Profiling is bad?
Reader comment on item: To Profile or Not to Profile?

Submitted by Adam Lubin (United States), Sep 23, 2004 at 21:16

I disagree that profiling is bad. For example, if 90% of people convicted of committing 'terrorist' acts in the US are Muslims aged 17-40, then wouldn't it be prudent to focus our resources on people that fit these criteria?

Additionally, don't police use this method all the time? Let's assume robbery suspect is described as a female caucasian with red hair, aged mid-20s, height 5'4" to 5'7", weighing approximately 120 lbs. As a detective trying to solve this case I would not pursue Black men in their late 30s, height 5'11" to 6'2", weighing 220 lbs.; it would be a waste of my time.

So please clarify why it is a bad thing to focus limited resources on the more likely candidates to be plotting an attack on US interests.

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