Verified Document

Racial And Ethnic Profiling Gang Violence Essay

According to the National Gang Center’s (2011) National Youth Gang Survey, the majority of gangs are comprised of non-white minorities, especially Hispanic/Latino (46 percent of all gang members) and African American (35 percent of all gang members). Because of these statistics, law enforcement has been tempted to rely on racial profiling to fight gang formation, reduce gang membership, and control gang-related crimes. As tempting as it may be to rely on ethnic or racial strategies in law enforcement, these shortcuts undermine the fundamental principles of the criminal justice system. The use of racial and ethnic profiling and related techniques is illegal as well as unethical, presenting clear procedural justice problems for law enforcement departments that use these tactics (American Bar Association, n.d.). Using racial and ethnic strategies threatens to undermine public trust in, and the credibility of, law enforcement. Racial and ethnic strategies also defeat the purpose of more effective methods that can be used in the long-range fight against gangs, such as community policing. Strategies that are ethnically neutral focus on the criminal behaviors, not on the ethnic or racial composition of gang members.

Law enforcement agencies may be tempted to use profiling based on the fact that gangs to tend to reflect ethnic...

However, racial profiling and similar strategies only enhance the underlying reasons why some young people join gangs in the first place such as experiences with discrimination (White, 2008). Thus, law enforcement departments with racial profiling policies run the risk of driving disadvantaged youth to gangs. If disenfranchised young people view gang membership as prophylactic to widespread discrimination in the society, then it only makes sense to pursue an ethnically neutral policing strategy that focuses on how to address the root causes of gangs. Those root causes are certainly complex, but are generally related to the construction of social identities (White, 2008). Thus, gang reduction strategies can use community level tactics such as working with families, schools, and local businesses, to provide at-risk youth with alternative means of forming meaningful social ties.
Law enforcement in communities that have gang problems can and should also forge strategic alliances with residents, improving neighborhood watch programs and accountability that enhances rather than destroys trust. Using racial and ethnic strategies results in both institutional and contextual biases related to procedural justice. For example, any evidence gained from racial profiling can be stricken from the…

Sources used in this document:

References

American Bar Association (n.d.). Report to House of Delegates Commission on Immigration, Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity. https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/criminal_justice_section_newsletter/crimjust_policy_am08104c.authcheckdam.pdf

National Gang Center (2011). National youth gang survey analysis. https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Survey-Analysis/Demographics

White, R. (2008). Disputed definitions and fluid identities. Youth Justice 8(2): 149-161.


Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Gang Growth and Membership, Characteritics
Words: 4946 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

However, some gang members specialize in multiple criminal activities such as street robbery, human trafficking and drug trafficking. Street Gangs Street gangs are the major concern to parents, school administrators and the communities because they recruit students and the youths across the United States to enhance the growth of gang memberships. Street gangs are the most prevalent type of gangs in the United States because they influence a strong control in

Racial Profiling American Society Has
Words: 2857 Length: 9 Document Type: Research Paper

For the past several decades the emphasis in policing has been building trust in the community. Making the streets safe for everyone requires mutual cooperation between the general public and the police. Without community support, the police cannot do it alone. In this regard, respect as been shown to be a better tool for decreasing crime than fear and when fear is present residents tend to avoid contact with

Asian and Latino Gangs and
Words: 1866 Length: 6 Document Type: Thesis

Gang activity would then threaten the family and friends of gang members due to association and not any true guilt in any criminal activity. Along with the potential threats to innocent community members, gang activity deteriorates the condition of the communal space as well. Graffiti is very often evident as border markers and property rights within the gang hierarchy; yet "graffiti is offensive to the community" (HACER 2005:35). Along

Policy Options for Reducing Youth Involvement in Gangs in Low Income...
Words: 3165 Length: 11 Document Type: Essay

POLICY Youth and Gangs in Low Income AreasThis assignment is based on Burgess� concentric model, which divides urban centers into five zones that differ by income levels and distance from the central business district (Allen et al., 2005). Gang activity is more prominent in the �loop� (the CBD), the transition zone, which is characterized by low incomes and slum conditions, and the factory zone, which is dominated by factories and

Corrections/Gangs Prison Gangs Are Groups
Words: 2382 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

"Amongst the gangs were the Black Disciples, Spanish Cobras, Imperial Gangsters, Simon City Royals, Latin Eagles, Satan Disciples, and the Latin Disciples" (Folks Nation, n.d.). The term Folks was thought to be chosen as a name because of the word being an acronym. It stands for Follow the Orders and Laws the King Sets. The King at this time was Larry Hoover. He was the one who had the

School Violence in Schools Is Increasing at
Words: 1711 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

School Violence Violence in schools is increasing at an alarming rate as more teenagers gain access to weapons. It is important to devise a plan which could reduce this violence and make schools safer for future generations. Facts about School Violence Although fears concerning school violence have increased in the last several years, recent studies show that "most children are safer in school than out of it. Fatal incidents of school violence remained

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now