Racial Profiling What is it?

Race is used by law enforcement as a basis for criminal suspicion Race is used by law enforcement as a basis for criminal suspicion Rests on the assumption that any particular individual of one race or ethnic group is more likely to commit crimes than other races or ethnicities Rests on the assumption that any particular individual of one race or ethnic group is more likely to commit crimes than other races or ethnicities

The 14 th Amendment Guarantees “Equal Protection” protection under the law. Guarantees “Equal Protection” protection under the law. What does that mean to you? What does that mean to you?

Historically racial profiling has affected African-Americans, Native Americans, and Hispanics/Latino communities. However, since 9/11 more wide-spread racial profiling exists, affecting Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian American communities, as well as other communities perceived to originate from the Middle East.

Studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to be stopped and searched. Are African Americans really committing more crimes or are they just caught more often because the police target them? Studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to be stopped and searched. Are African Americans really committing more crimes or are they just caught more often because the police target them? –Blacks make up less than 15% of the total population

 Police are required to collect data on every stop Race, gender, age Warning or citation Search or no search, etc.

Discussion Questions

How should police officers be punished if found guilty of racial profiling? How should police officers be punished if found guilty of racial profiling?

 Do you think personal experience may lead to broad generalizations? How do you “solve” that?How do you “solve” that?

 Do you think managers at major businesses not hire due to the fact of people’s race, religion, etc.?

 Do you think racial profiling would go down if there were more persons of color on the police force?

Put yourself in the shoes of a racial minority….would you still support racial profiling?

Why do you think more people of color are searched, arrested, etc. more often than whites?

 Should racial profiling be treated like the Exclusionary Rule?

How do you feel about the level of racism/discrimination among police and all citizens in general in America? How do you feel about the level of racism/discrimination among police and all citizens in general in America?