Fourteenth Amendment and Its Application - Essay Example

The usual interpretation argues that a person cannot be identified as a suspect without supporting proof (Magliocca, 2003). Since the amendment is inclined towards protecting the rights of innocents, those who are involved in the investigative process of crimes are critical of its implementation. The investigative process involves ethnic and racial profiling of suspects and a high degree of suspicion lies at the base of criminal investigation (Gross & Livingston, 2002). 

It is a fact that the profiling of criminals is carried out based on their previous records and ethnic origins. Certain communities are in general considered malignant; the stigma associated with such communities is a major factor for the bias that exists in policing. Moreover, since the history and background of individuals form the basis of suspicion; the history of an individual that contains a criminal record or tendency is also likely to drag the individual into an ongoing investigative process.

In the current scenario of ongoing international terrorism, the police are left with no choice but to find a way through the law to fulfill their duties.