Unit Topic Discussion Questions
Racial profiling refers to the practice of suspecting or targeting an individual based on presumed features or conduct of an ethnic or racial group instead on individual suspicion (Glaser, 2014). However, it is important to note that racial profiling is not restricted to a person’s race or ethnicity, but can also be based on the person’s national origin, or religion. Biased policing occurs when police officers or law enforcement agencies systematically target particular groups of society for activities that are suspicious. Rather than being perceived as blameless until proven guilty, the police tend to view such targeted groups as guilty first and question them about their innocence later (Jonge, 2020). Police biasing normally appears like ethnic and racial profiling. Nonetheless, biased policing may target lesbians, gays, individuals who occupy the rungs of society’s lower-class, or groups that do not demonstrate the normative conducts the society expects (e.g., religious cults, biker gangs etc).
Recently, racial profiling and biased policing have become significant issues in policing. This may be attributable to the fact that cases of racial profiling and biased policing have increased. Police officers and their agencies are increasingly being accused of engaging in discriminatory policing. The headlines pop up with shocking frequency: People of color going about their daily business-golfing, shopping, moving in-only to have the police target them. Deaths have even occurred as a result of these kinds of practices. The death of George Floyd and the circumstances surrounding his demise demonstrate just how serious these issues are. These issues have also led to the development of mistrust of police officers among the public. This has, in turn, reduced public cooperation, thus derailing the law enforcement’s efforts in fighting crime.
References
Glaser, J. (2014). Suspect race: Causes and consequences of racial profiling. Oxford University Press, USA.
Jonge, E. D. (2020). Policing and public trust: Exposing the inner uniform. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
