Regulating Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement Agencies

by | Oct 10, 2023 | criminal justice

 

Racial profiling thwarts effective policing because it impairs trust between police and the community.

—Southern Poverty Law Center

For this discussion, you will explore the issue of racial profiling. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), racial profiling is “when law enforcement and private security target people of color for humiliating and often frightening detentions, interrogations, and searches without evidence of criminal activity and based on perceived race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion” (2019).

The U.S. Supreme Court has historically upheld the constitutionality of racial profiling. However, numerous groups, including the ACLU, believe otherwise. In fact, in 2003, the U.S. Department of Justice forbade any racial profiling by its federal officers. Regardless of its constitutionality, which is arguable, law enforcement officers still may possess implicit biases that could lead to data discrepancies between who is stopped, arrested, or formally charged.

For this discussion, consider if and how racial profiling by law enforcement officers can be regulated.

For your initial post, address the following questions:

Based upon the readings, what do Police Officers need to conduct investigations that would not be considered or viewed as ‘racial profiling’?
How can police behavior be “lawful” but not legitimate?
Is it constitutional to regulate racial profiling in law enforcement agencies? Why or why not?
In response to two of your peers, consider which of their points make the most sense to you, even if you have a different viewpoint. Additionally, address the following questions:

What are the effects of the methods mentioned in the original post?
Do they infringe on any rights? Why or why not?
References
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). (2019). Racial profiling. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/issues/racial-justice/race-and-criminal-justice/racial-profiling
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). (2018, September 18). Racial profiling in Louisiana: Unconstitutional and counterproductive. Retrieved from https://www.splcenter.org/20180918/racial-profiling-louisiana-unconstitutional-and-counterproductive

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Essay: Regulating Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement Agencies
Racial profiling, the practice of targeting individuals based on their perceived race or ethnicity, has long been a source of controversy and debate in law enforcement. While the U.S. Supreme Court has historically upheld its constitutionality, many argue that racial profiling undermines effective policing by impairing trust between police and the community. This essay will explore the need for regulation of racial profiling, the distinction between lawful and legitimate police behavior, and the constitutional considerations surrounding its regulation.

To conduct investigations without being accused of racial profiling, police officers need to employ strategies that focus on behavior and objective evidence rather than relying solely on race or ethnicity. Effective policing requires a shift from biased assumptions to evidence-based decision-making. This can be achieved through comprehensive training programs that educate officers on recognizing implicit biases, promoting cultural sensitivity, and emphasizing the importance of treating all individuals with respect and dignity. Additionally, implementing strict accountability measures and oversight mechanisms can help ensure that officers adhere to these principles during their interactions with the public.

Police behavior can be deemed lawful when it adheres to existing laws and regulations. However, legitimacy is a broader concept that refers to whether actions are perceived as fair, just, and morally right by the community. Lawful actions may still be viewed as illegitimate if they disproportionately target certain racial or ethnic groups due to implicit biases or systemic discrimination. Therefore, it is crucial for law enforcement agencies to not only comply with legal standards but also strive for behaviors that are seen as legitimate in the eyes of the public.

The constitutionality of regulating racial profiling in law enforcement agencies is a complex issue. While the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of racial profiling, there is growing recognition of its detrimental effects on trust between police and the community. Regulating racial profiling can help safeguard individuals’ constitutional rights, such as equal protection under the law and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures. It also aligns with broader principles of fairness, justice, and equality enshrined in the Constitution. However, any regulations must carefully balance the need to prevent discrimination with the legitimate law enforcement objectives of ensuring public safety and preventing crime.

In response to my peers’ points, I find that both perspectives raise valid concerns. The effects of racial profiling methods mentioned in the original post can lead to mistrust, alienation, and a breakdown in community-police relations. Such practices perpetuate systemic racism and hinder the development of effective crime prevention strategies. These methods can infringe on individuals’ rights by subjecting them to unwarranted detentions, interrogations, and searches solely based on their race or ethnicity.

On the other hand, it is important to acknowledge that law enforcement agencies have a duty to protect public safety and prevent crime. There may be situations where certain factors, including race or ethnicity, are relevant to an investigation. However, it is crucial to ensure that such factors are used judiciously and within the context of objective evidence rather than perpetuating stereotypes or biases.

In conclusion, racial profiling undermines effective policing by eroding trust between police and the community. To address this issue, regulation is necessary to shift law enforcement practices towards strategies based on behavior and objective evidence rather than relying on race or ethnicity alone. Police behavior should not only be lawful but also perceived as legitimate in order to maintain public trust. While the constitutionality of regulating racial profiling may be debated, it is essential to strike a balance that upholds individuals’ constitutional rights while fulfilling law enforcement objectives. By addressing racial profiling through regulation, law enforcement agencies can work towards building stronger relationships with the communities they serve and ensuring equitable and just policing for all.

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