Mcleod (2003) examines the viewpoint that the problem with racial profiling is that it unmistakable identifies a certain portion of the population as 'them' and pairs that description against 'we' suggesting that racial disparities upset the natural order of things (p. 343). Such thinking is not only outdated, but it also lays the foundation for ineffective policy and law enforcement efforts that are not focused on the problem, but are rather focused on a superficial aspect of a persons overall composition, namely their race (Mcleod, 2003).
Banks (2003) suggests that racial profiling is irrational and pervasive, and results in widespread investigation of black, Latinos and other racial minorities without empirical evidence to suggest that there is a valid reason for doing so. In addition Banks (2003) confirms that racial profiling results of mistreatment of racial minorities which leads to subsequent tensions between racial minority communities and law enforcement agencies, which can damage the ability of police agents to effectively address crime within urban communities.
Current Trends
As a result of the negative information available with regard to racial profiling, numerous law enforcement agencies and government officials now have publicly "disavowed" the practice, prohibited it, or condemned it completely (Banks, 2003). Many studies of law enforcement practices are also being adopted in order to document the extent to which racial profiling is occurring, and in an attempt to identify whether such efforts have been effective or not (Banks, 2003). Extensive evidence suggest that even in jurisdictions that have prohibited the practice, racial profiling is still occurring, perhaps as a result of ingrained practices that officers or law enforcement officials are having a difficult time overcoming (Banks, 2003).
The large majority of evidence available with regard to racial profiling suggests that the practice is largely ineffective, or at minimum the practice has provided ambiguous results and little empirical evidence (Banks, 2003).
Discussion
The majority of information available with regard to racial profiling suggests that racial profiling as a practice is an ineffective method of deterring criminal activity (Trende, 2000; Harris, 2002; Mcleod, 2003; Bass, 2001). In addition a large body of research is available which suggests that racial profiling disproportionately targets minority populations and results in increased tensions and poor relationships between law enforcement agents and minority citizens (Banks, 2003; Bass, 2001; Harris, 2002).
Despite this...
Racial profiling is not new, however, and was a theory of sociology in the late 19th century known as Social Darwinism. Incorrectly using Darwin's theory of evolution, the Social Darwinists believed that some species were morally superior to others, and even some races superior to othersJohnson () Public perception, though, believes in favor of seeing race as a reason for crime, and having a considerable fear of anyone outside their own
Racial Profiling Since 911 The racial profiling implies the discrimination by police to detail a person as suspect basing on the racial manifestations. In the present days the process of racial profiling has changed to a great extent. (Harris, 58) The racial profiling, till the present period was indicated towards the practice of police dragging over the black male drivers discriminately on the empirically valid but morally denounced hypothesis that they
The inverse would also be true. However, that question is not entirely black and white, pardon the pun (Stenning). The reason for this is that race can inform whether or why to stop someone for a traffic stop or on the sidewalk with racism not being the root reason. For example, a young white woman in her 20's would stand out like a sore thumb in a drug-infested area that
Racial Profiling The distinguished Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., director of Harvard's W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African-American Studies, was arrested for trying to break into someone's house. It happened to be his own (Project America; 2008). This is but one of numerous cases of racial profiling that has been documented in this country and that points to the injustice and irrationality of singling out ethnic minorities for
Ramirez et al. explains this clearly stating "when law enforcement practices are perceived to be biased, unfair, and disrespectful, communities of color and other minority groups are less willing to trust and confide in law enforcement officers and agencies, to report crimes that come to their attention, to provide intelligence and information, and to serve as witnesses at trials (Ramirez et al., 1996)." The author further explains that as
Detroit has also joined Los Angeles and Chicago in having such a regulation. A similar bill was attempted unsuccessfully thus far in Texas (2001). Responding to the concerns of organizations that represent Hispanics, Muslims and individuals of Arab descent, the Detroit City Council unanimously recently approved an ordinance that prohibits city officials from profiling people based on their appearance, race and similar factors. The regulation also bans city officials from
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