It has long been recognized that the Canadian justice system is fraught with racism that disproportionately impacts Black people and communities across the country, resulting in racial profiling, harsher sentencing, mistreatment in prison, denial of services, and other injustices which can be compounded for people with intersecting identities (e.g. However the ones that do it manage to give the entire organization a negative image.â (R.G. For the purposes of its inquiry, the Commissionâs definition for "racial profiling" is any action undertaken for reasons of safety, security or public protection, that relies on stereotypes about race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, or place of origin, or a combination of these, rather than on a reasonable suspicion, to single out an individual for greater scrutiny or different treatment. This was recently acknowledged by one of Ontarioâs top law enforcement officials at the 98th annual conference of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.[5]. A few of the examples of profiling we heard during the inquiry include: Although anyone can experience profiling, racialized persons are primarily affected. The recent report in The Toronto Star accusing the Toronto police of racial profiling has renewed the debate across Canada on whether racial minorities get the same treatment as others from police forces. While many of the existing definitions of racial profiling, primarily originating in the United States, focus on law enforcement, the Ontario Human Rights Commissionâs Terms of Reference define racial profiling more broadly to include any action undertaken for reasons of safety, security or public protection that relies on stereotypes about race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, or place of origin rather than on reasonable suspicion, to single out an individual for greater scrutiny or different treatment. Racial profiling is identified by Adele Cassola in her article as unjust whereas Denyse Coles argues that racial profiling is necessary and is not considered racism. Chartrand, âThe Unbearable Automaticity of Beingâ (July 1999) 54 American Psychologist 462-479. Racial profiling is different from criminal profiling. [3] J.A. racial profiling meaning: 1. the practice by the police of thinking that people of a particular race or colour will behave inâ¦. Racial profiling is one of the most significant and complex issues facing law enforcement in Canada. [2] Public Service Commission of Canada, âStereotypingâ Monograph Issue 3 (October 1995), online: Public Service Commission of Canada . Stereotyping becomes a particular concern when people act on their stereotypical views in a way that affects others. The Commission selected a broad definition of racial profiling for several reasons. The fact that racial profiling may occur on a subconscious level has been recognized, for example by the Ontario Court of Appeal in, B. Powell, âPolice Chiefs Told To Help The Helplessâ. According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission âRacial profiling is based on stereotypical assumptions because of oneâs race, colour, ethnicity, etc.â whereas criminal profiling ârelies on actual behaviour or on information about suspected activity by someone who meets the description of a specific individualâ (Facts Sheet, para 2). Typically but not always, profiling is carried out by persons in positions of authority, and can occur in many contexts involving safety, security and public protection issues. Similarly, those in a position of power may consciously or unconsciously exercise that power differently when dealing with racialized persons. Although anyone can experience profiling, racialized persons are primarily affected. A new report by three independent researchers finds there is systemic bias in street checks by Montreal police but stops short of concluding officers are guilty of racial profiling. (26 August 2003). In other words, criminal profiling is not the same as racial profiling since the former is based on objective evidence of wrongful behaviour while racial profiling is based on stereotypical assumptions. At its heart, profiling is about stereotyping people based on preconceived ideas about a personâs character. If indeed racial profiling exists in Canada, it would be in direct violation of at least a few sections of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The jurisprudential term âarticulable causeâ in Canada equates to lack of âreasonable groundsâ in the U.S., which is regarded as de jure evidence concerning âracial profilingâ even when specific evidence on racial biasness is missing. 1. a form of racism consisting of the (alleged) policy of policemen who stop and search vehicles driven by persons belonging to particular racial groups Critics ask Is it racist, or is a necessary part of law enforcement. racial profiling (n.). Racial Profiling in Canada Essay examples 1300 Words | 6 Pages. ), It is also important to note that concerns with profiling relate directly to the concepts of discretion and power. ⦠That is, the police officer need not be an overt racist. [4] The fact that racial profiling may occur on a subconscious level has been recognized, for example by the Ontario Court of Appeal in R. v. Brown (2003), 64 O.R. As such, its practice is not limited to any one group of people or particular institution. Without a doubt, 9/11 generated a hitherto unmarked level of interest in racial profiling on the part of legislators, the media, and scholars.' I believe that generally the police do a very professional job under often difficult conditions.