Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

In:

Submitted By smarissa
Words 315
Pages 2
Racial profiling has been around for many years, with laws such as the "Black Codes", which were created during the reconstruction in the South. These laws imposed severe restrictions on freed slaves such as prohibiting their right to vote, forbidding them to sit on juries, limiting their right to testify against white men, carrying weapons in public places and working in certain occupations; and the “Jim Crow” laws, which were laws that discriminated against African Americans with concern to attendance in public schools and the use of facilities such as restaurants, theaters, hotels, cinemas and public baths. Trains and buses were also segregated and in many states marriage between whites and African American people. According to Heather Mac Donald, the term "Racial profiling" has two meanings, hard and soft profiling. “Hard” profiling uses race as the only factor in assessing criminal suspiciousness: an officer sees a black person and, without more to go on, pulls him over for a pat-down on the chance that he may be carrying drugs or weapons. "Soft" racial profiling is using race as one factor among others in gauging criminal suspiciousness: the highway police, for example, have intelligence that Jamaican drug posses with a fondness for Nissan Pathfinders are transporting marijuana along the northeast corridor. A New Jersey trooper sees a black motorist speeding in a Pathfinder and pulls him over in the hope of finding drugs (Mac Donald). Racial Profiling really came to the forefront with the beginning of The War on Drugs, during the Reagan era in 1982. In 1985, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) instituted Operation Pipeline, an intelligence-based assessment of the method by which drug networks transported bulk drugs to drug markets, and began training local and state police in applying a drug courier profile as part of highway drug interdiction

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...Racial profiling has become a practice used by law enforcement officials where decisions are made on the basis of skin color, ethnicity, or gender. This practice has had profound effects in communities where majority of the population are minorities, specifically African Americans and Hispanics. Not only are communities affected, but so are police officers. Due to the frequent use of this practice, community members are displeased which resulted in negative perceptions of the police. Today, police officers must take careful consideration of their actions because of the recent controversial matters regarding Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and others. Many criminal justice experts may argue that the practice of racial profiling is the misuse of...

Words: 784 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...RACIAL PROFILING Racial profiling refers to the way by which law enforcers discriminately apprehend civilians based on race, nationality, ethic group or religion in suspicion of a crime. This contentious act has been in practice since time in memorial. The terrorist attack on 1sept2001 popularized racial profiling. Since the attack was carried out by Arabic descents, most of them were subjected to thorough frisking at public location .Racial profiling has been condemned by experts owing to minorities being subjected to harsh treatment for no apparent reason. They claim that those regarded as ‘criminals‘ are less likely to engage in illegal activities as opposed to those who are not closely monitored because of unsuspecting law enforcers. This argument is, however watered down by several evidences stating that many illegal practices are done by gangs considering they are minorities. According to Michael Boylan there are various and distinctive ways it can be appropriate. He states that racial profiling can be carried out in a decent manner especially during an investigation.(Boylan ,2010).However ,its prohibited if there is no crime committed. He used the “token analysis” to indicate that it targets an individual to be specific but not a group of people(Boylan,2010) J. Angelo corlet also argues that racial profiling is not unethical on its own. He further stated that the term is discordant and ‘color profiling” should be acquired instead citing that race is obscure and...

Words: 459 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...Racial profiling has been around for many years, with laws such as the "Black Codes", which were created during the reconstruction in the South. These laws imposed severe restrictions on freed slaves such as prohibiting their right to vote, forbidding them to sit on juries, limiting their right to testify against white men, carrying weapons in public places and working in certain occupations; and the “Jim Crow” laws, which were laws that discriminated against African Americans with concern to attendance in public schools and the use of facilities such as restaurants, theaters, hotels, cinemas and public baths. Trains and buses were also segregated and in many states marriage between whites and African American people. According to Heather Mac Donald, the term "Racial profiling" has two meanings, hard and soft profiling. “Hard” profiling uses race as the only factor in assessing criminal suspiciousness: an officer sees a black person and, without more to go on, pulls him over for a pat-down on the chance that he may be carrying drugs or weapons. "Soft" racial profiling is using race as one factor among others in gauging criminal suspiciousness: the highway police, for example, have intelligence that Jamaican drug posses with a fondness for Nissan Pathfinders are transporting marijuana along the northeast corridor. A New Jersey trooper sees a black motorist speeding in a Pathfinder and pulls him over in the hope of finding drugs (Mac Donald). Racial Profiling really came...

