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Simple English definitions for legal terms
profiling
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A quick definition of profiling:
Profiling is when law enforcement officers use a person's race, nationality, or ethnicity to suspect them of criminal activity. This is also known as racial profiling. It used to happen a lot to African-American men who were driving, but after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, it started happening to Middle Eastern men at airports too. This is not fair and can be hurtful to innocent people.
A more thorough explanation:
Profiling is a law enforcement practice where race, national origin, or ethnicity is used as a basis for suspicion of criminal activity. This is also known as racial profiling.
For example, in the past, police officers would stop a disproportionate number of African-American male drivers on the assumption that they were more likely to be involved in criminal activity. After the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, profiling was also used to search and interrogate Middle Eastern men at airports.
Profiling is controversial because it can lead to discrimination and unfair treatment of individuals based on their race or ethnicity. It is important for law enforcement to use other factors, such as behavior and evidence, to determine suspicion of criminal activity.