Pros and Cons of Racial Profiling in Los Angeles

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According to the American Civil Liberties Union the definition of racial profiling is a discriminatory practice in which law enforcement uses the basis of race, religion, or national origin as the sole purpose for determining their level of suspicion for that person having committed a crime (ACLU 1). This definition basically states that it can be considered racial profiling for an officer to have an interaction with a person based solely on fact of race, religion, or ethnicity. This in itself is an accurate definition for racial profiling and hits the key facts that must be used. In order for an interaction to be considered racial profiling the interaction should have been initiated by a member of law enforcement solely based on the race, national origin, or religion. These disparities were almost always facts in the pasts of many cities, particularly Los Angeles. The question that must be asked is, “Is racial profiling still something that is seen in Los Angeles?” The answer is a resounding “maybe.” There are debates over what certain facts and figures mean and whether they represent signs of racial profiling, with one side arguing that without a doubt racial profiling takes place by the numbers and the other side arguing when these numbers are viewed in context they represent good policing.

Historically Los Angeles was considered a hotbed for racial tensions. These tensions came to a peak on April 29, 1992 (Wang1). On this day four white police officers were acquitted for a crime. Their crime had been the assault of a black man named Rodney King. Rodney King was an usher at Dodger’s stadium that had been stopped in a traffic stop. The officers accused Rodney King of speeding, driving under the influence, and fail...

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...est job they can and sometimes the effects of a job well done appear to be something they are not.

Works Cited

Ayres, Ian. "Racial profiling in L.A.: the numbers don't lie." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 23 10 2008. Web. 30 Nov 2011. .

Mac Donald, Heather. "What Looks Like Profiling Might Just Be Good Policing." Mahattan Institute for Policy Research. Los Angeles Times, 23 01 2003. Web. 30 Nov 2011. .

"Racial Profiling: Definition." ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union, 25 11 2005. Web. 30 Nov 2011. .

Wang, Tabitha. "Rodney King Riot, 1992." The Black Past. The Black Past, 2011. Web. 30 Nov 2011. .

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