Words: 1806 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Racial Profiling

...reason the officer wants to search your car. After much hassle you are finally free to go, yet still have no explanation as to why you were pulled over to begin with. Now imagine you are black and the officer is white. You have probably just experienced racial profiling. Racial profiling is a problem which is gaining widespread notoriety in the United States. It may be the most important homeland issue we face today. Racial profiling is a clear violation of the civil rights of United States citizens. Not only does racial profiling affect civilians, but it actually makes law enforcement ineffective. Most efforts to investigate and eradicate racial profiling have failed due to unclear findings and a lack of accountability on the part of law enforcement. New measures must be taken in conjunction with current measures to curb racial profiling. A stringent federal program to monitor and survey our nation’s police officers is needed. The public also needs to become more involved in efforts to stop racial profiling. Until these measures are taken, racial profiling will continue to eat away at the heart of our nation. Racial profiling is one of the most important civil rights issues facing our country today. Not only does racial profiling affect the direct victims, it negatively affects all people of color, in all generations, of all levels of economic standing. The integrity and accountability of...

Words: 3179 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...Racial Profiling Still Active Today Research Methodology in Public Safety Racial Profiling “It is said that Milwaukee Police Departments are said to be “racial profiling” due to their Police Chief implementing a “traffic stop initiative” only in African American Communities. The Police Chief tried to say it that it wasn’t “racial profiling” but rather “targeting the high crime areas of Milwaukee (White, 2010).” Racial profiling occurs when police routinely use races as a factor that causes an officer to react with suspicion to take action. Though the Police Chief feels he is doing the right thing by supposedly protecting “black victims,” the community feels that the police department is “racially profiling.” Racial profiling in my opinions an ineffective strategy. It says that you don’t want to learn about your community person’s behavior and you’re just ready to judge the person by the color of the skin. It cannot be disputed that the perception of racial profiling by police department still exist within minority communities and societies at large. This is a recurrent topic of debate and divisive issue in many communities. This was clearly seen and addressed when I saw the problem first hand when I worked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Questions: Some questions to be asked are: 1. Should police do more to control excessive force? 2. Should...

Words: 309 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Racial Profiling

...There are many pros and cons to Racial Profiling, and the law enforcement uses them in so many ways. Racial profiling is when people such as the Law Enforcement approach many people of the same races being accused of the same things that are most common in that race. Racial profiling has been around for a long time and it is very common. The law enforcement uses a lot racial profiling towards all the races. Policemen and Policewoman can easily pull over people because of their race. Mexicans are usually pulled over because they can be accused of being an illegal immigrant, or even drug dealing/using marijuana. African Americans are most commonly pulled over because they can be accused of drug dealing, being a thief or even being accused of doing cocaine. Caucasian people are usually pulled over to being accused of meth, unlawful possessions of weapons, or controlled substances. I think that in order to get the criminals off the streets it is okay to use racial profiling if they are using it in the right way. I think that if I were to see a truck or car with big rims and someone that gets out of the car is all tattooed up and is taking a smoke, I honestly would accuse them of being in the wrong and would be okay if a cop were to come and search them to see what they are getting themselves into. If a person is being suspicious then the law enforcement should be able to have a search warrant on them. Not only is it a good idea for them to stop the criminals from doing crime, its...

Words: 781 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...In this paper, I will be focusing on the act of racial profiling, which has become quite common in the contemporary society. Racial profiling refers to the practice of using race as the main ground for suspecting individuals of having committed an offense. I will be sharing this article with the history professor in Sunderland University. Racial Profiling Component of Article The article that I will review and is related to this topic on racial profiling is named “Race and Justice: Wrongful Convictions of African American Men” is written by Feagin Joe. Precisely, this article mainly talks about how the African Americans tend to be wrongly convicted due to racial prejudice and discrimination (Feagin, 2013). In order to gather adequate...

Words: 935 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...1. What is your chosen topic, and how did you come across it? * The topic I choose is racial profiling. And the way I came across this is topic is because I see on the news all the time. Why is it interesting you? * The reason why it interest me is because I’m shocked that people in the 21st century can still have so much hatred towards a certain race. What do you personally hope to gain or accomplish by writing about this topic? * What I hope to gain from writing about this topic is I want get a better understanding of what triggers them to do these things. 2. Provide a brief summary of the topic. Explain the current issues surrounding the topic and share at least two different positions on the topic. Racial profiling is when an officer of the law abuses his authority targeting a certain race, ethnicity, or religion. One current issue surrounding this topic is the case about Freddie Gray. He was a Baltimore resident that got arrested. While he was being transported to the transport van he sustained injuries. He fell into a coma and died. The 6 officers could never account on how he sustained those injuries and the information they released would never add up. So protesters began attacking police officers, rioting, and destroying properties. They were doing this because they believed that Freddie Gray was targeting by these officers and they were abusing their power by the way he was treated. 3. What specific issue will you write about within the larger...

Words: 392 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling

...An issue I deem that is a flaw in the criminal justice system is using racial profiling for the stop-and-frisk policy. Racial profiling is basically the use of race or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting someone of committing a crime or an offense. The stop-and-frisk policy is when a police officer stops someone he/she deems suspicious and frisking the person for something. One case that relates to this flaw in the criminal justice system would be the Floyd v. City of New York. The date that this case was filed was on January 31, 2008 by David Floyd, David Ourlicht, Lalit Clarkson and Deon Dennis. This case challenged the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) practices of racial profiling and seeing whether or not the stop and frisk policy...

