Term paper on Racial Profiling

Free Racial Profiling papers

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Racial Profiling can be defined as the identification of racial factors, such as skin color, hair texture, facial structure, physical attire, gender, spoken language, accent, or religion. As noted above, there are many ways in which someone can be racially profile. Racial profiling has been used for many years. It started with segregation in the early 1900 s and recently with cases such as Major Aaron Campbell vs Florida. Yet, racial profiling has been overlooked and not investigated thoroughly until recently. Some believe that racial profiling is a good offensive tactic by law enforcement. But, others feel that singling out minorities to be involved in criminal activities is a violation of the law, the Fourth amendment, and their civil rights.

According to Voice magazine, about 50 uniformed and undercover officers, Caucasians and African American, participated in an unscientific survey which contended that the felon look or Tupac-thug-for-life image and posture account for the majority of the stops and frisk done by officers.(Noel, 2000) During the survey the officers had to assign a high or low percentage to every piece of clothing a person is wearing. Therefore, showing us a glimpse into an officer s mind. The following is a list that may constitute suspicion for a stop and/or frisk according to the survey:

1. A baseball cap, worn at any angle, accounts for about 10%.

2. A bandana, particularly red or blue, hints a gang involvement and accounts for about 20%.

3. An XXL hooded sweattop, or hoodie , accounts for about 20%.

4. Sagging or baggy trousers, accounts for about 30% of stops.

5. Exposed plaid boxer shorts, accounts for about 10% of stops.

6. Expensive high-top sneakers, unlaced, suggesting that the person may have done prison time, accounts for about 10%.

These are just mere suggestions of how a suspicious person may dress and could be involved in criminal activities. Living in New Jersey and growing up in Paterson, a below poverty level city, I understand what this officers are thinking when evaluating a person s attire. The clothing sometimes can determine what kind of gang a person can be in and/or their lifestyle. By all means though, I do not consent that clothing should be an indicator to abuse an individual s rights.

Police officers also have a misrepresentation and misunderstanding about minorities and their cultures. Culture and religion play a big role in how police officers should treat the citizens of their community. For example, in some countries looking at the floor or looking away while talking to an officer represents respect towards an officer. In America, this action represents disrespect or avoidance of a confrontation with a police officer. Some officers believe the suspect may be involved in some type of criminal activity when in fact he or she is only showing respect towards authority. In some cites it seems like the skin color of a person represents how they should act, their criminal background, and/or their involvement in criminal activities. This problem has been ignored for too long and changes need to happen in order to keep peace in this country.

In Florida in 1997, Aaron Campbell was pulled over by Orange County Sheriff Mankewich while driving on the Florida Turnpike. The stop ended with Campbell being wrestled to the ground, shot with pepper spray, and arrested. Mr. Campbell was a Major in the Metro-Dade Police Department and had identified himself as such when he was pulled over for an illegal lane change and having an obscured license tag. Campbell states the majority of people they are searching and humiliating are black people. That s why I was so angry. I went from...