NCJ Number
184526
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 24 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 16-23
Editor(s)
Dennis Hall
Date Published
August 2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Many law enforcement agencies contend that racial profiling is part of a bigger picture one that factors in such variables as area demographics and modus operandi, and that no one is immune from the practice; critics, however, counter that police officers are more apt to detain minorities than whites and that minorities are overrepresented in custody populations.
Abstract
According to figures obtained from the Vera Institute of Justice, about two-thirds of blacks say police racism is still common throughout the United States, and most whites agree. Minorities attribute much of the problem to what they claim are the prejudices police officers bring with them to the job. Both groups and individuals have sponsored various bills designed to curtail the practice of racial profiling. At the same time, many police officers point out that a disproportionate number of crimes are committed by minorities. Steps that can be taken to eliminate racial profiling focus on improving police-minority communication, educating on constitutional rights, providing adequate police training, and recruiting minority police officers. 4 photographs