NCJ Number
172151
Journal
ABA Journal Volume: 83 Dated: (November 1997) Pages: 48-50,52
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Civil rights groups argue that the use of suspect profiles by airlines and law enforcement agencies to detect potential terrorists and drug couriers discriminates against Arab-Americans and black people.
Abstract
These groups are urging the government to act on this issue. The Department of Justice has reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration's new Computer-assisted Passenger Screening Program and concluded that the program will not discriminate if used as designed. The Department of Transportation has announced that it will survey airline screening procedures over the next year to determine whether they have greater impacts on minority travelers. In addition, representative John Conyers, Jr., has introduced Traffic Stop Statistics Act, which would require all police agencies to track the race, approximate age, alleged violation, vehicle searches, and search results for all drivers stopped for traffic violations. Supporters of profiling argue that the problem of racially biased police is real, but that police agencies should handle it internally. Supporters of profiling argue that the technique is effective. Critics argue that written guidelines cannot prevent airline employees from bringing preconceptions and prejudices to the job. They also recommend the installation of more advanced scanning machines, the use of 100 percent bag matches to ensure that luggage flies only if the passenger boards the airplane, and the creation of an independent panel to review Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Supporters of profiling argue that any plan to stop terrorism will involve inconvenience, while opponents thing that unwittingly being made a suspect is more than just an inconvenience. Photographs and case examples