Profiling and Criminal Justice in America: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues)

A much-needed reference work on one of the hottest subjects today―profiling and its use and misuse by legal and police authorities.

Seven of ten African American men between the ages of 18 and 34 believe they have been victims of an insidious form of discrimination: racial profiling. Are they right? Or rather, is profiling a legitimate, fair, and effective law enforcement tool?

This unique handbook examines the history behind racial, gender, and religious profiling, charts its guiding philosophies, surveys supporting legal doctrines and legislation, and presents the arguments pro and con. It focuses on profiling by police, prosecutors, and judges; federal and state civil rights laws; key legal cases and studies; and more. Whether one wishes to explore racial profiling by state troopers in New Jersey, the identification of serial killers by the FBI, or the screening of potential terrorists by airport security, this is the book to consult.

• Includes a chronology of key events in American criminal justice including discussions of key court cases, developments in criminal procedure, the development of sentencing guidelines, civil rights milestones, and examples of court-sanctioned profiling such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II

• Includes brief biographies of key people such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, John Douglas, Jesse Jackson, and Janet Reno