Changes

'''Racial profiling''' in a general sense is the use of race to construct a [[profile]] (or list of detectable characteristics) of a criminal or a suspect. When asking for a description of an assailant or thief, police nearly always ask about skin color, along with height, weight, clothing, scars and tattoos because this helps them identify and apprehend them. Problems have arisen, however, when generalizations about race are abused to harass innocent people (see [[racial discrimination]]). In reaction to discriminatory abuse of racial profiling, some states and federal agencies have refused to consider race at all when constructing offender profiles, sometimes with absurd or tragic consequences.  

'''Racial profiling''' in a general sense is the use of race to construct a [[profile]] (or list of detectable characteristics) of a criminal or a suspect. When asking for a description of an assailant or thief, police nearly always ask about skin color, along with height, weight, clothing, scars and tattoos because this helps them identify and apprehend them. Problems have arisen, however, when generalizations about race are abused to harass innocent people (see [[racial discrimination]]). In reaction to discriminatory abuse of racial profiling, some states and federal agencies have refused to consider race at all when constructing offender profiles, sometimes with absurd or tragic consequences.  

[[profiling]] a suspected criminal. Wherever police have served a mixed-race population, the race of suspects has always been used, because race (or [[skin color]]) is one of the most prominent characteristic of a person, along with sex and age.

[[profiling]] a suspected criminal. Wherever police have served a mixed-race population, the race of suspects has always been used, because race (or [[skin color]]) is one of the most prominent characteristic of a person, along with sex and age.

The use of race in profiling came under fire when protest groups began to complain that police were making sweeps or traffic stops based mainly on race, and thus discriminating against innocent people. Such practices as stopping all blacks for questioning - when no particular crime was being investigated - came into question.

The use of race in profiling came under fire when protest groups began to complain that police were making sweeps or traffic stops based mainly on race, and thus discriminating against innocent people. Such practices as stopping all blacks for questioning - when no particular crime was being investigated - came into question.

In reaction, many police forces and even the FBI began to be leery of being accused of stereotyping. The most prominent case in the tragic run-up to [[9-11]], when the FBI had cause to suspect a flight student. The FBI agent handling the case was told by their supervisor not to seek a warrant, even though the Arabic-looking man only wanted to learn how to steer a Boeing 747 but not do takeoffs or landings.

In reaction, many police forces and even the FBI began to be leery of being accused of stereotyping. The most prominent case in the tragic run-up to [[9-11]], when the FBI had cause to suspect a flight student. The FBI agent handling the case was told by their supervisor not to seek a warrant, even though the Arabic-looking man only wanted to learn how to steer a Boeing 747 but not do takeoffs or landings.

==Links==

==Links==

*[http://www.city-journal.org/html/11_2_the_myth.html The Myth of Racial Profiling]

*[http://www.city-journal.org/html/11_2_the_myth.html The Myth of Racial Profiling]

[[Category:Criminology]]

[[Category:Criminology]]