What is Racial Profiling?

Racial profiling is the consideration of race early on in criminal investigations. If a member of a race is considered more likely to be involved in criminal behavior due to his race, he may be more often suspected of committing crimes, even when no evidence exists to justify this supposition. One of the most common cases of racial profiling in places like the US is the term, “driving while black” or DWB. In this instance, a person of African American descent may be subject to more scrutiny by police officers purely based on race. Innocent people who are pulled over by cops, for no other reason than because they are black are said to have committed the “DWB crime.”

In many countries, racial profiling is illegal. This doesn’t mean it’s nonexistent. There are numerous incidences of people of certain racial or ethnic groups being automatically suspected of crimes based on race. Unfortunately, racial profiling often contains false assumptions about people of races or ethnic groups. It might be assumed that African Americans are more likely to be drug users, which to a police officer might justify stopping more black drivers. Actually, this assumption is false, and there are many more Caucasian drug users than African Americans.

Another assumption directed at certain ethnic groups includes the fear that Arab Americans are more likely to be terrorists. Since 9/11, heightened fear about another terrorist attack has led to some law enforcement officials and organizations using Arab ethnicity to rule in the possibility that someone might be a terrorist. The fact that most Arab Americans are not terrorists makes this type of racial profiling suspect.

The trouble with racial profiling as a whole is that even if a racial or ethnic group is more likely to be involved in certain crimes, most justice systems are based on the rights of the individual. An individual cannot be considered suspicious simply because of race or ethnicity, and the legal system in places like the US depends upon gathering proof in order to convict someone of a crime. Racial or ethnic identity is not proof of criminal behavior, and shouldn’t be considered as a factor in those suspected of crimes. Some believe racial profiling is merely an extension of old racist and ethnocentric behavior that exists in law enforcement and justice agencies.

There are some people who argue that certain types of racial profiling makes sense. When investigators try to find a person suspected of a crime, they may try to identify race of that person in order to narrow down an investigation. Serial killers, for instance, are predominantly Caucasian males, and knowing this might help eliminate suspects. On the other hand, attachment to any racial stereotype may eliminate suspects who aren’t “typically” suspected of certain crimes. This might lead to investigation of the wrong people or ruling out people who have committed crimes but don’t fit stereotypes.