Racial Profiling: Unconstitutional, ineffective, and humiliating.
Racial profiling is the process of using someone's race or ethnicity as a major factor of determining whether or not to engage in enforcement, i.e stop, frisk, arrest. This practice is not simply immoral and unconstitutional, (violation of 4th and 14th amendments) but also is an ineffective practice and humiliating to these targeted people and communities. A Black man who is stopped for a traffic violation or any other reason, is three times more likely to be searched than a White man, even though data suggests that an officer is no more likely to find a contraband in a Black’s vehicle than a White’s. (Sentencing Project)
Racial Profiling in Minnesota: Three times more Blacks frisked than Whites
Racial profiling is a very real and undeniable issue in Minnesota. This image shows a fairly small rally at the Hennepin County Library in Minnesota that consisted of people that were outraged at the disproportionate frisks and arrests among Black people relative to Whites. 19% of Black motorists that were stopped in St. Paul were frisked during stops by the police, while only 6% of Whites were frisked. Furthermore, the data proves that Blacks are 2.5 times more likely to be arrested following stops. These race based assumptions take place in the first stage of the Criminal Justice process continue as well in later stages like in the sentencing process. "The U.S. Sentencing Commission reported in March 2010 that, in the federal system, Black offenders receive sentences that are 10% longer than White offenders for the same crimes. Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project reports African Americans are 21% more likely to receive mandatory minimum sentences than White defendants and 20% more like to be sentenced to prison than White drug defendants." This shows that it is not just the policing process who profile but it is also parts of the judicial system as well. Furthermore, this shows the seriousness and essentialness of curbing racial profiling, because it is unjust to Black drivers as well as Black offenders.
Driving While Black: A phrase referring to the racial profiling of Black drivers.
Driving while Black, or DWB is a phrase used when referring to the racial profiling of Black drivers. This phrase implies that a vehicle driver may be stopped (pulled over) by a police officer just because he/she is Black, and then questioned, searched, and/or charged with an unnecessary minor offense. Its name is word play on an actual crime, Driving While Intoxicated or DWI. It essentially is used to sarcastically show that Driving While Black is a "crime", similar to how Driving While Intoxicated is also a crime.
A Black man, Joe, living in Kansas City, was one person among many others, to experience being pulled over for DWB. He was pulled over for DWB by a police officer who drew his gun, handcuffed him, searched his car, checked his license, and let him go with, to quote Joe, "No ticket, no nothing." Shortly after this humiliating episode he was then pulled over by an officer who checked his license for outstanding warrants (he did not have any). Joe says he "felt violated" from this experience. And he should, warrant check stops are actually illegal. Joe's unfortunate, yet relatively common experience seriously makes one ponder the justness and effectiveness of polices' methods.
A Black man, Joe, living in Kansas City, was one person among many others, to experience being pulled over for DWB. He was pulled over for DWB by a police officer who drew his gun, handcuffed him, searched his car, checked his license, and let him go with, to quote Joe, "No ticket, no nothing." Shortly after this humiliating episode he was then pulled over by an officer who checked his license for outstanding warrants (he did not have any). Joe says he "felt violated" from this experience. And he should, warrant check stops are actually illegal. Joe's unfortunate, yet relatively common experience seriously makes one ponder the justness and effectiveness of polices' methods.
Caught on Tape: Philadelphia police question, stop, and frisk two Black men for no valid reason.
This is a video of two Black men who were stopped, interrogated, and harassed for the sole reason of saying "Hello" to two police officers. A terrible example of police officers not just treating Blacks badly, but also differently then how they treat Whites.
“Racial Profiling punishes innocent individuals for the past actions of those who look and sound like them. It misdirects crucial resources and undercuts the trust needed between law enforcement and the communities they serve. It has no place in our national discourse, and no place in our nation's police departments.”-Benjamin Todd Jealous