Racial Profiling: Crime Control Versus Constitutional Rights

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Racial profiling occurs when an individual is suspected of a crime based solely on his/her race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. Racial profiling has been identified and used in different ways. The most common instances include pulling a vehicle over, and stopping pedestrians based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin. Racial profiling has been present for decades, and continues to cause controversy in the criminal justice system. Of foremost concern are the ethical and constitutional issues associated with profiling. This presentation will focus on the deontological and utilitarian ethical systems to address racial profiling. Profiling will be argued for both crime control and individual's constitutional rights. Court cases identifying the progression of the issue are formulated, along with statistics directly related to the effectiveness of profiling. Policy recommendations are focused on the largely unsuccessful implementation of racial profiling.

Author

• Matthew Kijowski, Indiana University of Pennsylvania