Racial Profiling: Korematsu V. United States

Racial profiling can be defined as any law enforcement initiated action that does not rely on the behavior of an individual, but relies on the individual characteristic such as their race, ethnicity, and national origin. Racial profiling states that if race or ethnicity is used as a factor in a decision to initiate interaction with an individual, then racial profiling is occurring. In other words, if a law enforcement officer stops an individual based on race, then the officer partakes in racial profiling. Historically, the lynching of slaves was advocating racial profiling. Also, the court case in 1944, Korematsu v. United States, the U.S. Supreme Court held that ethnic profiling is not unconstitutional and may be practiced in times of national

When minority groups feel that they’re under constant suspicion, they’re less likely to trust police with information that can be vital to solving crimes. This is one reason some law enforcement groups oppose racial profiling. Research has shown that African Americans are more often stopped by the police than White Americans. Also, there have been cases where Hispanics, Arabs, Asian and even religious groups such as, Muslims being targeted. There have been some police departments that have created a non- racial profiling policy such as, The Houston Police Department, they have established a policy concerning the prohibition of racial profiling. Discrimination in any form, including racial profiling, is strictly prohibited and the department will take immediate and appropriate action to investigate allegations of discrimination. This policy applies to all members of the Houston Police Department both classified and non-classified. However, in other States there have not been any information on their attempt on preventing racial profiling in there department, because there have been on going cases about racial profiling, as of