Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Racial Profiling

Good Essays
858 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Racial Profiling
How Racism is Handled Throughout American Law Officials Imagine being in a situation where someone was a Mexican male driving and following all rules of the road but still getting pulled over. Would that person rethink the way they were driving and convince themselves they made a mistake or would they think it is because they appear to be Hispanic? Racial profiling is the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. Racial profiling does not work and is unconstitutional. Criminal profiling works if it is based off of behavioral factors, not race. Racial profiling is not only discriminatory, but against the law in many states. An example of racial profiling would be when certain federal courts showed that transportation systems engage in racial profiling of their passengers in violation of Federal law, like in Boston, where an employee from the airport removed a Hispanic man and two Israeli men from a plane because that employee thought they were Arab. Many people who engage in racial profiling use stereotypes to catch “criminals.” Such as the stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists, which is not true because terrorism is against the Islamic religion. The Fourth Amendment states that the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Police are 28 times more likely to stop black people than white people, and less than 3% of the black people searched are arrested. That is evidence that police are violating the Fourth Amendment. From personal experience being a white Muslim, there have been more times where someone that appears to be Muslim, as in wearing a turban or hijab and having darker skin, has been searched at an airport than someone that is white and Muslim. That personally, is proof that racial profiling goes on by people whose jobs are to keep other people safe, while respecting their rights at the same time. Statistics show that consensual searches of Blacks were 37 percent less likely to uncover weapons, 23.7 percent less likely to uncover drugs, and 25.4 percent less likely to uncover any other type of contraband than consensual searches of Whites. (Wade J. Henderson, Page 9) David Harris, a racial profiling expert at the University of Toledo in Ohio says that, “when we use race to predict who we think might be criminals, what we do is we subject everybody in that group to treatment as a potential criminal.” Racial profiling distracts from catching actual criminals. If police are out searching people that are committing crimes and base it off their race, they will miss many actual criminals. Nowadays if someone were to watch the news, more than half the time the criminal the news people are talking about looks like a “normal” guy that no one would expect would commit a crime. Such as the 2 men who allegedly were behind the Boston Marathon bombing. They were two normal, sweet guys and all of their friends were shocked to hear that terror happened because of them. However, there are some reasons people support racial profiling. Such as the fact that minorities are most likely stopped more because police patrol high-crime areas, which, most of the time, are minority neighborhoods. Also, with people accusing police of racial profiling it will restrain them from stopping as many people and that way, they would not catch as many criminals as they could. Therefore, supporters’ reasons to allow racial profiling make a good argument, although critics’ reasons prove that it is wrong by stating that racial profiling is discriminatory, is less accurate than focusing on behavior, and takes away from catching real criminals. Personally, racial profiling is horrible and should be outlawed everywhere because it does not help at all and can hurt someone deeply. In almost all research statistics show that racial profiling is more ineffective than it is effective. Everyone should participate in some sort of campaign to end racial profiling. There are many in different states, and just one person could make a huge difference.

Works Cited
Beleaga, Teodora. "Terror Stop and Search Police Statistics." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 15 Dec. 0019. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
Dodd, Vikram. "Police up to 28 times More Likely to Stop and Search Black People – Study." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 11 June 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
Elliott, Jasmine. "American Civil Liberties Union." American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU, 29 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2013.
"Fourth Amendment." LII. Cornell University Law School, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.
"Racial Profiling." Racial Profiling. Flying White Muslim, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013.
“Update: Crime and Race.” Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 25 May 2007. Web. 2 Feb. 2011. <http://www.2facts.com/article/i1200280>.

Cited: Beleaga, Teodora. "Terror Stop and Search Police Statistics." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 15 Dec. 0019. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. Dodd, Vikram. "Police up to 28 times More Likely to Stop and Search Black People – Study." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 11 June 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. Elliott, Jasmine. "American Civil Liberties Union." American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU, 29 June 2010. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. "Fourth Amendment." LII. Cornell University Law School, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. "Racial Profiling." Racial Profiling. Flying White Muslim, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2013. “Update: Crime and Race.” Issues &amp; Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues &amp; Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 25 May 2007. Web. 2 Feb. 2011. &lt;http://www.2facts.com/article/i1200280&gt;.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Justice is said to be blind, at least that is what the Supreme Court says. But in many instances, it has caused others to think differently. The scale on which justice is weighed has been corrupted from the inside and has caused this great controversial issue to rise. That issue is racial profiling and its implementation in police investigations and court systems. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, racial profiling is defined as the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual’s race alone. It is something that has been used and is continuously used as a crutch for people to get their “so-called” justice they think they deserve. But many of these same people fail to understand that racial profiling is different from criminal profiling. Criminal profiling is defined as a reliance on a group of characteristics that they believe to be associated with a specific crime. Yes race is involved, but it is not the only factor contributed.…

    • 597 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. President Bush has condemned the practice of profiling Arab's and has urged all of the American people not to profile..…

