Examining the Generality of Citizens' Views on Racial Profiling in Diverse Situational Contexts

• NCJ Number: 225572
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 35 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 1527-1541
• Author(s): George E. Higgins; Shaun L. Gabbidon; Kareem L. Jordan
• Date Published: December 2008
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined public support for police racial profiling in different contexts of policing: traffic stops, in retail establishments, and at airports.

Abstract

The study found that Blacks were more likely than other racial and ethnic groups to believe that racial profiling was occurring in all the contexts portrayed and was not justified in any of the settings. Conservative males were more likely to view racial profiling as justified in all settings. Data for this study were taken from the 2004 Minority Rights & Relations/Black-White Social Audit poll conducted by the Gallup organization from June 9-30, 2004. The pool included 2,250 randomly selected Americans. It included an oversupplying of Hispanics and Blacks, with Whites and other races composing the remainder of the sample. Data measured variables pertinent to respondent demographics and opinions about whether racial profiling is widespread and justified in the portrayed settings. 2 tables, 2 figures, and 61 references