â (L.R. Such an asymmetry has emerged as a consequence that has affected how the legal rights in regards to the ways the police powers are treated when applying the power of search, investig⦠Racial profiling is wrong and ineffective. Critics ask Is it racist, or is a necessary part of law enforcement. is dispute regarding what defines racial profiling. This is what leads to profiling. In Canada, specifically, where the discourse of racial tolerance has far more currency than that of racial justice and where the preferred mode of crisis containment is the production and issuance of commissioned reports, the scope of (ostensibly) progressive ⦠The article quotes Bill Currie, Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police as having said: We do not provide equitable service to marginalized people. a law enforcement official assumes someone is more likely to have committed a crime because he is African Canadian; school personnel treat a Latino childâs behaviour as an infraction of its zero tolerance policy while the same action by another child might be seen as normal âkidsâ playâ; a private security guard follows a shopper because she believes the shopper is more likely to steal from the store; an employer wants a stricter security clearance for a Muslim employee after September 11. a bar refuses to serve Aboriginal patrons because of an assumption that they will get drunk and rowdy; a criminal justice system official refuses bail to a Latin American person because of a belief that people from her country are violent; and. Black Muslims, Black LGBTQ2S folks, etc. Harris is considered to be one of this nation's leading authorities. Because stereotyping may be subtle and unconscious, in many cases the person engaging in it may not even realize that it has occurred. (3d) 161 at 165: âThe attitude underlying racial profiling is one that may be consciously or unconsciously held. The Commission selected a broad definition of racial profiling for several reasons. A. Some examples of profiling presented during the inquiry include: For further information please visit our Web site at www.ohrc.on.ca or call 1-800-387-9080 (toll-free), (416) 326-9511 (in Toronto), 1-800-308-5561 (TTY toll-free), (416) 326-0603 (TTY Local).Â, Membership in vocational associations and trade unions. Racial profiling is one of the most common and harmful forms of racism faced by racialized people in their interaction with the criminal justice system. J.A. "Racial Profiling" refers to the discriminatory practice by law enforcement officials of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on the individual's race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Racism began to be studied by scientists in the 19th century. Criminal profiling, generally, as practiced by police, is the reliance on a group of characteristics they believe to be associated with crime. In fact, many participants in our process discussed the difficult job that those in a position of authority, especially the police, have. a landlord asks a Chinese student to move out because she believes that the tenant will expose her to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) even though the tenant has not been to any hospitals, facilities or countries associated with a high risk of SARS. Racial profiling, however, is not limited only to an individual's ethnicity or race, but can also be based on the individual's religion, or national origin. Profiling can occur in many contexts involving safety, security and public protection issues. Racial Profiling and Human Rights in Canada examines a combination of psychological, sociological, organizational, political, and community perspectives, resulting in a holistic, multi-faceted approach to understanding the phenomenon of racial profiling and to pre-empting or eradicating it. This is what leads to profiling. âThe police have a tough job to do.... We all have built in stereotypes and instincts that sometimes we count on.â (S.P. Prejudice is in all of us and if you are in a position of power you can wield it.â (N.S. This definition of racial profiling is used in context and coupled with examples to help clarify. Stereotyping can be described as a process by which people use social categories (e.g. The Commission has noted that profiling can occur because of a combination of the above factors and that age and/or gender can influence the experience of profiling. Racial Profiling can be described as an individual being suspected of a crime solely on the grounds of their race or ethnicity. What if racial profiling is not only morally wrong but also ineffective? uncountable noun Racial profiling is government or police activity that involves using peopleâs racial and cultural characteristics to identify people to investigate....controversies involving racial profiling and corruption. race, ethnic origin, place of origin, religion) in acquiring, processing and recalling information about others. is dispute regarding what defines racial profiling. While it may be somewhat natural for humans to engage in stereotyping, it is nevertheless wrong. Laws like SB 1070 demean us all. Indeed, a frank exploration of each of our own assumptions and biases would lead many of us to realize that at some point or other we have stereotyped someone. Racial Profiling goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, and takes away an individual rights. Racial Profiling and Human Rights in Canada examines a combination of psychological, sociological, organizational, political, and community perspectives, resulting in a holistic, multi-faceted approach to understanding the phenomenon of racial profiling and to pre-empting or eradicating it. This designation is decided by school officials, a practice that, according to the provinceâs Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (cdpdj), has been associated with racial profiling, as it gives âsubstantial discretionary power to school personnel in terms of deciding which students it should be applied to.