Racial Profiling in Law Enforcement     [Text-only version for printing]     [back to graphical version]
The following guide provides Web site links, a list of selected books, and access to online periodical articles about this subject. The Web site links have been researched, evaluated, and annotated by Rio Hondo College Librarians. The Librarians have specifically selected these Web sites to meet the research needs of Rio Hondo College students

Web Site Links

Amnesty International USA--Racial Profiling     http://www.amnestyusa.org/us-human-rights/racial-profiling/page.do?id=1106650&n1=3&n2+850&n3+1534
This site has reports, facts, questions and answers, recommendations, etc. on racial profiling.  There is also a place to report experiences with racial profiling.

CHP Settles Profiling Lawsuit     http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/02/28/MN77574.DTL
This article reports California Highway Patrol's 2003 settlement of a class-action lawsuit accusing racial profiling and following CHP's own 2001 study showing Latinos are more likely to be pulled over in central California.

Counterpoint : the case against profiling     http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IMR/is_3-4_79/ai_n9532559
A 2004 article published by International Social Science Review presents an argument opposing racial profiling.

Point : the case for profiling     http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IMR/is_3-4_79/ai_n9532556
A 2004 article published by International Social Science Review presents an argument defending racial profiling.

Racial Profiling : Old and New      http://www.aclu.org/racialjustice/racialprofiling/index.html
The ACLU has a site that discusses racial profiling and has updated news on racial profiling.

Racial Profiling Stops in Areas of High Crime     http://www.blackvoicenews.com/print.php?sid=3430
This 2005 article reports racial profiling issues involving the Riverside Police Department.

Threat and Humiliation : Racial Profiling, National Security, and Human Rights in the United States     http://www.amnestyusa.org/racial_profiling/report/
A 2004 study by Amnesty International USA found unlawful use of race in police, immigration, and airport security procedures.

Wrong Then, Wrong Now : Racial profiling Before & After September 11, 2001     http://www.civilrights.org/publications/reports/racial_profiling/
A 2003 report by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights compares street-level crime profiling with terrorism related profiling of Arabs, Muslims, and South Asians.

Online Databases (Rio Hondo Students only)    top

CQ Researcher     http://library2.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/
Provides current reports on the following subjects: health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy.  Each report is 12,000 words, written by a 'seasoned journalist' and presents unbiased views of both sides of an issue.  Two relevant reports available from CQ Researcher on racial profiling are:  Policing the Police (3/17/2007) ; Race in America (7/13/2007)

Gale Virtual Reference Library     http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/cclc_rio?db=GVRL
Contains the full text to Gale Reference print volumes.  Search throughout all volumes, or choose a specific reference work.  Some relevant titles include: Social Trends and Indicators USA ; Crime and Punishment : Essential Primary Sources.

SIRS     http://sks.sirs.com
SIRS provides browsable listings of articles grouped by subject headings.  Racial Profiling is available as a subject heading.  An overview of the topic is provided, along with a Pro/Con analysis and relevant article links.

 Books 
The following books can be located in the Rio Hondo College Library.

Reference Books (2nd floor)
Non-circulating:

Civil liberties (Contemporary issues companion)
Call number: Ref JC599.U5C5463 2006

Police brutality (Opposing viewpoints series)
Call number: Ref HV8141.P565 2007

Racial profiling (At issue) (At issue. Civil liberties)
Call number: Ref 7936.R3R325 2006

West's encyclopedia of American law
Call number: Ref KF154.W47 2005

Suggested Subject Headings
For additional titles on this topic at Rio Hondo, click on the following Library of Congress subject headings:

Crime and race--United States

Criminal procedure--United States

Police-community relations--United States

Police misconduct--United States

Race discrimination--United States

Racial profiling in law enforcement--United States

Articles
The Rio Hondo College Library provides online access to full-text articles through our online databases -  http://library.riohondo.edu/online_databases/index.htm.  Please note:  you must be a Rio Hondo College student, faculty, staff or board member to use these services.

The 3 sample searches below are from the ProQuest database. 
Use Advanced Search and type each tern in a separate box:

    1.  SUB(racial profiling) (from Peer-Reviewed Journals only)
    2.  SUB(racial profiling) and SUB(terrorism)
    3. 
SUB(racial profiling) and courts

Researched and evaluated by:
J. Coe, Librarian, 12/2002
last update: D. Yashar, Librarian 8/2008

[back to text-only Subject Guide Index]