Major Issues in Profiling - Research Paper Example

There are theoretical and practical issues concerning profiling that have been poorly understood, due to induction that involves statistical reasoning, in a situation where an offender is assessed based on difference or similarity with past offenders. Profiling involves an depth analysis of the current case through reasoning that seeks to determine the accuracy of evidence collected, and a conclusion is made based on the evidence. Nevertheless, the issue concerning proofing has been met with controversial topics involving a variation of the subject views made by different experts. In this case, these experts are expected to undertake their profiling in a way that does not violate people’s privacy or have an aspect of discrimination. These practices are applied professionally to help people as tools for security, though they are based on historical grounds and statistics.

Profiling is perceived to have an aspect of discrimination, thus developing controversy around the issue, whereby people think that it should not be undertaken based on gender, race, colour and people’s appearance. Therefore, there is nothing right with condemning due to the actions done by other people in the past, who share similar patterns. This has resulted in cases such as people being stopped at the airport for investigation since they share similarities with people who did wrong in the past. On the other hand, the subjects of the profiling should be treated with respect through the provision of an explanation for the profiling, and unless they have done nothing wrong, they are expected to have nothing to hide.

A psychological profile can be created through an investigation in the absence of physical evidence or a description of an eyewitness to supplement it with a description. Therefore, the experts apply their knowledge and the things they know about the unknown suspect concerning his actions and try to generate information. For instance, in a case involving a serial murderer killing female employees in a certain company, the experts may presume that the murderer is a male former employee or a client.

Another issue that has brought controversy relates to racial profiling, which is a practice that has involved a significant risk to the basic principles of the Constitution. Racial profiling is perceived to be targeting people of certain skin colour through investigations, thus alienating communities and preventing them from participating in policing efforts. This has also caused law enforcement to lose credibility and trust in society since they seem to be failing in their duties that involve promoting fairness and justice in the community. Therefore, racial profiling has resulted in people of a certain background living in fear due to the system established by law enforcement, which seems to be casting a certain community being suspects.