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The Environmental Context of Racial Profiling

Author

Listed:
  • Patricia Y. Warren

    (Florida State University in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice)

  • Amy Farrell

    (College of Criminal Justice)

Abstract

Racial profiling describes the practice of targeting or stopping an individual based primarily on his or her race rather than any individualized suspicion. Such profiling came under considerable public scrutiny beginning in the 1990s when the media drew substantial attention to racial profiling in traffic stops. This study examines whether the heightened public scrutiny generated by the media as well as legislative and organizational changes that ensued changed police officers' patterns of searches among black and white drivers. Using traffic stop data from Rhode Island between 2001 and 2005, the results demonstrate that racial disparities in searches are significantly reduced when news media coverage is putting more pronounced pressure on police organizations and police departments to make changes in leadership. These findings suggest that public scrutiny through the media and administrative commitment to fairness may be important first steps in reducing biased behavior in traffic stop enforcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Y. Warren & Amy Farrell, 2009. "The Environmental Context of Racial Profiling," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 623(1), pages 52-63, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:623:y:2009:i:1:p:52-63
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716208330485
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jeff Dominitz, 2003. "How Do the Laws of Probability Constrain Legislative and Judicial Efforts to Stop Racial Profiling?," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 5(2), pages 412-432, August.
    2. Alexandre Mas, 2006. "Pay, Reference Points, and Police Performance," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 121(3), pages 783-821.
    3. Canice Prendergast, 2001. "Selection and Oversight in the Public Sector, With the Los Angeles Police Department as an Example," NBER Working Papers 8664, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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