â At its heart, profiling is about stereotyping people based on preconceived ideas about a personâs character. Learn more. Discussing a concern with profiling is not the same as saying that every member of an organization profiles, that profiling is an intentional policy of the organization or even that it is an intentional action of those who engage in it. The primary institution that promotes and enforces racial profiling in society is the police. Racial Profiling in Canada 1296 Words | 6 Pages. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. For the purposes of its inquiry, the Commissionâs definition for "racial profiling" is any action undertaken for reasons of safety, security or public protection, that relies on stereotypes about race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, or place of origin, or a combination of these, rather than on a reasonable suspicion, to single out an individual for greater scrutiny or different treatment. The African Canadian Legal Clinic, based in Toronto, has adopted the following definition: âRacial profiling is criminal profiling based on race. Chartrand, âThe Unbearable Automaticity of Beingâ (July 1999) 54 American Psychologist 462-479. Persons in society who hold positions in which they exercise a large degree of discretion have more of an opportunity to engage in profiling and are also more likely to be perceived to be engaging in racial profiling in the exercise of their discretion. Racial profiling is a form of discrimination. The article quotes Bill Currie, Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police as having said: Membership in vocational associations and trade unions, Paying the price: The human cost of racial profiling, The impact of racial profiling on the Aboriginal community, Appendix A: Major reports relevant to racial profiling and Aboriginal peoples, http://www.psc-cfc.gc.ca/publications/monogra/mono3_e.htm>. ), âThe cops should not judge us all the same and the public should not judge all police officers the same.â (N.W. Bargh & T.L. It is a form of stereotyping and discrimination based on race. They nevertheless emphasized that racial profiling can occur because of the challenges of the job. In European countries, the term "ethnic profiling" is also used instead of racial profiling. Persons who are in a position to engage in racial profiling need to be especially vigilant to check their assumptions and biases. Therefore, saying that profiling occurs should not necessarily be interpreted as an accusation that those who engage in it are racist.[4]. law enforcement official assumes someone is more likely to have committed a crime because he is African Canadian; school personnel treat a Latino childâs behaviour as an infraction under its zero tolerance policy while the same action by another child might be seen as normal "kidsâ play"; a private security guard follows a shopper because she believes the shopper is more likely to steal from the store; an employer wants a stricter security clearance for a Muslim employee after September 11. a bar refuses to serve Aboriginal patrons because of an assumption that they will get drunk and rowdy; a criminal justice system official refuses bail to a Latin American person because of a belief that people from her country are violent; and. Racial profiling can be defined as an assumption that a person should be regarded as a potential criminal based on their racial background. Racial profiling refers to the inappropriate targeting of racial and ethnic groups by police officers and other law enforcement officials. How to use profiling in a sentence. Racial Profiling By 2002, the Toronto Star began publication of a series of articles on the topic of race and crime. First and foremost, it is the Commissionâs view that racial profiling is primarily a mindset. First and foremost, it is the Commissionâs view that racial profiling is primarily a mindset. Racial Profiling and the War against Terrorism Controversies over racial profiling are hardly new in Canada. Typically, but not always, profiling is carried out by persons in a position of authority. Racial profiling occurs when an individual is subjected to differential treatment or greater scrutiny because of negative stereotypes related to their race or other grounds such as religious beliefs, colour, ancestry or place of origin or a combination of these. "The idea that immigration officers don't racially profile is nonsense," he said. [The Associationâs Policing and Aboriginal Peoples Committee] analyzed statistical, investigative and anecdotal information from across the country and we had no choice but to come to this regrettable conclusion. ), âI know that police are there to help and suffer a lot of abuse in the jobs they do - however they are still humans with thoughts and opinions - You cannot put them on a pedestal and expect them to always leave personal life opinions out of their duties.