Monday, November 16, 2009

Question of the Week ~ racial profiling

 

“Racial profiling by the police is unjust, even if it might make us somewhat safer.”  Do you agree with that statement?  Answer yes or no, and then please tell us why.

6 comments:

CJ said...

Nope, not at all.

And whether or not they'll admit it, cops still use it; they just don't talk about it.

Example of why it's a good idea? Nidal Hasan in Fort Hood. If he had been profiled, if someone had stepped up and said - hey, this guy fits the profile of a radical Islamist, 13 people would still be alive today.

cjh

June said...

CJ, I agree...they should have profiled Hassan, but that would be based on a bigger picture than just his being Muslim. Racial profiling in and of itself is neither just or justified.

Ellen D. said...

As long as it is based on facts, I think it is responsible. My son is a 16-year old male, so he is profiled as a high risk driver. Cops watch him more closely, and insurance companies charge a lot more money to insure him. Many of these profiles (called criminal profiles--which in the case of a terrorist may include race as a component of the profile) have a large proven sample pool and high degree of statistical accuracy. 100%, of course not, but we aren't going out arresting people only because they fit the profile and have not acted. To not profile is ignorant. Too many people scream 'race' because they know it shuts people up (much like screaming fire in a crowded theater) but there is so much more to the whole process.

Ray Zimmerman said...

None of the comments above actually address the question of racial profiling. Racial profiling is the act of stopping a motorist or even some one of foot simply because of their race, and in fact does not consider religion. This is quite different from the psychological profile discussed regarding the recent shootings. The first is unjustified and the seond is too often ignored.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Ray. My friend who is African American has been stopped many times and not issued a ticket but was considered in the "wrong" neighborhood. This is definitely wrong and based on nothing but race.

Anonymous said...

Insurance rates are based on statistics and might prove that younger people are in more accidents. That is not racial profiling as it considers all races but goes according to age and ratio of accidents to age.