right to equal protection under the law simply because of his or. One reasonable working definition for racial profiling reads. Racial profiling refers to law enforcement officers or agencies where a key factor in whether to take action, such as making a stop or arrest, is mainly based on race, ethnicity or national origin, rather than information and evidence. Much like the book famous all over town where the author danny santiago mentions this type of racism throughout the novel. This new book examines racial profiling through several central aspects of this issue, including the war on drugs and the drug courier profile, the war on terrorism and those of arabic descent, and the immigration controversy and latinos, giving readers opinions from all sides of the issue. Criminal profiling, generally, as practiced by police, is the reliance on a group of characteristics they believe to be associated with crime. Racial profiling occurs when law enforcement interprets race as a mark of increased risk of criminality.
The practice is controversial, and there is some data to suggest that it is ineffective in controlling crime. Adding to the complexity is the reality that few can agree on a precise definition of racial profiling. The book provides information on court cases and legislation on racial profiling at both the state and national level. The text offers up the aclus definition of racial profiling as well as amnesty internationals. First and foremost, it is the commissions view that racial profiling is primarily a mindset. The book considers not only disparities in policing and criminal justice, but more. Driving while black or brown or flying while arab have become pejorative catchphrases. Racial profiling, however, is not limited only to an individuals race, but can also be based on the individuals ethnicity, religion, or national origin. In the united states, racial profiling affects thousands of americans every day. Racial profiling is one of the most divisive issues facing contemporary american society. Any definition of racial profiling must include, in addition to racially or ethnically discriminatory acts, discriminatory omissions on the part of law enforcement as well.
At its heart, profiling is about stereotyping people based on preconceived ideas about a persons character. Just notice that racial profiling always involves race and always involves negative treatment. One officer, quoted in a wellknown 1967 book discussing police techniques. Measuring racial discrimination the national academies press. Both individuals and institutionssuch as law enforcement agencies, government bodies, and schoolsroutinely use race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of an offense. They define criminal profiling as crime detection wherein police officers are. Institute on race and poverty 2001 components of racial profiling legislation. Racial profiling asu law school arizona state university. Everyday inequality library binding january 1, 2017. Racial profiling meaning in the cambridge english dictionary. Profiling definition is the act or process of extrapolating information about a.
Racial profiling is the act of suspecting or targeting a person of a certain race on the basis of. We begin with definitions of profiling and racial profiling. Racial profiling is the act of suspecting or targeting a person of a certain race on the basis of observed or assumed characteristics or behavior of a racial or ethnic group, rather than on individual suspicion. Paternalism and conflict in gender, class, and race relations. This definition found in some state racial profiling laws is unacceptable, because it fails to include when police act on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin. It also gives a history of racial profiling being used in the u. The appdendix provde detailed information about other resources on racial profiling as well as state and federal agencies that relate to racial profiling duch. Profiling definition of profiling by merriamwebster. Dear martin by nic stone, the hate u give by angie thomas, blended by sharon m. List of books and articles about racial profiling online. Three new books discuss how to confront and reform racist.
This book posits that criminal profiling is often confused with racial profiling. The commission selected a broad definition of racial profiling for several reasons. Racial profiling legal definition of racial profiling. Profiling is a statistically discriminatory screening process in which some individuals in a population. Racial profiling refers to the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individuals race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. For example, during the eras of lynching in the south in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, southern sheriffs sat idly by while racists like the ku klux klan terrorized. Racial profiling pointcounterpoint english edition.
1251 1353 358 1291 1465 790 1223 979 1403 591 1504 51 744 583 264 1071 176 517 1374 925 976 641 757 776 86 1062 845 1437 314 268 1468 1069 108 457 404 863 1391 870 1169 1076 767 891 209 299 1352