The cost of racial profiling on our future - Research Proposal Example

?The cost of racial profiling on our future, and what we must do to ensure we all remain free Racial profiling is an often mentioned seldom addressedissue in the United States today. The cost of racial profiling on our future in terms of social and economic issues could be drastic. Within a society such as the one we have today in the United States there exists an underlining of race related social inequality. Though we have addressed this problem with different approaches over time throughout the history of the United States, today we face a much greater problem. This problem resides in the idea that individuals commit crimes based on their racial backgrounds. Addressed in detail in the following essay will be the definitions, histories, present issues, future potential problems and an approach that could assist in discontinuing this despicable approach to law enforcement for good. Racial profiling is generally defined as what occurs when a member of law enforcement or society uses a person’s ethnic or racial heritage as a means of deciding their guilt in regards to criminal activity. Profiling is used in other areas as well, for instance major corporations use profiling techniques to market products and more. Racial profiling reaches to all parts of our modern society. In addressing the problem it is important to understand what may be the root of that problem. History does a wonderful job of showing us what leads up to a problem and at times what encompasses this problem. Throughout history man has enslaved those whom he conquered, this was accepted as normal when one tribe warred against another and lost. However, over time slavery became more of a business arrangement then a dispute resolution. In the United States and Great Britain slavery was accepted as a necessary factor in operating profitable business ventures. Eventually Great Britain outlawed slavery; however, until the Civil War the United States still had many slaves, both black and white. It was not until after the Civil War that the racial prejudices began to grow exponentially. Whereas before slaves (typically African Americans) were simply thought of as property, now these same slaves were to be accepted as equals this led to segregation laws throughout the South. Various laws were passed on a federal level that utilized a crude method of racial profiling with regards to marijuana usage which at the time of the Harrison Act was thought of as a black man’s drug and problem. (Brecher) Following the Civil War in 1882, there were the approaches to the influx of Chinese laborers and the constant references to “yellow skin, slanted eyes and use of opiates” One approach in particular was the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, this act of congress barred additional immigration for a period of ten years, this act was followed by another extension of ten years and eventually it was made permanent. (Chinese Exclusion Act) Over the years there have been other advances in the use of racism and race based preferential treatment. Specifically there were actions taken against Japanese American citizens during World War II, as well as additional actions taken recently regarding Arab Americans and now the appeal to “Americanism” and the use of prejudicial legislative attempts regarding Mexican Americans. Regardless of color of a person’s skin they are all still humans, and as members of the same race we should be striving together to surpass ourselves and conquer disease and energy related problems. It is important to first understand that this is wrong, the use of a person’s race against themselves is fundamentally wrong. Race while allowing the statistics driven data bases of the criminal justice system yet another point that can be used as a guide, is not by default a factor. In fact race is simply an aspect of the criminal and not a contributing factor as some who promote racial profiling would have you believe. In the current United States there has been much work done regarding the termination of the use of racial profiling on a federal and state level. However, there remains much to accomplish as well. According to a 2003 Fact sheet from the Department of Justice, “Race-Based assumptions in law enforcement perpetuate negative racial stereotypes that are harmful to our diverse democracy and materially impair our efforts to maintain a fair and just society.” (Fact Sheet) This was at a time when the negative stereotypes regarding Arab Americans or people of color were at one of the highest in this nation. Unfortunately, this is not a prejudice that is easily overcome given the relatively recent events on American soil that have left such a deep scar. In a continuing attempt to reduce the racial profiling approach within law enforcement specifically several departments have instituted an approach that is meant to reduce or completely avoid the use of racial stereotyping within law enforcement. According to an interview with an officer from Miami Dade Police Department the idea of racial profiling is not an issue. “I do not believe that racial profiling is an issue, I do not believe it needs to be eliminated because I do not think it is being used as the sole technique to solve or deter crime.” (MDPD) However, there have been several cases that have made recent headlines with regards to racial profiling specifically within the federal law enforcement arena. In particular is the new law regarding illegal immigration in Arizona and the surrounding controversy raised as a result of the use of racial profiling to fulfill the needs of the new law? The education of departments across the United States will help promote additional avoidance of racial profiling usage. What is more important here is the approach being taken in educating the law enforcement community. It should be noted that not all law enforcement agencies will accept additional educational goals and needs as readily as the next. As a result it will be important to promote this as something that will benefit them by reducing crime and costs through the positive promotion of community relations. Continuing education and the promotion of approaches within law enforcement that exclude race except as an additional delineator after the fact is important, by using an educational approach and offering non race related options for the basis of stops and statistics will be important to the success of a reduction and eventual discontinuation of the use of racial profiling. One aspect of education should be the fact that using racial profiling does not offer a fair approach to justice by law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Tom Head an author with About.com stated, “Reports of suspicious deaths involving unarmed Latino and black suspects trickle out of our nation's major cities on a regular basis.” (Head) By showing