    • 594 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In 2005, The Department of Justice released a report that documenting the disparity in regards to racial profiling by law enforcement. That report showed that African Americans and Latinos were 3 times more likely than Caucasians to experience force or threat during a police stop, and were also about 3 times more likely to be searched during a stop as reported on a fact sheet posted by the National Association the Advancement of Colored People (http://www.naacp.org/advocacy/research/facts/Criminal.Justice.9.07.pdf). In April of 2008, the ACLU of Arizona issued a report, based on Department of Public Safety (DPS) data, which showed that Minorities were usually stopped for longer periods of time than Caucasians and also 2.5 more times likely to be searched after being stopped by DPS, even though they were less likely to be found with contraband (ACLU of…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 1841 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Racial profiling is defined as discrimination put into action based on a stereotype. Racial profiling other older names are "institutional racism and discrimination and owes its existence to prejudice that has existed in this country since slavery" (anonymous par 3) . No one is excluded from the potential to experience some type of racial profiling, regardless of their race, gender, age, background or religion. Racial profiling has existed in different ways since slavery. During the rebuilding period of the South, the first sense of racial profiling began with "Black Codes". "Black Codes" were created to maintain a new form of slavery. These codes made it punishable by imprisonment for any African American who loitered, remained unemployed, drunk, or in debt. The "Black Codes" were a form of what we call racial profiling today. From a ruling class perspective, the minority groups are constantly undermined, intimidated, attacked, imprisoned, and sometimes shot and killed. These acts take place in order for the ruling class to maintain control and in most cases unjustly abuse their power against these minorities.…

    • 1841 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Theoretically, racial profiling means safety precautions provided by the government aimed at certain ethnic/racial groups in order to keep the crime rate and a possibility of the terrorist attacks relatively low. This phenomenon has been ever-present in American society and had a lot of examples throughout the country's history. Even though racial profiling does not sound positive, it is still practiced against certain minorities in the US as a way to keep the country a secure place. However, there is a thin line between being cautious and harassing innocent people. No matter how noble the goal is, racial profiling cannot ever be justified.…

    • 1060 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling Memo

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Racial profiling occurs when race is used by law enforcement or private security officials, to any degree, as a basis for criminal suspicion in non-suspect specific investigations. Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality or on any other particular identity undermines the basic human rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled. (Amnesty International USA).…

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Racial profiling entails picking someone out for special scrutiny, simply because of his or her race. It happens when highway police officers pull over black people who have committed no traffic violations of any sort and ignoring whites, presuming that they are more likely to be involved in criminal acts. Statistics have shown that although Black and Hispanics drivers are more likely to be pulled over, they are least likely to be found with weapons or drugs. What this proves is the failure and incapability of law enforcements to spot criminal activity regardless the race.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 1204 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The criminal justice system of America is deeply scarred with racial bias. Crimes are being committed and, in turn, are resulting with innocent people doing hard-time. Thankfully, newfound methods of appealing court rulings are finding justice for these minorities; however, the results are as shocking as the crimes being committed. When it was found that the majority of successful appeals were of minorities, the true defects of the system was apparent. The minority community is being critically judged for things they’re not doing.…

    • 1204 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Racial profiling is a crime-fighting strategy that is based on the assumption that by treating African-Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups as primary suspects police officers will increase the odds of catching criminals. Statistically, racial profiling makes sense because members of minority groups are more likely to be involved in criminal activities (Harris 11). “Many analysts refute the assertion that the U.S. criminal justice system is biased against minorities” (Crime 3). Racial profiling is not a “racist propaganda” but, a worrying fact. Facts like these are very upsetting but that does not make them any less true. Police officers would be taking a risk if they try to stop or make it less of a priority. Minorities a greatly overrepresented in arrest rates, incarceration rates, drug trafficking, etc.…

    • 2470 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 1787 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Racial profiling occurs when law enforcement or security officials, consciously or unconsciously, subject individuals at any location to heightened scrutiny based solely or in part on race, ethnicity, aboriginality, place of origin, ancestry, or religion, or on stereotypes associated with any of these factors, rather than on objectively reasonable grounds for suspecting that the individual is implicated in criminal activity (Satzewich & Shaffir 199).…

    • 1787 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    For as long as one can remember, racial profiling has been considers a major issue between enforcement and citizens in general. Racial profiling is the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Most often when people think about racial profiling, they think of police brutality, which is wrong. The idea of racial profiling should be acceptable as long as no one is being harmed and there is no racism involved. People are convinced that racial profiling is unfair, but moreover everyone is a victim, no mater where you come from.…

    • 984 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Racial profiling is defined as the targeting of particular individuals by law enforcement based on personal characteristics, like race, religion, or ethnicity (“Reality of Racial…

    • 1380 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Racial profiling makes some situations easier to complete when a crime is present but some may say that law enforcers practice this to mistreat and harass other people. Racial profiling is an acceptable act that should be used to bring safety even though many view it as a negative form of practice, it can help save many people from devastating situations. Racial profiling is a tool used by law enforcers to help them out in their situation but later on it will become a custom ritual thing to use later in the…

    • 1020 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Racial profiling is defined as the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin by the American civil Liberties union. How can something that……

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ever since the terrorist attacks of September 11 there have been an increase in the willingness to condone law enforcement and security actions based primarily on the color of ones’ skin. Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, it has been the official policy of the United States government to stop, interrogate, and detain individuals without criminal charges on the basis of their national origin, ethnicity and religion. Thus, the term racial profiling was coined. Society, however, has been ignorant to the true meaning of racial profiling and has sometimes misinterpreted the government’s continuous attempts to keep the society safe. It is important for the society; especially the group affected most, in this case the minorities, to fully understand what exactly this term means. Racial profiling entails picking someone out for special scrutiny, simply because of his or her race. It happens when highway police officers pull over black people who have committed no traffic violations of any sort and intentionally ignore whites presuming that black people are more likely to be involved in criminal acts. It happens when people of Middle Eastern descent are singled out and strip-searched because of their looks. There are at least a million people in the United States who are of Middle Eastern descent; do we then consider them all terrorists? Fundamentally, believing that one can achieve safety by looking at characteristics instead of behaviors is wrong. In the essay “Close Encounters with U.S Immigration.” by khan and the essay “Everything Isn’t Racial Profiling.” by Chavez, they both agree on the fact that racial profiling is wrong.…

    • 902 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays