The criminal justice system becomes the tool that protects the innocent and proves the guilty, guilty, for those who choose to violate the laws of the justice system. In addition, each decision point, as with the decision makers, must find a balance between the interests of citizens and interests of communities as to the collective liberties and needs in regard to predictability (Travis, 2012).
In this paper, racial profiling still exists in the criminal justice system, which plays a major role on how law enforcement handles each situation as one may arise. This paper will also address changes, in which implementing strategies to combat such behaviors and whether or not these changes remain sufficient enough to deter such activities. Racial Profiling
The criminal justice system makes up the body of law enforcement, in which directly takes on the daily duties of apprehending, sentencing, prosecuting, punishing, and defending those who become convicted or suspected of committing a criminal offense. In addition, crime can occur in many ways, and law enforcement officials battle each situation as they arise. However, in the United States, continues to see a significant progress in ensuring its citizens of receiving equal treatment under the law (Weich & Angulo, 2011).
In addition, the area, in which racial inequality continues to grow, and not recede. Criminal laws today, although neutral, still enforces itself in a manner that remains pervasively and massively biased (Weich & Angulo, 2011).
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In our society's criminal justice system, justice equals punishment. You do the crime, and you do the time. Once you have done the time, you have paid your debt to society and justice has been done. Because our society defines justice in this manner, the victims of crimes often seek the most severe possible punishment for their offenders. Society tells them this will bring justice, but it often ...
With law enforcement and crime prevention steadily shows a decline in crime rates. However, tension and distrust between communities and the police continue to exist within every aspect of the criminal justice system (Ramirez, McDevitt, & Farrell, 2000).
The cause of such tensions and mistrust remain with the controversial practices of racial profiling. In today’s society, people enjoy the equal right to protection under the law as the most fundamental principle of a democratic society (Ramirez, McDevitt, & Farrell, 2000).
The responsibilities and duties do not just entail policing, and shall not act or endorse upon beliefs, stereotypes, attitudes, in which a person’s ethnicity, race, or national origins increase a person’s basic propensity to act unlawful. As a result, no trade-offs between that of effective law enforcement as with protecting Americans civil rights, as to having the advantages of a just, justice system (Ramirez, McDevitt, & Farrell, 2000).
The problem with racial profiling continues as a multifaceted and complex issue in society. The practices of law enforcement become tested when society perceive such practices as biased, disrespectful, or unfair. As a result, communities, mostly those of color become less likely to confide or trust in police services, cooperate in solving problems, report crimes, along with becoming a witness at trial, or to even serve on a jury (Ramirez, McDevitt, & Farrell, 2000).
The use of developing discretion in terms of race, during an officer crime; amongst groups of people who share ethnic or racial characteristics becomes a difficult task for law enforcement.
For example, if police knowingly recognize an individual as part of a criminal organization, police at this point may use legitimate information as the primary factor for suspicions of criminal activity. However, if law enforcement officials use an individual’s race, national origin, or ethnicity in deciding whether a specific person participates as a member of a known criminal organization, it is at this point the police engage in racial profiling. According to the national survey, Gallup Poll, contest to racial profiling, as with Whites having more favor for police than those of any other race; along with Blacks having lessor favor for the police (Ramirez, McDevitt, & Farrell, 2000).
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With racial biased police stops, creates animosity towards state and local law enforcement, and by failing to address such issues on people’s perceptions of racial discrimination by police officials within neighborhoods that are of minority, may find law enforcement efforts as fruitless (Ramirez, McDevitt, & Farrell, 2000).
Changes in Racial Profiling
The changes made to the criminal justice system in respect to racial profiling, involves making the necessary resources available. In addition to available resources, making the necessary recommendations to address racial bias becomes the effort put forth to in carrying out the implemented recommendations in its entirety. As a result, the justice system can continue to become more effective by demonstrating regulations and policies set forth by the criminal system. Department of Justice did name President Bush, and the Bush Administration, as becoming the first president to take on the form of action in regard to banning racial profiling among federal law enforcement agencies (“Fact sheet: Racial Profiling,” 2003).
The administration requires more of a restriction on the use of race by federal law enforcement officials, than does the Constitution. In addition, routine duties involving patrols must become carried out without race playing a factor. The police engage in everyday activities, such as foot and traffic patrols. These patrols can lead to police using his or her discretion, which race cannot play a factor. The media coverages display stories about police brutality, racial profiling, and police misconduct in the media on a daily basis. More so than often, blacks and Hispanics becomes the target of racial profiling during routine traffic stops, for the images the media may display about specific races.
Sufficient Changes
In one’s opinion on the sufficiency of the above information, such incidents still continue to exist, with police targeting certain races by racial profiling. For example, Hispanics may become known for displaying violent behaviors, and drug trafficking, which gives police the assumption every Hispanic person continues with the same behaviors (Travis, 2012).
The Essay on Racial Profiling Police Officers People
Lovely, Greg Racial Profiling/Police Officers Racial profiling, the act of categorizing, the targeting of a particular group of culture with a view towards labeling those individuals law enforcers believe are engaged in illegal activities. Does Racial Profiling still exist today "He would kill me if I was the one going to the newspapers." Words said by a newspaper editor threatened to death by ...
As a result, Hispanics may become the target of racial profiling by police officers. The changes made to combat such behavior remains insufficient, because police still partake in such activities. As a result, the media coverage displays such images on a daily basis, with police brutality, or the use of force. In one’s opinion, the changes necessary to make the justice system more effective at combating racial profiling is to implement a jail or prison sentence for officers who participate in misconduct. In addition to such changes, removing officers from his or her duties and authority can prevent future police misconduct (Travis, 2012).
Law enforcement officials deal with a wide range of criminal activities, which cause officers to use his or her discretion. However, it remains as unethical practice for officers who choose to partake in the criminal activities themselves, seen as untrustworthy, and become frowned upon by the public as witness to such activities, or behaviors. With racial profiling still remaining to exist, society’s perceptions about law enforcement vary from person-to-person.
References
Fact Sheet: Racial Profiling. (2003, June 17).
Department of Justice. Retrieved from http://www.
Justice.gov/opa/pr/2003/June/racial_profiling_fact_.
Ramirez, D., McDevitt, J., & Farrell, A. (2000).
Resource Guide on Racial Profiling Data
Collection Systems: . Retrieved from http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/bja/184768.pdf. Travis, L.F. (2012).
Introduction to criminal justice (7th ed.).
Burlington, Ma: Elsevier/
Anderson Publishing.
Weich, R., & Angulo, C. (2011).
Racial Disparities in the American Justice System. Retrieved
from http://www.urbanpoverty.qwriting.qc.cuny.edu/files/2011/01/Ronald-Weich-and- carlos-Angulo-Racial-Disparities-in-the-American.