â (M.N. [2] But, while mental categories are absolutely essential in simplifying and understanding our information-rich environment, stereotypes are not appropriate, as they do not correspond to reality[3]. Practical experience and psychology both confirm that anyone can stereotype, even people who are well meaning and not overtly biased. And, organizations need to acknowledge that just as each of us can stereotype, so too can their members, even if there is no institutional policy that allows the use of, encourages or even tolerates profiling. Racial profiling is based on stereotypical assumptions because of oneâs race, colour, ethnicity, etc. Criminal profiling, on the other hand, relies on actual behaviour or on information about suspected activity by someone who meets the description of a specific individual. At the time the ideology explained some political and economic conflicts in parts of the world, and legitimized the dominant role of British capitalism in the world economic system. While xenophobia âor fear of those unlike ourselves âhas long been a part of human cultures, the concept of race first appeared in the English language around the 17th century. The ambiguity of the phrase âracial profilingâ has found itself favoured in the Canadian Courts. Definition of Racial Profiling In the context of rights to life, liberty and property, a concept of Racial Profiling is provided here: Police targeting of racial minorities as potential suspects of criminal activities. The African Nova Scotian community is subjected to much greater police surveillance and racial profiling compared with ⦠Racial profiling at the border is not new, according to former border agent and immigration lawyer Guidy Mamann. ), âI do believe that this was profiling by two individuals and not the entire police force. His book, "Profiles in Injustice: Why Racial Profiling Cannot Work" (2003), directly challenges the assertion of law enforcement that profiling is ⦠North Americans began to use the term in their scientific writings by the late 18th century. His or her conduct may be based on subconscious racial stereotyping.â[5] B. Powell, âPolice Chiefs Told To Help The Helplessâ The Toronto Star (26 August 2003). Sharpen your thoughts on racial profiling with this definition. Profiling definition is - the act or process of extrapolating information about a person based on known traits or tendencies; specifically : the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of observed characteristics or behavior. The Commission mostly heard of experiences of profiling from people who identified as Aboriginal, African Canadian, Arab, Chinese and South East Asian, Latin American, South Asian and Muslim. The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse has adopted the following definition of racial profiling1: âRacial profiling is any action taken by one or more people in authority with res-pect to a person or group of persons, for reasons of safety, security or public or- Stories about racial profiling constantly appear in the news, but that doesnât mean the public has a good grasp on what this discriminatory practice is. While profiling can be intentional, it can also be inadvertent. Let us join the voices of compassion and oppose the mean-spirited actions that aim to legalize racial profiling and scapegoat immigrants. )T Similarly, many acknowledged that many persons in an organization may be doing their job admirably but that others, who are stereotyping, are having a significant impact on the community and its perception of the organization as a whole. When you are dealing with marginalized people, you exercise power differently than you do with those who are advantaged or have status in society. Racial or ethnic profiling is the act of suspecting or targeting a person on the basis of assumed characteristics or behavior of a racial or ethnic group, rather than on individual suspicion. ), âI do not think that all the individuals that are in this organization display racial profiling characteristics or stereotypical judgments. We do this because it allows us to organize and simplify complex situations and give us greater confidence in our ability to understand, predict and potentially control situations. And, because these individuals are entrusted with power over others in society, it is particularly important that they be accountable when widespread concern is being expressed about the way in which that power is exercised. Prior to Bargh & T.L. Racial profiling is identified by Adele Cassola in her article as unjust whereas Denyse Coles argues that racial profiling is necessary and is not considered racism. In â Singled Out â, the Starâs analysis of arrest data from the Toronto Police Services revealed that Black Canadians were highly over-represented in certain offence categories, including drug possession and trafficking. a landlord asks a Chinese student to move out because she believes that the tenant will expose her to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) even though the tenant has not been to any hospitals, facilities or countries associated with a high risk of SARS. ), âWell, I think there are a lot of damn good men on the force, but I think there are people who are not good. Racial Profiling Quebec task force tables recommendations to fight racism in the province The group issued 25 recommendations, including an end to police streets checks. 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