The Pros And Cons Of Racial Profiling

Racial profiling is a dated and ineffective tactic used by law enforcement to propagate the idea that members of certain races (particularly non-white) are more inclined to commit crimes, than are Caucasians. The American Civil Liberties Union defines racial profiling as “the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin” (“Racial Profiling: Definition”). This biased practice is highly inadequate in fulfilling its intended purpose, is in opposition to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and yet is still implemented by law enforcement officials all across North America.
Racial profiling dates back as far as
the 1700s, and uses stereotypes and racism in the place of actual investigative police work. Despite the overtly racist undertones of racial profiling, the practice is still alive and well in North America. Those in favor of this tactic claim that it is still implemented today because of its effectiveness, but the reality is that racial profiling does more harm than good in our society. An excess of racism this large within law enforcement creates mistrust and cynicism towards the criminal justice system. Some effects of these attitudes include less cooperation with law enforcement, inappropriate responses to the police out of fear, heightened safety concerns, and civil unrest (“Racial Profiling: Effect on Our Nation”).
There is strong evidence that racial profiling doesn’t work, as seen in numerous studies that took place in the United States.
A 2001 U.S. Department of Justice report found that “although African Americans and Hispanics were much more likely than White persons to be stopped and searched, they were about half as likely to be in possession of contraband” (Harris, 73). Racial profiling is not only discriminatory, but also counter-productive. When used, the percentage of discovering unlawful conduct is lower than when racist stereotypes aren’t mixed in with police work. Ethnic profiling is built upon the idea that minorities are more likely to commit crimes compared to white people, and this school of thought is the reason that racial profiling was doomed from the
beginning. Racial profiling can also poison relations between the law enforcement and the general population. When people feel they are under suspicion, they become less likely to trust the police and thus less likely to help out during investigations. This distrust is subsequently engrained in the younger generations of targeted minorities, leading young children to be scared of police officers. If the police are seen as untrustworthy from the beginning, citizens often will not turn to law enforcement when help is needed. An article by the American Civil Liberties Union states that “racial profiling alienates communities from law enforcement, hinders community policing efforts, and causes law enforcement to lose credibility and trust among the people they are sworn to protect and serve” (“Racial Profiling”). This practice has created a large rift between the police and civilians that cannot be fixed unless there is a major change within law enforcement.
Ethnic profiling has become so engrained in our culture that there is an ongoing movement to raise awareness about police brutality, racism, and racial profiling. The Black Lives Matter movement was founded in 2012, after the untimely death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman. On February 26th, Trayvon went to a corner store and bought himself candy and a soda. As Trayvon returned home from the store, he walked through a neighborhood known for frequent robberies. Zimmerman, a member of the community watch, spotted him and called the Sanford Police to report him for suspicious behavior. Moments later, Zimmerman shot Trayvon in the chest. George Zimmerman saw a seventeen-year old dark-skinned boy in a hoodie, deemed him as suspicious, and ended up shooting him in what Zimmerman claimed to be “self-defense”. George was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter, but was later acquitted of said charges. Since racial profiling is so prevalent in society, it made sense in Zimmerman’s mind to see a black teenage boy and instantly rationalize that he was a danger. By continuing to employ racial profiling tactics, law enforcement officials are telling the general public that non-white people are a threat. This dangerous practice results in citizens thinking it is okay to stigmatize those with dark skin, and fuels the racism that is already so widespread in society today.
In the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section fifteen states that “Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability” (“Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982”).
Therefore, any unusual treatment regardless of the intent of the police can be seen as a violation of the individual’s right. Racial profiling is, by definition, based on a standard of unequal protection. People of color are more likely to be searched by police and less likely to be treated as law-abiding citizens, whereas white people are less likely to be searched by police at all. Racial profiling transgresses against this right as it allows law enforcement officials to intentionally subject people of color to unequal treatment without probable cause or adequate
evidence.
While racial profiling may seem like an effective tactic for catching criminals, overall it is causing wide-spread panic among racial minority groups, mistrust in law enforcement, riots, and helps fuel the idea that racial minorities are lesser than white people. When racial profiling has been studied in the context of law enforcement, it’s been found to be neither an efficient nor effective approach to fighting crime. Studies in the United States have found that while racial minorities were targeted more, the chance of finding illegal substances when their cars were searched was the same or less than white people. In several studies, minorities were found to be significantly less likely to have contraband found during a search. There is no factual proof that people of color are more likely to commit crimes when compared to white people, nor is there proof that racial profiling actually helps out law enforcement to catch criminals. Racial profiling is outdated, unproductive, and overall harmful for the police and citizen involved. It is past due the time to get rid of racial profiling, and instead focus on actual police work and evidence to help solve crimes.