FREE Racial Profiling Essay (original) (raw)

After reviewing different things that apply directly to policing today, I decided to do my research paper on racial profiling. I think this topic is important because it affects many people every day, and while it can be useful law enforcement tool, civil rights advocates say it violates people's rights as Americans. I hope to explore the pros and cons of profiling, and how it can be used as a tool for law enforcement.
First of all to better understand racial profiling I looked up the Encyclopedia definition: Racial profiling is the use of race as a consideration in suspect profiling or other law enforcement practices. Our criminal justice book defines it as "any police initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than the behavior of an individual, or on information that leads the police to a particular individual who has been identified as being, or having been, engaged in criminal activity.- (Schmalleger 757) I think it is best summed up as it the practice of using race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion as the primary factor in deciding who to subject to law enforcement investigations. .
Many people, usually minorities, experience it every day, as they suffer the humiliation of being stopped by police while driving, flying, or even walking for no other reason than their color, religion, or ethnicity. Racial profiling is a law enforcement practice steeped in racial stereotypes and different assumptions about the inclination of African-American, Latino, Asian, Native American or Arab people to commit particular types of crimes. Advocates are divided on whether race should be: considered if it's statistically significant or never considered for any reason at all.
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks, the issue of "racial profiling" has become a hot topic. Its debated whether or not it can be effective in preventing terrorists from boarding aircraft.

1. Crime, Mistrust and Racial Profiling

What exactly is racial profiling? ... Those who have emigrated from other countries feel as if they don't belong simply due to racial profiling. ... Another serious problem with using racial profiling is that it creates mistrust. ... People look at this as a form of racial profiling. ... The toll racial profiling has on a person puts a strain on ones self-esteem and dignity. ...

2. Racial Profiling

Racial profiling has existed for many years. ... How do we as Americans feel about racial profiling? ... Has racial profiling increased since September 11, 2001? ... Then I read a series of articles on racial profiling to see the different perceptions on racial profiling. ... Certain attacks may increase racial profiling towards another race. ...

3. Racial profiling

For my research paper I chose the topic of racial profiling and law enforcement. ... Meeks talks about the New Jersey highway patrol and how anti-racial profiling activists have used the highway patrol in New Jersey as an example of how using racial profiling is a racist activity. ... (City Journal vol.11 no.2) The most notorious racial profiling anecdote may have nothing to do with racial profiling at all. ... Racial Profiling Isn't That Bad 5 If the troopers' version of the incident proves true, it is hard to see how racial profiling enters the picture. ... Overall throug...

4. Racial profiling

I think racial profiling is completely unfair. ... Steve told me he didn't really ever experience racial profiling. ... I think this is the most common type of racial profiling that we see. ... As we can see racial profiling is something that goes on everyday. ... Unfortunately as long as there are minorities, there will be racial profiling. ...

5. Racial Profiling

Driving while black is a prime example of racial profiling. ... Law enforcement officials across our great nation deny that racial profiling occurs, but an over whelming majority of the black community believes that racial profiling is practiced on a daily basis. ... Racial profiling is based on the premise that minorities commit most drug offenses. ... Statistics on racial profiling are alarming; studies in New Jersey and Maryland both demonstrate the prevalence of racial profiling. ... Police officials continue to deny their personnel practice racial profiling on routine stops. ...

6. racial profiling

Racial Profiling Racial profiling did not spring into existence until 1982 when President Reagan launched the War on Drugs. ... Racial profiling has existed in various forms since the end of slavery. ... Racial profiling is a practice of using racial or ethnic characteristics (i.e. skin color) to decide who is suspicious enough to warrant law enforcement attention. ... During the meeting, President Clinton called racial profiling a "morally indefensible, deeply corrosive practice" and further stated that "racial profiling is in fact the opposite of good police work, where actions are based o...

7. Racial Profiling

Ending Racial Profiling The federal government should end racial profiling by requiring policemen and other law enforcement officers to keep detailed records of each individual they stop to question or search. ... But, racial profiling is still wrong because racial distinctions are and should be different from other lines of social stratification. ... However, the law forbids both practices, and it should forbid racial profiling (Kennedy 70-74). ... Several recommendations have been made as to ways to end racial profiling. ... As a reasonable person I firmly believe that even if the sug...

8. Racial Profiling

Racial Profiling Take a moment to sit and just think about the major problems experienced in urban societies and academic settings. ... defines racial profiling as the discriminatory practice by police of treating blackness or brownness as an indication of possible criminality. ... But experts say the line between using race as a sole factor can cause confusion about the definition of racial profiling. First and foremost, in many situations racial profiling seem to enact majority of its consequences while driving on the highways. ... To make this circle complete, many people face racial ...

9. Racial profile

Racial Profiling in Government As seen in such topics related to work, school and community, Racial Profiling exists and provokes its self in many different ways. ... My self personally going to talk about racial profiling present in the government. ... Another way in which racial profiling provokes its self in government is during the ballots for a president. ... However, combine them all together and the image takes on the racial profile evident at the ballot box. ... looking back at what we have learned, we can state that our government is building a countrywide racial profile for every...

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