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Historical Overview and Perceptions of Racial and Terrorist Profiling in an Era of Homeland Security: A Research Note

NCJ Number
228149
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 359-374
Author(s)
Deborah Wilkins Newman; Nikki-Qui D. Brown
Date Published
September 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study compared the views of law enforcement and non-law enforcement populations regarding terrorist profiling and compared racial profiling as it is interwoven with terrorist profiling.
Abstract
The results of the study revealed that law enforcement and non-law enforcement/student subjects differed in their perceptions regarding the value of terrorist profiling and their suspiciousness of individuals that fit a terrorist profile linked in time and place with a terrorist act, such as September 11, 2001. However, the results showed that the two groups agreed on their perception of terrorist profiling not being a requirement to effectively combat terrorism. This research contributes important information for community policing and homeland security education. A better understanding of the perception in profiling matters has the ability to enhance police-community relations. This study was designed to explore the possible differences between law enforcement and non-law enforcement viewpoints regarding the use of racial and terrorist profiling. Tables and references