Criminal Justice Practice Exam

Racial profiling often occurs during what type of police stops?

1. Pretext stops

2. Random patrols

3. Selective enforcement

4. Full enforcement

The correct answer is: Pretext stops

Racial profiling is most commonly associated with pretext stops, which are traffic stops made by law enforcement officers based on minor infractions or behaviors as a pretense to investigate a driver for more serious law violations, such as suspicion of drug trafficking or other criminal activity. In these instances, the underlying motive for the stop is not necessarily the observed traffic violation but rather the officer's suspicion, which can be influenced by racial or ethnic biases. This practice highlights the misuse of law enforcement authority, as the justification for the stop does not align with the actual intent, often leading to the profiling of individuals based on race rather than legitimate evidence of wrongdoing. The other types of police stops, such as random patrols, selective enforcement, and full enforcement, typically do not engage in the same level of subjective reasoning tied to an individual's race or ethnicity as the primary basis for stopping a vehicle or pursuing an individual. Therefore, the correlation between pretext stops and racial profiling is particularly significant in discussions about policing practices and civil rights.