NCJ Number
203434
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Volume: 45 Issue: 3 Dated: July 2003 Pages: 391-399
Date Published
July 2003
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article discusses racial profiling as an empirical phenomenon that is supposed to exist at the Toronto Police Services.
Abstract
Anecdotal evidence of racial profiling and the fact that there is a belief in racial profiling are significant and important social realities. Anecdotal evidence speaks more to beliefs than facts, especially when the anecdotes and beliefs are themselves being widely publicized in the media. The existence of numerous anecdotes and widely held beliefs about racial profiling is cause for concern because of the high social costs involved. The two important factors about racial profiling are that the phenomenon must involve police decisionmaking based upon race; and that the police activity involved is aimed at identifying criminals. The first factor has important implications for issues of data collection; the second, for drawing conclusions about whether the phenomenon has been proved. The Toronto Star articles used data that assumed the validity of the data collection and the appropriateness of the data’s use for its purposes. The Star used as its comparison the general population figures from the last available census. No reputable researcher uses general population data as the yardstick. The researchers at the Star did not use any valid comparison to conclude there was anything wrong with the actual figures obtained. The Star’s research violated the most basic rules of scientific investigation and in no way provided a foundation for the conclusions reached. 2 notes, 1 reference