Preview

Racial Profiling

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2133 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Racial Profiling
Should Racial Profiling be a Legitimate Law-Enforcement Policy? Racial profiling is an act where all people of a certain race are treated as criminal suspects by those of law enforcement. This occurs when police investigate, stop, frisk search or use force against a person based on race instead of a person’s criminal behavior. It often involves the stopping and searching of people of color for traffic violations. One controversial issue in the discussion of racial profiling has been how to prove if it is legitimate. On the one hand, some argue it is correct policy to search or investigate those of a particular race in order to control crime. On the other hand, some contend it is an unconstitutional stereotype that causes unfair treatment and harm to people of that race. Racial profiling occurs more than it should and there needs to be a legitimate law enforcement policy created to resolve the issue. Racial profiling has been occurring throughout our nation, for as far back as many of us can remember. Racial profiling stems from racism and fear of people who are different, ethnically and culturally, than the person making the judgments. During the Civil Rights Era, racial profiling was a major issue, thousands of black Americans were unnecessarily stopped and arrested on their skin color alone. According to Ben Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP, “…racial profiling contributed to the assassination of our 25th president” (para1). Leon Czolgosz, a light skinned man who stood in line holding a revolver covered by a handkerchief was overlooked by security. They were too busy focusing on the big African American man, James Parker who actually was the one to seize Czolgosz after the shooting (para2). This reflects how racial profiling causes innocent people to be stereotyped and criminals to continue with their crimes. Sadly, it spreads even further than that, and continues to cloud the judgment of people who are in positions of authority. Racial


Cited: Ayres, Ian. "Racial Profiling in L.A.: The Numbers Don 't Lie." Los Angeles Times. N.p., 23 Oct. 2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. Bushway, Scott. "Combating Racial Profiling Claims." Police Department Disciplinary Bulletin 12.6 (2004): 7-8. ProQuest Education Journals. Web. 9 Oct. 2012. Heumann, Milton, and Lance Cassak. Good Cop, Bad Cop. New York: Peter Lang, 2003. Print. Jealous, Ben. "Put an end, finally, to racial profiling." USA Today. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 7 Aug. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. Mazelis, Fred. "New Jersey Internal Records Document Widespread Racial Profiling of Black and Hispanic Motorists." World Socialist Web Site. International Committe of the Fourth International, 2 Dec. 2000. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. "Racial Profiling." Gale Encyclopedia of American Law. Ed. Donna Batten. 3rd ed. Detroit: Gale, 2010. 233-38. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. The Scars of Stop-and-Frisk. NYTimes.com Video Collection. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, 2010. Web. 23 Oct. 2012.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Bob Herbert's 'Jim Crow Policing'
    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rhetorical Analysis Of Bob Herbert's 'Jim Crow Policing'

    An issue that is widely debated but often is left lingering if it's correct to use racial profiling as a police tactic. Bob Herbert, wrote, ‘’Jim Crow Policing” published in 2010 in the New York City needs to be restrained. Herbert begins building his credibility by using rhetorical appeal of logos in the form of statistics to establish the incapability of the victims of racial profiling in New York City in the end of the article, he relies heavily on pathos and emotionally driven logic which weakened his credibility and argument.…

    • 621 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Summary: The End Racial Profiling Act
    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page

    Summary: The End Racial Profiling Act

    The bill to prohibit the use of racial profiling is known as the “The End Racial Profiling Act” as introduced by Benjamin L. Cardin. Cardin widely addresses the deceptive practice of racial profiling by law enforcement on five levels. First, it visibly defines the racially prejudiced practice of racial profiling by law enforcement at all levels. Second, it generates a federal prohibition against racial profiling. Thirdly, it mandates data collection so we can completely assess the factual degree of the problem. Fourth, it provides funding for the reinstruction of law enforcement officials on how to stop and avoid the use of racial profiling. Fifth and finally, it holds law enforcement agencies that continue to use racial profiling…

