...Racial Profiling In America Racial profiling is a poisoning issue that has crippled our society since the early days of America. There have been many cases in America that all tie into to this problem. On February 26, 2012 a young black male by the name of Trayvon Martin was shot down walking home through a predominantly white neighborhood. George Zimmerman, who was a member of the neighborhood watch in his community, spotted Trayvon passing through the neighborhood. Zimmerman was under the impression that Trayvon was possibly involved in suspicious activity simply because of the color of his skin and the time of night he was passing through the neighborhood. After local officials recovered Trayvon’s body he was found to be unarmed with only...
Words: 1177 - Pages: 5
...there is still racial tension in people’s judgments. Racism still goes on today, the problems that make racism hard to conquer in America is; racial profiling in police authority and entertainment television which is ultimately in direct correlation with stereotyping. These are some of the reasons why racism is still relevant in some cases now and this answers the question of if America has conquered racism. The main focus of racism now come from stereotyping each racial ethnicity. Each race has their very own vague descriptions based on culture and beliefs. These stereotypes becoming well known in today's society it comes with the price of racial profiling in police authority. There are such events involving racial profiling especially through the police procedures such as “stop and frisk”. Stop and frisking is described as racial profiling mainly because police officers often stop people based on physical...
Words: 569 - Pages: 3
...[Students name appear here] [Professor’s name appear here] Racial Profiling Date appears here Racial Profiling History is replete with examples of people that have differentiated between themselves and others that are different in any which way. This abhorrent discrimination between two human beings has not become a relic of the past; rather it still persists in our modern society in some form or the other. The United States of America is no stranger to incidents where these objectionable incidents are recorded widely, and it is not just relegated to poor neighborhoods and other similarly shady areas. Rather, it has become a permanent feature in the corporate world, Government and other similar places where these sorts of differentiations would be least expected. One community that has always been constantly repressed is the African American community. Their forefathers were brought to America’s shores as slaves, in times when slavery was still tolerated. To this day, many people in America still consider them as alien to their land. This of course leads to a host of problems across America that shows up when African Americans across the country are questioned about their fortunes. This sort of discrimination is often encouraged by many people that rather disturbingly have a lot of authority and power in making and implementing laws. Their argument is that discriminating and acting against the Black community is a viable way of making sure that Crime is kept in check. ...
Words: 2288 - Pages: 10
...Shawnta Morris CJE 101-01 Research Paper October1, 2013 Racial Profiling and the Effects it has on Blacks in the Criminal Justice System. Some people wonder what is racial profiling. Racial profiling deals with miss-education, slavery, and incarceration. Since the beginning of slavery African Americans have suffered due to their identity. Racial profiling deals with selecting a person for their complaint of a specific racial group. The main reason in advocating racial profiling in the background of criminal study can enlarge the possibility of arresting criminals. Paul Bou-Habib stated, “If the rate at which members of a specific racial group commits a crime is higher than that of other criminals will be caught if the police concentrate their efforts on investigating members of the racial group in question?” (2011, p.34). It is injustice, when police officers, political officials, and judges have learned how to automatically have a racist attitude towards blacks. For example, my friend was in McDonald’s parking lot and he was in the process of switching seats with his friend because he was exhausted of driving. While leaving the parking lot, the officer had pulled them over because he seen a black guy get out of his car and thought something seemed suspicious. The officer implied that my friend did not use his right turning signal. The term “driving while black has been used to describe the practice of law enforcement officials to stop African-American drivers without probable...
Words: 1936 - Pages: 8
...2015 Male African Americans & Racial Profiling in American INTRODUCTION Considering our time and age racial profiling one of the most untouched subjects in history, especially in the law-enforcement community. Most people get it confused with criminal profiling which is not the same. 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 the police to a particular individual who has been identified as being or having been, engaged in criminal activity. Criminal profiling is any police- initiated action that used the compilation of the background, physical, behavioral, and motivational characteristics for a type of perpetrator that lead the police. Now imagine driving to the store on a cold winter day, dressed in a hoodie to keep warm. You simply pull into the parking lot in hopes of getting something nice for your daughter for the holidays. Driving the posted speed limit, you pull slowly into a parking space in the back of the store. All of a sudden, a car pulls up behind you, blocking you in. You look in your rearview mirror only to find the community crime watch officer staring you down. The officer immediately treats you like a suspect, smothering you with questions concerning what you’re doing, where you’re going; yet never really had any reasoning behind the questions. The major reason to oppose racial profiling is that it simply doesn’t work. Empirical...
