Ethics and Criminal Justice

Based on the definition of the term racial profiling, it narrows down to being a matter of discretion. In his book “Racial Profiling and Borders: International, Interdisciplinary Perspectives” Jeff, (2010) describes racial profiling as a discriminative practice of using ones race inclination to suspect a person of felony or committing a certain crime. The definition by Jeff illustrates that social profiling is a matter of prejudiced treatment of suspects or potential suspects by the police with regard to their race. For instance African Americans are often mistreated by law enforcement units more than the whites because of the racial prejudice implicating black people with violence, drug dealing and organized crimes. Moreover the definition exhibits both moral and ethical dimensions that law enforcement personnel often classify individuals into racial and ethnic profiles which is an illegal act in many nations though it has continuously sparked controversies because of the thin line separating discretion, ethics and morality (Jeff, 2010).

Moral and ethical dimensions have been identified through critics made by conservative members of societies who support that racial profiling is justifiable in helping predict criminal activities. Such opinions are moral but not ethical owing to the fact that profiling is likely to favor one race and insight it against the other thus destabilizes peaceful coexistence among two or more races. Civil liberties on the other hand have had a different dimension which has been voiced through the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). ACLU supports that racial profiling is discriminative and since it undermines human rights and freedoms, the argument relates racial profiling as being immoral and unethical (Jeff, 2010). On the other hand, local communities have been identified as having prejudiced first impression in judging people living in their neighborhoods thus the idea of community policing is prejudiced in its self. Apparently there is much support that different races view each other as being prejudiced on first impression but disregards the racial prejudice after constant interactions with them.

Society has taught people to be prejudiced about others thus people tend to feel secure with people of their race than when they are with strangers of the different race. The same concept has infiltrated law enforcement units where police officers have shown divergent minds regarding their view on suspected criminals from different races. The main reason people judge others by how they look, how they act, or how they present themselves is because they have not established a comfort zone thus there is need to promote interaction between different races by promoting social events so as to enhance the comfort escalation which reduced prejudice and consequently racial profiling. In discussing the police culture, discretion and use of force, instances have been reported of white police officers being prejudiced over African Americans because of their past histories with cases of crime. On the other hand consequentialism supports that black police officers showed less prejudgment for both blacks and white suspects because they have a deeper understanding of their fellow African Americans (Higgins & Gennaro, 2010).

From this experience, police culture is biased to the extent of their interaction and knowledge of the other race as a result discretion and use of force is highly likely among police officers. Ronald and Steven, (2006) state that normative ethical theories are implied by African American heavily clad in jewelry which can easily be subjugated on the grounds of drug trafficking while a white man cannot be questioned. A group consisting of black teenagers is likely to be harassed by police depending on the car they are driving.

References

Higgins, G. & Gennaro, V. (2010). Exploring the Influence of Race Relations and Public Safety on Public Support for Racial Profiling during Traffic Stops. International Journal of Police Science & Management.

Jeff, S. (2010). Racial Profiling and Borders: International, Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Lake Mary: Vandeplas.

Ronald, W. & Steven, T. (2006). Race and Policing in America: Conflict and Reform. New York: Cambridge University Press.