IndexIntroductionMyths and StereotypesInteraction with the LawArguments for Racial ProfilingArguments against Racial ProfilingThis paper chooses this sideConclusionReferencesIntroductionPolice bias and racial profiling are responsible for many false arrests, convictions and deaths of African Americans. It is a difficult and unfortunate part of life that some groups of human beings have to face these so-called obstacles in their lives because they are a minority or because of the color of their skin. Racial profiling by police has been an ongoing problem that African Americans have faced for over 500 years. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay For a long time, law enforcement officials have used profiling as part of their tactics to apprehend criminals. However, profiling has become a major concern in recent times because law enforcement is unable to separate their criminal profiling tactics from racial profiling. According to Perry (2016), racial profiling occurs “when members of a particular racial or ethnic group become subject to greater criminal justice or institutional surveillance than others.” In addition to this, racial profiling can also be seen as the fact that individuals from certain ethnic groups are more likely to predict guilty behavior. For example, an officer may see two Black individuals shaking hands in a high drug crime area and assume that a drug transaction is underway. Being a multicultural nation, Canada protects its core values ​​such as freedom from discrimination and arbitrariness. Although both the government and police services have recognized that racial profiling is unacceptable and intolerable, it persists today. Some law enforcement activities can make people feel as if they are being racially profiled. This article will aim to examine stereotypes, the interaction that racial profiling has on our legal system, and the arguments for and against racial profiling. Myths and Stereotypes Myths and stereotypes can have a major impact on all ethnicities. Portrayals of African Americans, past and present, demonstrate stereotypes that disproportionately place them at a disadvantage in their lives. This can be seen particularly in words associated with African Americans. According to Brooms and Perry (2016), the stereotypical words associated with white skin color are “respectability, civility, and trust” while black skin color is usually associated with “poverty, danger, and distrust” (p. 168). These words not only have a negative impact on their personal life, but also on their work life. Black men who work in professional settings are at greater risk of racial microaggressions and that's because they are often employed in white institutions or companies where they work. experience many forms of discrimination. However, this idea of ​​racial microaggressions in the workplace could be attributed to the fact that their life chances are significantly diminished due to their skin color. Therefore, these young black males have no choice but to work under white managers. Another interesting myth is the fact that most crimes in the United States are committed by African Americans. In conjunction with this, there have been myths in the past regarding African Americans preying on whites. Although there may beIf there is any truth to this myth, it is likely exaggerated. For example, in 2005, 86% of murdered white Americans were actually murdered by other white Americans. Therefore, it was proven through statistics that African Americans were not the ones “preying” on white Americans. This is simply a stereotype about African Americans that goes back many years. This may be due to the fact that black male avatars are generally depicted as more violent and aggressive than white avatars in video games and mass media. Furthermore, the continued representation of Black males portrayed in this way further enforces fear and resentment towards Black males. These negative stereotypes of Black men as dangerous criminals are deeply hindered in the PSYCHE of society. According to Brooms and Perry (2016), it is a contributing factor to the racial disparities of White officers killing young unarmed Black men. Of course, racial profiling is not limited to interactions involving only the black community. It applies to any group that is stereotyped largely based on race or color. Interaction with the Law Considering the racial tensions between police and citizens, it is important to note the impact that racial profiling has had on the United States of America. Racial profiling can affect many different ethnic groups. However, one of the hardest hit groups were African Americans. One of the most egregious examples of racial profiling can be seen in 2012, when George Zimmerman was acquitted in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Afterward, Trayvon was essentially tried in court for his own murder. Since then, this type of racial profiling has been responsible for the emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Some victims of racial profiling include: Tamir Rice, Laquan McDonald, and Michael Brown. However, it is important to note that this list is not exhaustive and that there are many more victims of racial profiling in both the United States and Canada. Subsequently, U.S. police officers continued to use lethal force against young black men. On February 9, 2019, Willie McCoy was shot 25 times while sleeping on a road trip because police say he had a gun on his lap. However, since 2012 there have been few, if any, cases of racial profiling against civilians of other ethnic groups. Another great example of racial profiling closer to home can be seen in the case of Donald Marshall Jr. In 1983, Marshall was 18 years old. Twenty-year-old Aboriginal man convicted of murdering Sandy Seale (R v. Marshall, 1983). Although Marshall did not kill Sandy Seale, he still spent 11 years in prison before he was finally exonerated (R v Marshall, 1983). Early in the investigation, one of the officers ultimately determined that Marshall had stabbed the victim despite a lack of evidence to support his conclusion. According to R v. Marshall (1983), there was a general feeling that Indians were not considered equal to whites. There were two witnesses who were intimidated by the police and were ultimately forced to provide alternative versions of events in support of the Marshall investigation. Despite the wrongful conviction, racial profiling played a significant role in the incarceration of Donald Marshall Jr. Arguments for Racial Profiling Despite the literature on racial profiling, there are many arguments that focus on the positive effects of racial profiling. Racial profiling can be considered beneficial because it allows law enforcement to search for specific criminals based on similar ideologies. This means that if law enforcement knows what type of person fits the criminal's profile,can help save valuable resources. Furthermore, this may lead to assumptions that law enforcement will be able to arrest more criminals. According to Pudnick (2017), racial profiling is often advocated as a means of maximizing the effectiveness of scarce resources in controlling crime and preventing terrorist attacks. However, it can be difficult for police officers to accurately distinguish races, particularly when different racial groups share similar physical characteristics. For example, it may be difficult for officers to be able to differentiate Punjabis, who are perceived to be affiliated with gangs and drug trafficking in British Columbia, from other South Asian nationals. However, this is not the only argument in favor of racial profiling. Many supporters of racial profiling argue that it is a necessary tool during an investigation because statistics show that people from certain demographics are often more likely to commit certain crimes associated with that background than those from an unrelated background . Beyond that, many law enforcement agencies argue that it would be irresponsible to ignore this insight simply because it might be considered racist. In a reasonable scenario, law enforcement typically uses all the information they have access to to deter current and future criminal activity. If some level of racial profiling were to provide crucial information that actually deters crime, the conclusion is perhaps that racial profiling should in fact remain a part of law enforcement's more general professional arsenal. Arguments Against Racial Profiling Despite the literature surrounding arguments for racial profiling, the other side of the debate needs to be addressed. One of the first arguments against racial profiling has to do with the idea that it is actually racist. According to Pundik (2017) racial profiling “implies that the suspect's behaviors are determined by his or her race, age, and gender, none of which are within his or her control.” The act of racial profiling is well known to law enforcement, however generalizations that coincide with racial profiling are known to create tensions in specific communities. These tensions can further lead to the community feeling constantly under suspicion. When this happens, these individuals are likely to be less likely to assist law enforcement in solving crimes and more likely to engage in suspicious behavior. According to Tanovich (2002), this is one reason why most law enforcement groups oppose racial profiling. Over time, racial profiling practices on minority groups will contribute to the overrepresentation of ethnic groups within the criminal justice system. As a result, racial profiling is also known to violate section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in Canada. Section 15 of the Charter states that all individuals are equal before the law and prohibits discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin and colour, among other grounds. However, cases relating to section 15 of the Charter are actually rare. Furthermore, section 15 of the Charter guarantees equality in the application of the law and the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of race or ethnicity. Any form of unequal treatment would constitute a violation of this section. However, section 15 cases related to race are rare. In fact, there are only a few cases that the Supreme Court of Canada has dealt with 11.