how the use of racial profiling directly affects the individual liberty and equality of those it is used against is important for the advancement of any educational program. When enacting new legislation it is important to ensure that instead of simply passing a politically expedient law we instead verify that each new piece of legislation promotes understanding of the reasons for the law as well as the approaches desired and the end result. If we addressed racial profiling starting in public school we could ensure that the next generations are better able to approach crime control without utilizing racially motivated methodology. In fact it may be beneficial to teach how and why we should all work together regardless of color or ethnicity then the things that separated us and how we should fight them. While the history of this nation is unfortunately, steeped in racial prejudice stemming from many angles including slavery to change the current approaches and views taken it may be more beneficial to promote equality and understanding of all parties involved. While it is good to understand what slavery was so we do not repeat these mistakes, there is the underlying bigotry inherent in all sides when inflammatory issues such as these are promoted without a full explanation. While it was not right slavery was a part of life for thousands of years leading up to the Civil War and it continues across the globe today. To benefit the future generations the history of slavery should not be specifically focused on what occurred in the United States. By showing everyone in a classroom that they may have had individuals in their own family trees that were slaves (regardless of race) we would be able to promote unity. It is understood that adversity suffered by all brings unity, by approaching the education in this manner and then showing that regardless of melanin content we are all hominid erectus we could begin the transformation to a much more integrated society through our youth. In conjunction with this we should ensure that officers found utilizing racial profiling methods are either suspended or terminated from their duties. While this approach may seem harsh at first it will help ensure that utilizing outdated and potentially illegal methods in law enforcement will not be accepted regardless of reasons. Additionally by attaching education riders on new legislation directly addressing these issues it would be necessary to ensure certification in the knowledge of the new procedures before enforcing them. While the cost may seem prohibitive for the educational aspects there is the overall cost reduction that will also become readily apparent when the lawsuits for racially motivated actions are reduced to zero. To better understand the needs with regards to advancing education within the public education system as well as the law enforcement community the collection of additional data will be important. One report states, “One poll cited found that 75% of Americans believe “racial profiling” is a problem.” (Anonymous) Obviously, there is a public concern in regards to the use of racial profiling which translates to political capital for those involved in the process of making new legislation. If by promoting a viable education plan in step with new legislation specifically designed to reduce crime in certain areas without the use of racial profiling it would directly benefit the representatives that promote it and the people that it affects. Current solutions while viable and somewhat effective are not reducing the use of racial profiling as quickly as it should be so as to maintain social order. Some political and legal minds believe strongly that to keep this nation safe from the modern potential of terrorist activity on American soil it is essential to use some form of racial profiling. According to Kris Hirschmann, “Because enforcement of the laws protecting the Nation’s borders may necessarily involve a consideration of a person’s alienage in certain circumstances, the use of race or ethnicity in such circumstances is properly governed by existing statutory and constitutional standards…” (Hirschmann) It would seem than that to promote a program that affects the nation as a whole we must start with the political leaders of our nation, and then the children in our schools. The ultimate goal of additional educational approaches to this problem being a safer more principled society in our day to day relations with each other, obviously, this is not something that can happen immediately, however, it can if promoted properly take effect within a decade. In conclusion, there is no greater desire for any American than to be free and enjoy the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Unfortunately, until we address the problem that is racial profiling and the encompassing social issues that this brings to the nation we cannot see this for everyone. There is a need for additional educational approaches, and yet this cannot be the only approach we take. Freedom is an often repeated mantra of what we Americans have when compared to other nations, and yet as a result of racial profiling many of us live in constant fear of having our freedom taken from us because we are the wrong color. What are we to do as a nation to stop this from occurring? As a an advocate for the civil rights and equality of all Americans it is my sincere desire to see our representatives do what is necessary to ensure that all Americans live free and full life’s. Reference page: Anonymous, . "Special report II: Racial profiling-overcoming the perception of racial profiling." Law&Order. 94-101, 2001. Web. 11 Apr 2011. http://login.exproxy.fiu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/197229732?accountid=10901 Brecher, E. "Chapter 8. The Harrison Narcotic Act (1914) * Harrison Narcotics Tax Act - Full text of the Act, as approved December 17, 1914 ." The Consumers Union Report on Licit and Illicit Drugs. Shaeffer Library of Drug Policy, 1972. Web. 11 Apr 2011. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/cu/cu8.html Chinese Exclusion Act, . "The Chinese Exclusion Act: A Black Legacy." MenloSchool.org. N.p., 2011. Web. 11 Apr 2011. http://sun.menloschool.org/~mbrody/ushistory/angel/exclusion_act/ Fact Sheet, . "Fact Sheet Racial Profiling." Department of Justice. N.p., 2003. Web. 11 Apr 2011. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2003/June/racial_profiling_fact_sheet.pdf Head, T. "Why racial profiling is a bad idea, top seven arguments against racial profiling." About.com, civil liberties. N.p., 2011. Web. 11 Apr 2011. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/lawenforcementterrorism/tp/Against-Racial-Profiling.htm Hirschman Index, K. "Racial Profiling." Farmington Hills, MI. Greenhaven Press, 2006. MDPD, . "Miami Dade Police Questionnaire." Chapter 32 Part 1 Enforcement Profiling [CALEA 1.2.9]. N.p., 2011. Read More