Is Racial Profiling a Necessary Police Practice Essay Example

areas, which emphasizes the need to focus on the residents rather than external sources. The End Racial Profiling Act, abbreviated as ERPA, was presented to Congress in 2015 by Conyers. This act aims to engage the federal government in the issue by establishing laws that safeguard individuals from discriminatory stops based on their skin color. While this might appear promising in combating racism, it is important to note that many officers still rely on racial profiling alongside other significant factors.

These other factors include hours and hours of training to help police officers identify a threat. Inferences about a suspect must be made before hastily arresting someone solely based on their race, such as a black man seen holding a weapon. (Fauchon) Most, if not all law enforcement officers, would support this statement. It is incorrect and insulting to minority police officers everywhere to assume that racial profiling is solely practiced by racist cops.

The presence of ERPA may hinder police officers' trust in their intuition and ability to search for weapons in suspects, which raises concerns about being seen as racist. This natural instinct is crucial for officers to perform their duties effectively without fear of negative consequences, thereby hindering those who regularly serve the public. However, there are differing opinions on this matter. While some argue for the need for racial profiling, others oppose it. The opposing side argues that by focusing on individuals based on their skin color, law enforcement continues racism and makes baseless assumptions without sufficient evidence.

Currently, there is a debate regarding the effectiveness of targeting behavior rather than solely focusing on the non-white skin color of individuals. Racial bias can lead

to many ignored problems, which contradicts the principles of the United States Constitution. The fourteenth amendment ensures that all citizens receive equal protection under the law, ensuring that everyone possesses identical rights and no group should be left out from this provision. Additionally, America's foundation is built upon the notion of equality for every individual. Hence, racial profiling directly contradicts this fundamental belief.

Allowing racial profiling to persist directly contributes to racism, an unacceptable practice ('Kowalski'). Moreover, this perpetuation of racial profiling worsens the tension between people of color and law enforcement ('Racial Profiling: Is'). The presence of multiple racially charged issues today intensifies the hostility between these two groups.

Racial profiling can erode trust between people of color and law enforcement, undermining the latter's duty to safeguard them. Minority individuals may also face increased scrutiny from law enforcement. These repercussions reveal a divide that would be less evident without racial profiling. To tackle this problem, it is crucial to eliminate profiling by enacting the End Racial Profiling Act (ERPA). Benjamin Jealous, president of NAACP at the time, voiced worries about feeble policies that are challenging to enforce in order to protect people of color.

Overall, action needs to be taken to protect individuals who are unable to defend themselves due to racial prejudice.

Works Cited

1. Conyers, John. “Text - H.R.1933 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): End Racial Profiling Act of 2015.” Congress.gov, 15 May 2015, www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/1933/text.
2. Fauchon, Christina. “Counterpoint: The Case Against Profiling.” International Social Science Review, vol. 79, 2004, Issue ?, pp.157-159. 3p.
3. Kowalski, Rev. Dr. James A. “Everything Wrong With Racial Profiling.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 June 2012,www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-james-a-kowalski/whats-wrong-with-racial-profiling_b_1440307.html.
4. “Racial Profiling | Definition of Racial Profiling in English by Oxford Dictionaries.”
   

Oxford Dictionaries | English,Oxford Dictionaries,en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/racial_profiling.

2012, http://icof.infobaselearning.com/recordurl.aspx?ID=2480, Accessed 1 Sept. 2018.