NCJ Number
201753
Date Published
2001
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This report confronts the practice of racial profiling as an inappropriate tactic, even post-September 11th.
Abstract
Before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, racial profiling, while widely practiced by law enforcement officers, was viewed as an inappropriate practice that should come to an end. In fact, a bipartisan bill know as the End Racial Profiling Act was introduced on June 6, 2001, and its enactment seemed imminent. However, on September 11th so much in this country changed, including views on racial profiling. This report takes the stand that racial profiling remains a bad idea and an inefficient way of detecting criminals and criminal activities. Chapter 1 defines racial profiling and provides examples of its practice, which rely on unjustified racial and ethnic assumptions and generalizations. Chapter 2 looks at “traditional” racial profiling, which is generally used to detect street-level criminal activity. The different forms of racial profiling are described, as well as its inefficiency in actually stopping criminals. Chapter 3 explores the face of racial profiling post-September 11th. The report contends that the same arguments against traditional racial profiling apply to terrorism profiling, especially that it is based on broad and inaccurate generalizations and stereotypes and has been shown to be ineffective at detecting criminal activity. Chapter 4 provides recommendations to combat all forms of racial profiling, including a recommendation to ban its practice at the Federal, State, and local levels and to develop an accreditation programs for law enforcement agencies that provide standards against the use of profiling. 151 Endnotes