Racial Profiling and Discrimination

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at how there is currently a considerable amount of debate and contention about the practice of profiling, particularly with regard to the legal and ethical implications. The paper also reviews the argument that in some cases profiling is necessary in terms of national security.

Outline:
Introduction
Profiling and Prejudice
The Results of Profiling and Discrimination
The Contemporary Problem of Profiling
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"A factor that has already been alluded to is that the result of profiling not only increases racial prejudice and social dissention, but that it can also lead to the biased overrepresentation of ethnic groups within the criminal justice system. There are numerous studies that attest to the overrepresentation of Blacks and Hispanics in the criminal system. One report state that there were "...serious findings of systematic unequal treatment of African American and Hispanic Americans and other minorities, as compared to their similarly situated white counterparts within the criminal justice system. "( Dunnaville C. 2000) Another important aspect of the study was that these disparities were found to begin with the very first stages of the process; which included the investigation of the suspected criminals by law enforcement officers, which again suggests discrimination. ( Dunnaville C. 2000) These disparities were then continued throughout the legal and criminal system. These are serious allegations as it amounts to stating that overrepresentation is in the first instance closely linked to racial and ethnic bias. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bass, Sandra. Policing Space, Policing Race: Social Control Imperatives and Police Discretionary Decisions. Social Justice 28.1 (2001): 156. Questia. 6 Sept. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001042403>.
• Bork, Robert H. Civil Liberties after 9/11. Commentary July-Aug. 2003: 29+. Questia. 5 Sept. 2006 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001957417>.
• Clayton M. US plans massive data sweep. 4 September, 2006. <http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0209/p01s02-uspo.html>
• Dunnaville C. Unequal Justice Under the Law-- Racial Inequities in the Justice System. 2000. September 4, 2006. http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:DNlNGKsjzU0J:www.vsb.org/publications/valawyer/dec00/dunnaville.pdf+Minorities+in+the+criminal+justice+system&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&lr=lang_en&client=firefox-a
• Glasser, Ira. American Drug Laws: The New Jim Crow. The 1999 Edward C. Sobota Lecture. Albany Law Review 63:703. (2000)

More papers on Racial Profiling and Discrimination:

• Persuasive Essay # 111708 : "Racial Profiling and Individual Rights"
• Analytical Essay # 146996 : "Police Corruption and Racial Profiling"
• Analytical Essay # 4292 : "The Constitution vs. Racial Profiling: The Knock-out Round"

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