Racial profiling
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Related e |
Featured: |
Racial profiling is the inclusion of racial or ethnic characteristics in determining whether a person is considered likely to commit a particular type of crime or an illegal act (see offender profiling)or to behave in a "predictable" manner. Towards the end of the 20th century in the United States, the practice became controversial among the general public as the potential for abuse by law enforcement came to light.
Civil rights advocates are against the use of racial profiling tactics by the police. Some argue that the disproportionate number of convicted minorities is due to "racial profiling".
Conversely, it is argued that including race as one of the several factors in suspect profiling is generally supported by the law enforcement community within the Western world. It is claimed that profiling based on any characteristic is a time-tested and universal police tool, and that excluding race as a factor is insensible.
See also
- Affirmative action
- Institutional racism
- Contempt of cop
- De-policing
- Driving while black
- Police misconduct
- Race and crime in the United States
- Henry Louis Gates arrest controversy
- Edward C. Lawson
- Social profiling