One of the most controversial law enforcements techniques is known as racial profiling. Racial profiling is defined as ôany action undertaken for reasons of safety, security or public protection that relies on stereotypes about race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, or place of origin rather than on reasonable suspicion, to single out an individual for greater scrutiny or different treatmentö (David 2004, 17). While contemporary law enforcement officials maintain racial profiling is an effective and efficient allocation of resources in the form of a management tool, minorities, particularly African Americans and Hispanics, have alleged racial profiling is tantamount to racism and discrimination. After September 11, 2001, an increasing number of persons of Middle-Eastern origin have made similar claims. This analysis will look at the use of racial profiling from a number of perspectives.
Law enforcement officials view racial profiling as a management tool that enables the effective and efficient use of resources. Officials in law enforcement argue that statistics demonstrate that a majority of crimes are committed by young-to-middle-aged minorities. Such officials argue it is a waste of scarce resources to target female senior citizens, as they are least likely to commit crime. Focusing on other segments of the population that seldom commit crime, law enforcement officials argue, would be an inefficient use of tax dollars and would do little to reduce or deter criminal activity. As one police chief maintains, ôRacial profiling is common senseö (Derbyshire 2001, 38).
In the wake of numerous and widely-publicized abuses against minorities, many argue that racial profiling is far from common sense. Instead, they are that race should not be a determining factor in whether a stop is initiated or how an encounter unfolds. Such opponents of racial profiling claim that it is nothing more than racism and prejudice that unfairly ...