Words: 1835 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling Essay

...backgrounds and hold very different values, beliefs, experiences and this has an effect on their opinion on law enforcement’s use of racial profiling. When it comes to racial profiling there are people who support that use of it and others completely reject the idea of police use of racial profiling. “Personal experiences with the police, particularly those in which residents believe they have been the target of racial profiling, have also emerged as strong predictors of perceptions about profiling. Perhaps not so surprisingly, bad experiences with police have been found to negatively impact perceptions of police” (Graziano et al. 2010 p 4). This quote is significant because it tells us that people who have bad...

Words: 616 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling Repeats

...History Repeats: Profiling Color and Violent Acts Racial profiling has been a reoccurring event for decades now. Some dispute their opinions on whether racial profiling is a violent act or a socially responsible law. Racial Profiling is an act, which has definitely evolved into a violent one overtime. This issue is known as a “recent phenomenon” (Eger, et.al). Before the year 1995, racial profiling was not a term, which was heard of often. Marshall Miller conducted research on whether the “recent phenomenon” was a pattern or a now repetitive practice. Both the authors of The Policy of Enforcement and Marshall Miller come to an agreement when regarding the treatment of different racial groups. Negative outcomes occur after studying the treatment...

Words: 1662 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling Theory

...Bernard, J. Thomas, Calnon, M. Jennifer, Engel, S. Robin. Theory and racial profiling: Shortcomings and future directions in research: Pages 250-273. 20 October 2015. The authors reviewed thirteen studies that collected data on police-citizen contact during traffic stops or interrogation. Each found racial disparities in the total rates of the stops. Criminal justice researches have focused on determining the relative influence of legal factors on decision making. Researchers found that the impact of racial prejudice on criminal justice agents’ has decreased in importance for at least thirty years. Prior to the 1970’s racial prejudice was appropriate and reasonable, but since then police departments have made managerial efforts to reduce prejudice...

Words: 371 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Racial Profiling Survival

...“Racial Profiling : A Matter of Survival” by Michelle Malkins introduces that racially profiling a person based on their race , gender or by what they are wearing could help keep our nation safe and lower crime in certain areas if we take the right precautions. The main races that are targeted the most are Muslims , Blacks, and latinos, muslims are known as terrorist, blacks are known as murderers and latinos are known as immigrants. There is a title to certain groups of people when there should not be because we are all the same people. I disagree with Ms.Malkin, you can not sit there and think that every muslim is terrorist because of past events like 9/11. Although yes they should have taken more precautions back then a especially if someone was warning them of suspicion but if there is no suspicion there why racial profile someone. “If the FBI had taken william's advice, the feeling of some Arabs and Muslims might have been hurt. But the Twin Towers might still be standing and 3,000 innocent people might be alive today.”(malkins p.9) You're judging someone based on their culture and...

Words: 749 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Racial Profiling

...The Unathletic Dept. Taken from JHU A blue seventh place athletic ribbon hangs from my mantel. Every day, as I walk into my living room, the award mockingly congratulates me as I smile. Ironically, the blue seventh place ribbon resembles the first place ribbon in color; so, if I just cover up the tip of the seven, I may convince myself that I championed the fourth heat. But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place. Two years ago, I joined the no-cut swim team. That winter, my coach unexpectedly assigned me to swim the 500 freestyle. After stressing for hours about swimming 20 laps in a competition, I mounted the blocks, took my mark, and swam. Around lap 14, I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. “I must be winning!” I thought to myself. However, as I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans, I looked up at the score board. I had finished my race in last place. In fact, I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes. The blue for the first loser went to me. However, as I walked back to my team, carrying the seventh place blue, listening to the splash of the new event’s swimmers, I could not help but smile. I could smile because despite my loss, life continued; the next event began. I realized that I could accept this failure, because...

Words: 527 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Causes Of Racial Profiling

...There has always been tension raised between maintaining a safe society and observing by the constitutional right of its citizens. People have always criticized the aggressive way police officers prevent crime. The African American and Hispanic communities have concerned about racial profiling when referring to crime and sentences. They have commented that discrimination and color blind will never end. The 4th amendment of the us constitution enforce the notion that all man is created equal, it also protects people against arbitrary arrest, and the basis of the law regarding search warrants, stop and frisk and safety inspections. However this controversy of discrimination and racial profiling against minorities and people of color will never end. Black and Hispanic will always be racially profiled when referring to blame someone about any situation. There will always be big stark racial disparities is what define American’s relationship with the death penalty and people of color. That’s why many people argue that the criminal justice system affirmatively depends on inequality. Traditionally courts around the United States have shown that they all have been designed to prosecute adult offenders, juveniles are treated differently, they are not seen as criminals, and they are seen as delinquents and...

Words: 1018 - Pages: 5