Racial Profiling Research

Racial profiling is simply, “the unlawful police practice of using race, color, or ethnic background, as the reason for conducting a traffic stop on an individual.” (Michigan Civil Rights Commission) This definition can be extended to any kind of discrimination mainly based on myths and stereotypes towards a certain race or ethnicity. However, the term racial profiling is commonly used when a police officer or any other law enforcer stops, questions, searches or arrests an individual purely on the basis of their race. African Americans or simply blacks have been the major racial group that has suffered much of racial profiling. Much of this is based on the stereotypes against the blacks are perceived as more likely to engage in criminal activities. For instance, in a 2013 Racial Profiling Data from Ferguson Police Department, out of 5384 police stops, 4632 were against blacks. (Ferguson Police Dept. 1) Despite the low population of blacks in U.S. compared to other races, the former continues being subjected to more racial profiling. Racial profiling against African Americans continues to expose the blacks to humiliation and racial injustices, as this paper will expose, thereby calling for the responsible authorities to address and find solutions for the problem.

What is racial profiling? The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) 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” (2005). Do not confuse racial profiling with criminal profiling; criminal profiling is usually practiced by police in which they use a group of characteristics that are associated with crime to target individuals (ACLU, 2005). Examples of racial profiling include using ones race to target specific drivers for traffic violations and pedestrians for illegal contraband; another prime example is the targeting of Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians since 9/11 in regards to minor immigrant violations without any connection to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon (ACLU, 2005). Without a doubt, racial profiling occurs on a daily basis all over the world; however let’s focus on racial profiling in the United States and specifically right here in our homeland, Michigan. Background & History

The most visible source in a racial profiling case is Title 42, U.S.C. section 1441 under the Crime Control Act of 1994 (Hemmens, 2014). Other sources such as the Fourth Amendment, and Fourteenth Amendment provides some relief in the issues of racial profiling, but Title 42 section 14141 is more effective. Title 42, section 14141 seek to end misconduct of law enforcement officers in their pattern and practice (Hemmens, 2014, p. 53).

Racial profiling has become a big thing in the world today. I honestly believe it has always been a problem. Racial profiling is someone who is a different color and is blamed for a crime because of the color of their skin. When someone commits a crime, the police are going to suspect it was someone of color, rather than someone who is white. There are about 770,000 interracial crimes committed a year involving Blacks and Whites. Blacks commit 85 percent, and Whites commit 15 percent. As it shows there are more Blacks that commit crimes then whites, but it doesn’t mean we should jump to conclusion on if it was the black or white person. Honestly, looks can be deceiving, because there are plenty of white people who we thought wouldn’t commit a crime but did. By crimes I mean embezzlement, fraud, and sometimes even murder. You would think it would be more of a white crime if it was embezzlement and fraud because what black person is smart. You would think murders would be done by the black person because, white people don’t murder unless they were raised with colored people. Black people aren’t more likely to go to prison for embezzlement or fraud, but they could. White people aren’t more likely to go to prison because of murder, but they could. That is why racial profiling is such a serious thing because you never know who did it unless you make observations.

Racial profiling and traffic stops are always a hot debate in our country. Recently, race issues with the police have gotten even hotter with the situations in Ferguson and New York. No matter where a person stands on the issue, the numbers that suggest racial profiling and traffic stops are difficult to justify. Racial profiling is described as the use of race as a key factor in police decisions to stop and interrogate citizens (Weitzer & Tuch, p. 435, 2006). A study was done in Baltimore, Maryland where 533 drivers were stopped on I-95, and more than half of the people stopped were minorities. Likewise, 63% of people that were asked to step out of their

Racial profiling is a tool used to target a certain group, majority blacks, by pulling him/her over for reasons other than what the traffic stop should be or not. To the average person who does not experience this will view as a non-issue or not a big deal. But having an experience as a victim of racial profiling can leave a psychological scar for many years, depending on the severity of the traffic stop. The statistics show that these incidents are not random, but shows a systematic pattern of law enforcement misconduct rather it’s coming from the individual officer or the police department, it’s clear that racial profiling has a disparate and degrading impact on blacks. Driving while black (DWB) demonstrates, reflects, and exacerbates important issues we face today when talking or debating problems within that involves the police, criminal justice, the courts and the law.

Racial profiling is a popular method used by law officers in order to hypothetically enhance crime prevention by targeting minorities, because they are more likely to commit a crime. According to Wikipedia, racial profiling is defined as: the inclusion of race in the profile of a person considered likely to commit a particular crime or type of crime. In other words, it is targeting specific ethnic groups because they are more likely to commit certain crimes. Racial profiling is a flagrant form of racism. According to Dictionary.com, racism is defined as hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. Nevertheless, it shouldn't be confused with stereotyping, because they are two different things even if racial profiling is heavily

Racial profiling affects those in Knott C. county by making people live in fear. Not just Knott C. county , but also throughout the nation. Doubting those kids that grew up in a poverty neighborhood of even making it out alive. Also even doubting them that they will have a future if they do make it out alive. They wake up not knowing if they will actually be who they dream of being one day which “every shot they shoot , they shoot for their dreams” says Coach Rhodes. Not just that , but being racially profiled for how they look , act , live and mostly for who they show to be , not knowing where they really come from.

