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Racial Profiling Pros And Cons

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Although, it may be true that police behavior, judgment is undistorted by racial discrimination, but on the contrary that contradicts most studies, which reveals that many police officers will confess to: using race as a significant factor in deciding whom to follow when on patrol or who they decide to detain, or search or arrest (MacDonald). Findings from a statewide study by the Steward Research Group show that black and Latino drivers are subjected to searches at significantly higher rates than Anglo drivers in Texas and around the country. "Nationwide leading concern in debates over racial profiling is over racial disparities in the likelihood of being searched during a traffic stop." (Texas).
The overall status of African Americans has …show more content…

It's interesting that the Supreme Court decided in Whren vs. U.S. that any offense was a legitimate legal basis for a stop, regardless of the officer's subjective state of mind. Ultimately, this decision is an easy out and can be used to stop and search any vehicle an officer wants which goes against what the Fourth Amendment stands for (Siegel). Our country has developed a system based on fair and equal treatment of all people and not unfair treatment based on one’s race or color. In another case of Ohio v. Robinette, the Court rejected the argument that officers seeking consent to search a vehicle must tell the driver he is free to refuse permission and leave (Find Law).
Certainly, racial profiling must be addressed as it has been, but to what extent has it been addressed and has every single police department dealt with the problem? If a cure is to occur than the justice system must see that all police departments and training reinforces that racial profiling is unacceptable behavior to make it stop. Just as laws enforce compliance so to negative bias individual views of different races be cleansed to compliance. Yes, this is a tall order for a large nation, but without corrective action among all law enforcement the problem will remain

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