Racial Profiling: The Classical Theory Of Criminology

Criminology has evolved over the periods of time and with its evolution, several distinct categories of the theory have come into being. In this regard it can be said that in the early phase of this evolution two prominent criminal theories emerged as two important approaches to deal with crime and criminality. Both of these theories dealt distinctly with the overall aspect of crime, but their tenets differed widely from one another.
In terms of analyzing crime and criminals the classical theory of crime states that crime depends on the free will of the perpetrator and crime is often attractive for the perpetrator when such crime ensures great benefits in lieu of little efforts. The classicists also believe that for deterrence, severe, certain, and swift punishments must be implemented and it is through the fear of punishment only that crime can be …show more content…
Police should be held guilty for deciding in a biased way, depending on their stereotypical views about some race, to stop and interrogate citizens (Weitzer & Tuch, 2002). Such practices should be condemned as law enforcement is there to protect the society and not to instigate discriminations. But it must be admitted that even though racial profiling is not acceptable, ethnic profiling, to some extent, should be considered as a means adopted by the criminal justice system to counter terrorism. Considering the 9/11 attacks and keeping in mind the safety and security of the nation, ethnic profiling should not be vehemently criticized. In the past, the terrorists, and mostly the Islamic extremists, have succeeded in evading all the technological security means and protocols and so, it is needed now to keep them at bay through the process of implementing some sort of ethnic profiling, which, even though might seem to be racist in nature, is needed to secure the