Words: 2771 - Pages: 12
...Racial Profiling Furnie J. Oden IV Strayer University- Lithonia Campus Some people wonder what is racial profiling. Racial profiling derives from fear of the unknown, miss-education, slavery, and incarceration. Since the beginning of slavery African Americans have dealt with profiling due to their identity. Racial profiling deals with selecting a person within a stereotypical criteria according to their specific racial group. The main reason in advocating racial profiling in the background of criminal study can enlarge the possibility of arresting criminals. Paul Bou-Habib stated, “If the rate at which members of a specific racial group commits a crime is higher than that of other criminals will be caught if the police concentrate their efforts on investigating members of the racial group in question?” (2011, p.34). It is not right when police officers, political officials, and judges make decisions based on predetermined racist and some would say ignorant beliefs. For example, my friend was in McDonald’s parking lot and he was in the process of switching seats with his friend because he was exhausted of driving. . The term “driving while black has been used to describe the practice of law enforcement officials to stop African-American drivers without probable cause” (Weatherspoon, 2004). This is one of the leading minority men are pulled over in their vehicle. Which usually leads to a unwarranted stop...
Words: 2178 - Pages: 9
...ABSTRACT Over the years racial profiling has become a significant topic especially among law enforcement agencies across the United States. Many cities and states have made a conscious effort to study racial profiling and ascertain how race and ethnicity plays a significant role in stopping vehicles by law enforcement in their jurisdictions (Cleary, 2000). This literature review will examine the argument of whether racial profiling is practiced significantly by police agencies nationwide, and whether such practices are beneficial or not? The determination of whether race is a significant factor in the likelihood of being stopped by law enforcement is the purpose of this research. Are African Americans Targeted by Police Because of Their Race? A Review of the Literature Examining whether or not African Americans are targeted by police because of their race is an effective topic because African Americans experience it every day and the experience is not a new concept. The argument over racial profiling is based on two questions. Does racial profiling actually occur and if so, is it being used as a legitimate tool by law enforcement? The extent of racial profiling by the public is unknown; however, research reveals that “both race and personal experience with racial profiling are strong predictors in the attitudes toward profiling and that, among blacks, social class affects views of the prevalence and acceptability of the practice” (Weitzer and Tuch, 2002) thus furthering...
Words: 1181 - Pages: 5
...Racial Profiling and it's Consequences Racial profiling is unethical, because it violates human rights by degrading individuals; in addition, it is not cost effective and would be counterproductive. Racial profiling involves selecting people for a given purpose on the basis of their membership of a particular racial group (Thomsen p. 2). The main reason why law enforcement uses racial profiling is, because it can increase their chances of catching criminals. In other words, it narrows down suspects and find people that commit crimes. However, racial profiling can be wrong for a number of reasons. First of all it is wrong, when law enforcement uses it with a racist, derogatory, and humiliating attitude when stopping individuals for a traffic infraction. Second of all it is against the 14th Amendment. Racial profiling also prevents the latino community to work with law enforcement, because it creates fear; finally, it prevents law enforcement to properly serve the community. Why not reduce profiling or get rid of it for ever? We are after all one nation that has been able to embrace different people from different ethnicity and backgrounds in to America. Racial profiling is unethical, humiliating, and it violates human rights. “Racial profiling appears morally wrong and more troubling when the racial group that is being profiled suffers from background injustice” (Paul Bou-Habib p. 33). One main point I would like to make is that racial profiling is wrong when law enforcement...
Words: 301 - Pages: 2
...Racial Profiling: Black Male Drivers By Baker McNair For Ethical Issues in Criminal Justice Administration Professor Dr. Phillip R. Neely, Jr. Saint Leo University October 15, 2012 Table of Contents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Literature Review 5 Methodology 6 Data Analysis 7 Conclusion/Recommendation 8 Appendix A 9 Survey 10 References 11 Abstract Racial Profiling Black Males Drivers Over the past several years, the use of race by law enforcement agencies in their policing has received national attention across the United States of America (USA). There is a strong controversy regarding “racial profiling”, centering on police departments’ practices related to traffic stops- examining whether police have targeted drivers on the basis of their race or ethnicity, especially in regards to black male drivers. This poses a potential problem when the very people who take oaths of office to protect and to serve community are seen abusing. Ethically, police officers in the role of crime fighters should focus on all violators of the law regardless of gender, race, creed, or color. They are entrusted to enforce the law, not violate it. Many of law enforcement officers are ethical and professional. However, there are those officers that abuse their power to target individuals of certain ethic groups with unequal enforcement of the law. Enforcing the law based on the color of a person skin is...