    • 118 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling: a Modern Day Epidemic
    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Racial Profiling: a Modern Day Epidemic

    Did you know that an appalling, unconstitutional and pernicious attack happens continuously in today’s society against innocent citizens and nobody does anything about it? This practice is called racial profiling. Mr. Bob Herbert, a journalist for the New York Times, discusses this in his article, “Hounding the Innocent”. This article is an insightful and informative. He informs his readers about many actual situations of innocent citizens becoming victims of this cruel practice. Mr. Herbert is correct, racial profiling is unnecessary and hurtful or is sickening and should not even exist. Racial profiling is the practice of using one’s skin color as evidence for grounds of suspicion. How can one say that this practice is fair? Racial profiling should be eliminated; it is insensitive, unconstitutional and has a detrimental effect on society.…

    • 643 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    An Examination of the Policy of Racial Profiling
    • 1414 Words
    • 5 Pages

    An Examination of the Policy of Racial Profiling

    Racial Profiling is a controversial law enforcement practice that brings about numerous complex ethical and policy considerations. As defined by report for the Department of Justice (Tamir 2009), racial profiling is “any police-initiated action that relies on the race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than the behavior of an individual or information that leads police to a particular individual who has been identified as being, or having been, engaged in criminal activity.” Generally, the use of race in conjunction with other evidence has been a common method of investigation for law enforcement officials. However, the use of race in targeting potential suspects has been the center of a complex legal and ethical debate. Specifically, the debate surrounding racial profiling offers the issue of the proper use of race in targeting a suspect in a criminal investigation. Though the use of race can be important in investigative and law enforcement tactics, the practice of racial profiling leads to the potential of abusive actions by law enforcement in the pursuit of apprehending criminal suspects.…

    • 1414 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    stop and frisk policy
    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages

    stop and frisk policy

    Our first artifact that we chose to demonstrate for our research project is an article from the Denver Post which pertains to Stop and Frisk in Colorado and how hardly any racial data exists. It states that ten thousands of people in Colorado are stopped each year and most often they are frisked for weapons but yet their departments provide brief information about who is being stopped or why. These policies and data collection regarding the use of this investigative technique vary from city to city. Out of the five largest cities in Colorado, only two collect demographic statistics on these so called field-interview reports.…

    • 305 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling Is Unnecessary in Law Enforcement
    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Racial Profiling Is Unnecessary in Law Enforcement

    Amnesty International. "Racial Profiling Has a Heavy Social Cost." Racial Profiling. Ed. Kris Hirschmann. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2006. At Issue. Rpt. from "Threat and Humiliation: Racial Profiling, Domestic Security, and Human Rights in the United States." 2004. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23 May 2012.…

    • 919 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Pros And Cons Of Racial Profiling
    • 146 Words
    • 1 Page

    Pros And Cons Of Racial Profiling

    Racial profiling is a very widespread topic. Racial profiling is beginning to spread across the United States and many other countries as if a fire spread in a forest. It is important for us to understand that racial profiling is impractical and hurtful to the persons targeted. It is also important for people to recognize that racial profiling puts fear into people’s hearts and that can have an emotional impact on the way people think, act and even their character. Racial Profiling should be a exercise that should be ended in all places including the court system and law enforcement. One can come up with several illustrations declaring its advantages and disadvantages. Although racial profiling can be useful in certain cases it is incorrect…

    • 146 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Racial Ethnic And Religious Profiling in the U.S.
    • 1618 Words
    • 47 Pages

    Racial Ethnic And Religious Profiling in the U.S.

