U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

A Noble Perspective: Racial Profiling; A Symptom of Biased-Based Policing

NCJ Number
190935
Date Published
May 2001
Length
33 pages
Annotation
This report provides a comprehensive approach for addressing bias-based policing and racial profiling in law enforcement.
Abstract
The first section of the report outlines the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives' (NOBLE's) position on racial profiling, its origin and causes, and its impact on the community and law enforcement professions. This section also identifies the following essential operational strategies ("blindfolds of justice") to eliminate racial profiling: mission, vision, values; recruitment and hiring; training; promotion; assignment rotation; discipline/accountability; leadership; and community. The report's second section provides legislators with six key essential elements for effective Federal racial-profiling legislation. Such legislation must declare racial profiling illegal; prescribe criminal, civil, and/or administrative sanctions against violators; mandate racial profiling policies for police agencies; mandate data collection and analysis reporting for agencies that receive Federal funding; mandate ongoing racial-profiling training for all police officers; and mandate appropriate funding for a National Task Force on Racial Profiling. The third section is a NOBLE report to Attorney General John Ashcroft that recommends a National Task Force on Racial Profiling, with 10 objectives outlined for such a task force. The fourth section of the report outlines the recommended NOBLE training course on racial profiling, with 11 course objectives listed.