Words: 2475 - Pages: 10
...a dream that many still dream today. Even though we are closer now than at any point in history, we have yet to experience the freedom of which Dr. King dreamed. Racism is not a problem only in America, most every nation deals with racial issues on some level. Though none of us could ever forget the tragedy of the Holocaust, we tend to forget that it was racially motivated. Hitler’s goal was to exterminate the Jewish people. “Anne Frank was murdered by the Nazis in Bergen-Belsen [concentration camp] for being a Jew, just one of over one million Jewish children to be killed in the Holocaust” (Melchior). The Holocaust, while the most prominent, is not the only example of ethnic cleansing that the world offers. Darfur, the Sudan, Croatia, and Kosovo, just to name a few, have all dealt with this racial horror. South Africa, as well, deals with racism. As the political power shifts toward black South Africans, white South Africans face continual racial violence (Russell). By taking a broad look, it would appear that even though America is a relatively young nation, we have greatly overcome racism when compared to the majority of the world. Though it has been nearly 150 years since President Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation, a black man is still not free in America. Certainly, no longer bound with the chains of slavery, but he is...
Words: 1864 - Pages: 8
...Racial Profiling” refers to the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crimes based on the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin.Criminal profiling is generally viewed as a tactic used by police (any member of law enforcement, including, but not limited to, any local, state or federal individual), who is duly authorized to protect and serve the public. This also includes security guards, airport security, etc. This paper will examine some recent examples of profiling and will seek to determine whether law enforcement has acted out of fear, or racism in a post-racist America. Profiling for the purposes of this argument will be justified by the following principles:...
Words: 532 - Pages: 3
...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
...Connection between Trayvon Martin's Death and Racial Profiling in America Racial profiling is the use of ethnicity or race as the grounds for suspecting that an individual has committed an offense. Rather, it is a discriminatory practice whereby persons, mostly law enforcement, use an individual’s cultural background, religion, or race as the reason to speculate that one has broken the law. Ideally, Trayvon Martin’s death and his killer’s acquittal reflect the extent of racial profiling in America. In spite of the rulings of the judge in the case, the views of the defense of George Zimmerman and other people’s opinion especially the white, race not only matters but also overruns the judgments on social conditions and politics. In the book...
Words: 819 - Pages: 4
...[Name of the Writer] [Name of the Institution] [Name of the Subject] [Date] Racial Profiling and Law Enforcement Introduction Over the years racial profiling has become a significant topic especially among law enforcement agencies across the United States. Many cities and states have made a conscious effort to study racial profiling and ascertain how race and ethnicity play a significant role in stopping vehicles by law enforcement in their jurisdictions. Profiling refers to the practice of police that view certain characteristics as indicators of criminal behavior. It is the establishment of law enforcement practices that solves crime and develop prevention strategioes against crime. While, racial profiling is the new term for profiling. The change is partially because of the ambiguity that racial profiling has some confusions and controversories. The term racial profiling best decribes the situation where police arrests, questions or stops the person on the basis of race (Cleary 5). In regards to the racial profiling, the concern about it is erupting in the entire nation (Harcourt 18). Racial profiling is considered as the use of the individual’s ethnicity and race through the law enforcement personnel. In many of the jurisdiction, the practice of such acts is considered as illegal and controversial. United States have decided to work on the issues related to the racial profiling, that how the ethnicity and race play a part in order to stop the injustice through...
Words: 2214 - Pages: 9
...Racial Profiling in the U.S. Criminal Justice System Student’s Name Institution Racial Profiling in the U.S. Criminal Justice System Racial profiling is among the key problems that are cited in the U.S. criminal justice system. The American Civil Liberties Union(2016) defines racial profiling as a discriminatory practice by law enforcement officers of using individual’s race, ethnicity, religion among other traits as grounds for suspicion Racial profiling has particularly affected the black Americans and other minority groups. Research shows that these minority groups and especially the black Americans are overrepresented in the U.S. Criminal system despite the fact that they constitute just a small percentage of the total U.S. population. History of Racial Profiling in the United States Racial profiling is an old problem dating back to a number of centuries ago. The history of racial profiling is ingrained in a number of historical events that cast African Americans in an inferior light. In 1704, South Carolina created the first slave patrol in which white men oversaw black slaves on plantations as well as hunting down fugitive slaves. Black Americans, most of which were slaves had to produce passes as proof of having permission not to be in plantations, or if they had been emancipated, they were required to carry with them freedom papers to show that they were free. Black people were exposed to interrogations...
Words: 1020 - Pages: 5
