MAJOR POLICY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Major Policy Issues in Criminal Justice System

(Racial Profiling: A Useful Tool in Everyday Police Work)

[Carl M. Pawlowski]

[Arizona State University]

[CRJ 505]

Abstract

Generally society frowns upon issues that single out or discriminate people based solely upon their racial background. A critical topic such as racial profiling stands out because some look at our own criminal justice system as only contributing to this ongoing problem. There is the lot of data available that shows public opinion against racial profiling and how it highlights the racial divide in this country. By considering different perspectives of racial profiling the professional opinion on this “form” of police work can be predicted as to what racial profiling really means to law enforcement personal. By formulating an understanding from several questions posed to different types of law enforcement, in different types of neighborhoods, and with different lengths of experience the professional definition can be stated. To state the results in comparison with other scholarly work both for and against racial profiling, and charting the results. Once the data can be compared side by side, discussion and analysis of data will be done. What it mean not only to society but also to law enforcement personal. Concluding with the personal opinion on what racial profiling really is and how that in many situations actually needs to be used to benefit law enforcement personal.

Keywords: Racial Profiling, Police Work, Police & Community Relationship, Racial Profiling in Media

Introduction

This paper examines the use of racial profiling within law enforcement and its benefits it provides to officers. Racial profiling is an act of using someone's skin color “only” to predetermine their guilt or possibility of guilt. The media and some minority community members show how racial profiling in law enforcement is the detriment to society. When actually the understanding of how racial profiling truly benefits society and how the officers are trying to protect the neighborhood is greatly misrepresented.

The key issues involved in the problem are that the general public truly doesn't know the benefits of racial profiling and how its use as the key tool to serve and protect the neighborhood. Racial profiling isn't the black and white issue in law enforcement. Racial profiling tool can be used no matter what skin color the officer is or what skin colors the criminal happens to be it will have an effect.

Literature Review

Criminal justice is the branch of law that deals with disputes or actions involving criminal penalties. It regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and provides punishment for criminal acts. (Holbert 2004)More so, it means activities relating to the detection, apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders. Also, the administration of criminal justice includes criminal identification activities and the collection, storage and dissemination of criminal history records. (Meeks 2000)

The criminal justice system is purposive of delivering justice for all, by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the ...