The relationship between race and crime and its impact on decisions in the criminal justice system is a topic of controversy in both public and academic spheres. The imprisonment of ethnic minorities at a higher rate than their White counterpart occurs in most western nation (La Prairie, 1999; Tonry, 1995, 1997). In Canada, the overly represented groups are Aboriginals (First Nations, Inuit, and Metis) and Black Canadians relative to their incidence in the general population (Roberts & Stenning, 2001; Owusu-Bempah & Wortley, 2013). The over-representation of Indigenous Canadians in the penitentiary has been widely documented both in government reports and academic literature (Badock, 1976; Aboriginal Justice Inquiry of Manitoba, 1991; Clark
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disproportionate representation in the penal system starts with their involvement with the police. Minorities are represented excessively in arrest statistics (Wortley & Tanner, 2004, p.200) and mostly to be arrested for violent offences (Webster & Doob, 2008, p.4). Can it then be inferred that they are more criminally inclined? According to criminology research, crime and violent behaviours are randomly distributed across classes and groups (Lawrence, 2011 p.6). Therefore, I am arguing that, it is not the committing of the crime that has lead to their vast arrest and incarceration; rather, racial profiling in policing has lead to such outcomes.
Racial profiling is defined as when race and not illegal or criminal activities is the basis of police-initiated actions, such as surveillance (Ramirez, et al., 2000). Racial profiling has three defining features according to academics. First, it refers to substantial differences in police stops and search practices. Second, it refers to significant racial differences in interrogation practices and custom searches. Third, it refers to undercover stings operations that target specific racial community (Wortley & Tanner, 2004; Harris, …show more content…
However, racial profiling has it costs. According to Wortley and Owusu-Bempah (2012), There are two potential consequences of racial profiling for Black (and Aboriginal) communities. First, Black people (and Aboriginals) are more likely to be caught when they break the law than are White people who engage in similar criminal activity because, their communities is subject to high level of police surveillance (p.27). Therefore, arrest statistics are based on law enforcement practices rather than racial differences in illegal and criminal behaviour. Second, Both communities already feel marginalized from mainstream Canadian society and this can further serves to alienate them (p.27). Racial profiling consequently labels an entire community as being criminally prone based on the belief that they have high crime rates while effectively ignoring that majority of its members does not commit
disproportionate representation in the penal system starts with their involvement with the police. Minorities are represented excessively in arrest statistics (Wortley & Tanner, 2004, p.200) and mostly to be arrested for violent offences (Webster & Doob, 2008, p.4). Can it then be inferred that they are more criminally inclined? According to criminology research, crime and violent behaviours are randomly distributed across classes and groups (Lawrence, 2011 p.6). Therefore, I am arguing that, it is not the committing of the crime that has lead to their vast arrest and incarceration; rather, racial profiling in policing has lead to such outcomes.
Racial profiling is defined as when race and not illegal or criminal activities is the basis of police-initiated actions, such as surveillance (Ramirez, et al., 2000). Racial profiling has three defining features according to academics. First, it refers to substantial differences in police stops and search practices. Second, it refers to significant racial differences in interrogation practices and custom searches. Third, it refers to undercover stings operations that target specific racial community (Wortley & Tanner, 2004; Harris, …show more content…
However, racial profiling has it costs. According to Wortley and Owusu-Bempah (2012), There are two potential consequences of racial profiling for Black (and Aboriginal) communities. First, Black people (and Aboriginals) are more likely to be caught when they break the law than are White people who engage in similar criminal activity because, their communities is subject to high level of police surveillance (p.27). Therefore, arrest statistics are based on law enforcement practices rather than racial differences in illegal and criminal behaviour. Second, Both communities already feel marginalized from mainstream Canadian society and this can further serves to alienate them (p.27). Racial profiling consequently labels an entire community as being criminally prone based on the belief that they have high crime rates while effectively ignoring that majority of its members does not commit