    In the United States, ‘The land of the Free’, racial profiling of minority groups seems all too common. Many Americans believe that law enforcement as well as many other people often discriminates on minority groups simply because of their color of their skin. Civil rights activist and many leaders of minority groups are pressuring Enforcement agencies to eliminate racial and ethnic profiling during traffic stops and supposed random pedestrian stops. However, many law enforcement representatives claim that the complaints about these activities are overstated and are simply in the heads of the accusers. As a nation with a history of racial slavery and racial segregation, particularly towards any group that is not Anglo-American or fair skinned, African-Americans have long complained of racial profiling. Although racial slavery has been over for over one hundred years, and segregation that ended over fifty years ago, there is still tension between many people over race. Hispanics and Muslims are two other ethnic groups that feel the racial profiling, often being suspected of being terrorists or being illegal immigrants.…

    • 1618 Words
    • 47 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Informative Essay: The Psychological Effects Of Racial Profiling
    • 641 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Informative Essay: The Psychological Effects Of Racial Profiling

    Racial profiling, the stereotypical cop vs anyone that isn’t white scenario, is happening in every back alley, ghetto, and high profile neighborhood across the nation. For those of you who don't know racial profiling is when someone is stopped for no reason other than the color of his or her skin. Unfortunately, in forty-six states racial profiling happens to have unclear laws or no data about the person is required to stop them, which is more than half the country even though it promotes stereotypes, isn't reliable, and causes psychological harm (Racial Profiling in America).…

    • 641 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Police Brutality And Racial Profiling
    • 103 Words
    • 1 Page

    Police Brutality And Racial Profiling

    Racial Profiling, we see it, hear it, and experience it, all because of our skin color, ethnicity or simply because of our names. All throughout the country, millions experience racial profiling whether it’s in a school, a restaurant, their neighborhood, or in jail. Racial Profiling has destroyed the public trust in not only police officers but from everyone around them as well. Listening to movements based on the killings due to being a certain race and learning from the death of Eric Garner and the series of deaths of others, concludes that two issues need to be solved: racial profiling and police…

    • 103 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Is Racial Profiling Defensible Public Policy?
    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Is Racial Profiling Defensible Public Policy?

    The judging of an individual’s character by their race did not become relevant because of the Rodney King beating, the attacks on the World Trade Center, or the illegal aliens crossing the Mexican border. Racial Discrimination has been a reoccurring issue for centuries. Throughout time, these judgments and discriminations have led to unwarranted searches, racial riots and unjust prosecutions. Racial Profiling not only adds to this overwhelming issue but is upheld by the U.S. government and prominent leaders. Racial profiling has caused divisions between black men and the police, negative effects on immigration and race relations, and false imprisonment, further proving that racial profiling is not defensible public policy.…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling Memo
    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Racial Profiling Memo

    Some observers claim that racial profiling doesn't exist, but there is an abundance of stories and statistics that document the practice (Callahan & Anderson, 2001). My observations focus on the history, current state, and consequences of fixing racial profiling.…

    • 774 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Benefits Of Racial Profiling
    • 241 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Benefits Of Racial Profiling

    Given the literature reviewed, there are three things that are clear. First, Racial profiling is real. Many media channels claim that there is no substance behind it. Yet, although it is real, it has not yet garnered the scholarly consideration it deserves. Current studies of racial profiling almost exclusively focus on one facet of African American lives, driving. Considering that most people, including minorities, spend considerable amounts of time in retail institutions, it seems that a rich area of potential research has gone unnoticed or has received less notice due to its connection to private security, which is probably the least studied zone of criminal justice. There are a few likely directions for future racial profiling research.…

    • 241 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Racial Profiling In Today's Society
    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Racial Profiling In Today's Society

    In today's society racial profiling is not as sinful as it was back in the early 18 and 1900's. In this paper I'm going to give an insight on the two most important aspects in my life, racial profiling and "Driving while black." As a black male, it's hard to be labeled as just an average human being. Instead we are labeled as thugs and people of color who don't have a purpose in life. As we walk the streets, everything that is done wrong is blamed on us until there is proof stating we didn't do it.…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Racial Profiling In America
    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Essay On Racial Profiling In America

    Since the 1970s, racial profiling has been used as a “necessary police tactic” to catch criminals before the crime has been committed. When racial…

    • 889 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics