RACIAL PROFILING-POLICE

Profiling in Law Enforcement

Definitions , effects , solutions

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of 9 /11 /2001 , the issues of racial and cultural profiling have risen to prominence . For some however , profiling has been a given for many years . Police often cite the necessity of such a tactic in to protect the public Meanwhile , certain groups of citizens feel that they are unfairly targeted and must constantly live under a cloud of unjustified police suspicion . An emerging body of evidence points to the fact that certain groups of people are

, in fact , disproportionately targeted

In recent years , the general public has become less tolerant of crime and more tolerant of a gradual erosion of civil rights and equal protection under the law . Given the decreased tolerance for crime officials argue that such measures as profiling are critical to addressing potential crime before it happens . Minority groups , in contrast , feel that there is no justification for the elevated level of suspicion for certain groups

There is a clear disconnect between these groups and the majority of the public who have a high degree of trust for authorities . This conflict defines a crucial question society needs to answer where should it draw the line in balancing interests of protecting individual rights and fighting crime (Pampel , 2004

Going forward , a middle ground needs to be achieved . A more comprehensive approach to preventing crime could help alleviate injustices . Some communities are already employing such strategies effectively . Retraining and increased recruitment of minority police officers can also help

Definition and Background

Profiling in law enforcement takes two general forms . One form is depicted by the professional police pror , a figure that has become a popular subject for television shows and movies . A professional pror is usually concerned with identifying a specific subject in a crime that has already taken place . This type of profiling may take race or other cultural characteristics into account , but it is done within a comprehensive scientifically-based process . While some are still doubtful about the efficacy of these prors , they have also been credited with helping the police identify and apprehend dangerous individuals

Another form of profiling has raised a firestorm of controversy . This profiling is less scientific , less institutionalized and more based on individual perceptions . Racial and other forms of profiling absent of specific information have long been practiced by individual police on the street . The United States Department of Justice defines the law enforcement practice of profiling in this way

Racial profiling is defined as any police-initiated action that relies

on race , ethnicity or national origin rather than behavior .or

information (Pampel , 2004

Race is not the only parameter that might be used in police profiling Cultural factors , language misunderstandings and long-held preconceptions about the sexes are among the many factors that can manifest themselves as profiling ' on the streets . Terrorism concerns have also elevated public acceptance of profiling . A Harvard study found that 73 of people favored racial profiling in airport screenings , even if the process...