9 Myths of Racial Profiling

Excerpted from Professor David Tanovich and LEAP

Why study myths?

• People can identify when they are crossing a prohibited zone

• Recognize what racial profiling is, and how to avoid it

What is racial profiling?

• Heightened surveillance or scrutiny given to aboriginal or racialized individuals based on stereotypes

What does that mean?!

• Racial profiling has still occurred if the decision to stop is influenced to any degree by the officer’s perception, conscious or otherwise, that his or her chances of finding criminal activity is more likely because the person is of a particular racialized group.

Is that it?

• Racial profiling also occurs when a person or situation is viewed as more dangerous because of a persons race.

• Essentially racial profiling occurs when race is a factor in suspect selection or suspect treatment

• If you are more scared of a black person you have racially profiled.

• Two famous examples: ▫ 1: DWB▫ 2: FWM

Other Examples?

Myth One

• Racial profiling occurs where race is the onlyreason for behaviour

▫ It is still racial profiling if the person does something to attract police attention but they treat them differently because of their race

Myth 2:• Only “bad apples” racially profile• Evidence confirms that it is a systemic problem

in Ontario▫ Majority of black police officers in Toronto report

being stopped while off-duty▫ 20% of officers report being stopped at least once

a month▫ 43% of black male Toronto residents report being

stopped by police in comparison to 25% of white residents

▫ 23 % of black youth and only 8% of white youth

Myth 3• Differential treatment can be explained by

offending rates for street crimes like drugs or gangs▫ Officers 6th sense detect crime▫ Activities that attract police attention

Criminal activityDrug or alcohol useGang ActivityHanging OutHouse Parties

Myth 3: Continued

• 34% of black youth who had not engage in any of these behaviours report being stopped on 2 or more occasions in a 12 month period

• 4% of white youth• 23% of black youth report being searched by the

police• 5% of white youth

Myth 4-

• Racialized officers don’t profile▫ Research shows there is no difference▫ R V Singh▫ Peart V Peel Regional Police

Myth 5• Racial profiling is exclusive to FWM or DWB• Other examples include:▫ Using race as a factor in obtaining a warrant

(Barrhaven grow-ops)▫ Using discretionary powers (traffic stops, public

intoxication, municipal offences)▫ Misinterpreting innocent behaviour as

incriminating

Examples1) Black teenagers standing on a street corner in a

high crime area are seen as being in a gang2) Failing to make eye contact with the police or

walking away by aboriginal youths is seen as grounds for an investigation

3) Clothing, contents of car etc.4) Where the police use only race for a suspects

description

Myth 6

• The person profiling has to be rude• Most people are not aware their behaviour is

influenced by stereotypes

Myth 7

• Racial profiling is not sanctioned by police▫ Arar Inquiry▫ “the public is our most

valuable partner in stopping terrorism”

• How does the fact that a racial group is involved in a particular type of drug activity relevant?

Myth 8:

• Police stops are a minor inconvenience▫ Harms of racial profiling include:

Criminalizing diversityOver-representation of racialized groups in jailDisenfranchisement of racial groupsPsychological harm to victimsChange in behavioursMistrust of policeMistrust and disenfranchisement leads to gangs

Additional Risks

• False positives (pull over the wrong person) waste police time▫ Canada Customs and Revenue Agency did a 26

month study on drug seizures▫ 536 cases anaylzed▫ Searched people based on profile and 80% of

people did not have contraband

Myth 9

• If profiling is unconscious it is impossible to change my behaviour