One may consider how racial profiling began. The term was initially instituted in the 1970's while rebuffing medication traffickers. In 1985, the Drug Enforcement Organization made a system called Operation Pipeline. This system was constituted of cops who were prepared in a particular way to target people who drove in specific ranges in light of their age and race. The well known racial profiling case White versus Williams speaks to this reason, where minority drivers were ceased along the New Jersey Road. Therefore, the American Common Freedoms Union of New Jersey had a noteworthy triumph in its lawful endeavors to end racial profiling when the court declined to reject a case that state authorities acted with conscious lack of interest to

In communities where there are heavy percentages of racial and ethnic minorities, racial profiling can cause a gap between them and law enforcement departments. Communities and officers work better together if they are in a positive relationship. However, when the two parties are at odds with each other due to racial profiling, it diminishes the ability to find criminals and probe crimes and also minimizes belief in these agencies (Head). What racial profiling specifically does is cause a central problem to minority communities: trust. When there is trust between people, organizations, or other groups, there develops the power to cooperate and actually move forward. In a simple racial profiling case, an officer arrests an African American male

Imagine that you’ve recently moved into a new town due to accepting a promotion for a new job. You’re excited for the next step in your career and the opportunities it will bring for you and your family. You’ve left home early to arrive to work on time when suddenly a cop pulls behind you, siren blaring and its florescent red and blue lights flashing. You slowly pull to the side after quickly checking your speedometer wondering what you could have done wrong. After turning off the car you pull out your license and registration and roll down your window as the officer approaches your driver’s side door. The officer directs his attention from the inspecting the outside of the car to you and asks if you’re new in town. After your response of yes

Racial profiling is a topic that dates back centuries. With it being one of the major issues encountered today, racial profiling is a discriminatory conduct held by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. In my eyes, racial profiling is the use of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or national origin by law enforcement as a factor in deciding whom to investigate, arrest, or detain absent evidence of a specific crime or criminal behavior (Chanin). In today’s world, racial profiling has become a major issue. All too often, minorities are being hauled off to jail because they “fit the profile”. What exactly does it mean for one to “fit the profile”? These people who “fit the profile” are being discriminated against, and many of these people have been targeted out of ignorance. Bottom line is, while making assumptions and generalizing entire communities, racial profiling is a violation of human rights and is outright racist.

As much as we don’t want to admit it, racial profiling from police has been going on in America ever since the early political policing era in the mid 1800’s. With racial disparity within the criminal justice system, I would be approaching how blacks and Latinos are targeted and approached in a more aggressive manner than that of a white American. I would also be approaching how Latinos and blacks are more likely to be frisk and stopped by police for no valid reason, besides racial profiling. Also those police not having probable cause and physically harms individuals. Blacks and Latinos are more likely to be stopped and frisk at a higher rate than other races. Latinos and blacks are approached while walking in their own neighborhoods, also

Racial profiling is a probable cause for the amount of tension minorities disproportionately experience. Racial profiling, a stress causing factor initiates fear, for individuals identified as a minority. According to Kerby, “… blacks and Hispanics were approximately three times more likely to be searched during a traffic stop than white motorists. African Americans were twice as likely to be arrested and almost four times as likely to experience the use of force during encounters with the police” (368). To clarify, individuals of color are at a higher risk to be targeted by law enforcement as compared to someone who is not of pigment. Dependent on color, minorities are quickly judged by law enforcers, assuming they are criminals, resulting in increased numbers of unnecessary stops and searches. Harvard professor Silverstein's proposes, “Racial profiling should be considered a social determinant of health, because it exposes people to discrimination and the fear of discrimination”. In other words, racial profiling produces poor health outcomes by exposing individuals to both discrimination and fear. Therefore, racial profiling puts minorities at a greater disadvantage and higher risk of experiencing emotional and physical stress as opposed to European-Americans.

Racial Profiling was the topic I choose to do my personal project on. I selected this topic because I wanted to bring awareness about racial profiling and the lives it has affected. Plus around the time personal projects started multiple incidents of cops’ shooting African Americans had taken place. The statistics of African Americans being arrested for a crime that they have not committed are immensely high. This topic interests me because I want to be a lawyer; furthermore, a lawyer gives the voiceless a voice and by me spreading awareness about racially profiling I am giving them a voice. Another reason I am was interested in this topic is because I am an African American who gets racially profiled. However before I started this project I knew about racial profiling and heard