Police Injustice...

[hwilliams591]

you obviously didn't read my post. They ARE flat out treating people like criminals. and i can't belive you are sitting here trying to justify racial profiling. being "black" or any other race or dressing a certain way does NOT constitute reasonable suspision.

I actually read it a few times to understand it!
You stated you live in the ghetto or next to it and wonder why police treat most like criminals...with that statement along I'm surprised you even wrote this post.
Whats the crime rate in that area? Whats your opinion of being treated like a criminal? You post just has them asking to search your vehicle which is justified if there is reason to suspect you, the occupants, or the vehicle. How were you treated as a criminal.....you obviously left out how they were treating anyone like criminals in your area.

And I never said just being black constituted suspicion!   I'll correct myself to say that only racial profiling is not what I meant, but to profile the person/persons with everything considered. I do it everyday...it is just knowing your surroundings.

[502mania]

you obviously didn't read my post. They ARE flat out treating people like criminals. and i can't belive you are sitting here trying to justify racial profiling. being "black" or any other race or dressing a certain way does NOT constitute reasonable suspision.

You post just has them asking to search your vehicle which is justified if there is reason to suspect you, the occupants, or the vehicle. How were you treated as a criminal.....

A broken taillight is not a reasonable constitution for search. But wanting to search the vehicle and saying "i'm going to hold you for disorderly coduct if you say no" is wrong. And i don't live in the ghetto anymore. Automatically assuming there is something illegal in the car is treating us like criminals.

[animikokala]

A broken taillight is not a reasonable constitution for search. But wanting to search the vehicle and saying "i'm going to hold you for disorderly coduct if you say no" is wrong. And i don't live in the ghetto anymore. Automatically assuming there is something illegal in the car is treating us like criminals.
[/quote]

One question.  How are you and your friends dressed?  What was the location?  Were you near a dangerous area, or a place prone to crime?  I'm not much for racial profiliing, but if a cop pulls over all these punks who are wanna-be "gangsta's", then I hope they treat them like they MAY be one.  If they want to dress the part, they should be prepared to be treated with suspision.

You know what they say, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.... (it's probably not a fish)

Of course, if none of the above questions apply, then the cops are just @-holes.  Cops are human too, and there's bound to be jerks, just like in every other profession.

[ButterflyWings]

Police should be just serving and protecting but of course most do not most are corrupt and assholes..I think that is in any profession there is always a idiot somewhere..I do not agree in racial profiling on the way someone looks,dresses or their color thats just wrong..I mean I grew up in Detroit and most cops there well wanted the drugs LMAO..

[AmyTrivitt]

I found it odd that someone said you have to let them search your vechile,, NO you do not. We have rights!!!!
 

Flex your rights .org
Remember that police don't need consent to search if they have a warrant. But if officers ask for consent to search, you always have the right to refuse even if they claim that they have a warrant or that they can easily get one.

[sflynt]

One question.  How are you and your friends dressed?  What was the location?  Were you near a dangerous area, or a place prone to crime?  I'm not much for racial profiliing, but if a cop pulls over all these punks who are wanna-be "gangsta's", then I hope they treat them like they MAY be one.  If they want to dress the part, they should be prepared to be treated with suspision.

You know what they say, if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck.... (it's probably not a fish)

Of course, if none of the above questions apply, then the cops are just @-holes.  Cops are human too, and there's bound to be jerks, just like in every other profession.

First of all, just because they dress a certain way DOES NOT mean they are that way. Don't get me wrong, it can be quite confusing, but there are people who are less fortunate, who can't dress really nice. That doesn't make them a criminal, or a gangster or anything like it. I also don't believe that just because your in a bad area the cops should treat you like a criminal. Some people can't afford to live anywhere else. I had to drive thru bad areas all the time, because that was how I got home(without going the long way) and my house was in a, what people considered, a nice area. But just because I was driving through that area doesn't mean I'm in any way a criminal or up to bad stuff. I have met some of the nicest most kind hearted people who dress like, what people label "punks".. Its just an excuse for corrupt police to use to search people and treat people like *bleep*.

[sflynt]

I found it odd that someone said you have to let them search your vechile,, NO you do not. We have rights!!!!
 

Flex your rights .org
Remember that police don't need consent to search if they have a warrant. But if officers ask for consent to search, you always have the right to refuse even if they claim that they have a warrant or that they can easily get one.

Thats what I thought. But they did it anyway. Everytime. I also didn't think they could take off your shoes without you being under arrest, but they did that too!!

[hwilliams591]

you obviously didn't read my post. They ARE flat out treating people like criminals. and i can't belive you are sitting here trying to justify racial profiling. being "black" or any other race or dressing a certain way does NOT constitute reasonable suspision.

You post just has them asking to search your vehicle which is justified if there is reason to suspect you, the occupants, or the vehicle. How were you treated as a criminal.....

A broken taillight is not a reasonable constitution for search. But wanting to search the vehicle and saying "i'm going to hold you for disorderly coduct if you say no" is wrong. And i don't live in the ghetto anymore. Automatically assuming there is something illegal in the car is treating us like criminals.

You have alot to learn, especially your rights! And no, assume something is wrong and investigating it is not treating you like a criminal or against the law! Plan and simple. A broken tail light gives them reason to pull you over and what ever their gutt tells them next will lead to a search or not.

[hwilliams591]

First of all, just because they dress a certain way DOES NOT mean they are that way. Don't get me wrong, it can be quite confusing, but there are people who are less fortunate, who can't dress really nice. That doesn't make them a criminal, or a gangster or anything like it. I also don't believe that just because your in a bad area the cops should treat you like a criminal. Some people can't afford to live anywhere else. I had to drive thru bad areas all the time, because that was how I got home(without going the long way) and my house was in a, what people considered, a nice area. But just because I was driving through that area doesn't mean I'm in any way a criminal or up to bad stuff. I have met some of the nicest most kind hearted people who dress like, what people label "punks".. Its just an excuse for corrupt police to use to search people and treat people like *bleep*.

You don't have to dress nice, but use some commonsense. If you want less attention then dress apropriately, dress like a banger and act suspicious then you will be profiled as one.
Most of the time the ones crying about police harassment are the ones with something to hide.
Police corruption and harassment are to different things, this topic seems to be more about harassment then corruption.

[ButterflyWings]

Dress nice or appropriate well I can't wrap my head around that what is appropriate to some is not to all so assuming something by the way someone dresses is BS..I dress many ways so what if I look thug that day I deserve to be profiled umm not!! I do not judge people by the way the dress..And honestly no one should..It is called individual freedom to express ones self I do not have to like it but judging it is wrong cop uniforms make them look  uptight shoudl I assume they are uptight NO

[hwilliams591]

Dress nice or appropriate well I can't wrap my head around that what is appropriate to some is not to all so assuming something by the way someone dresses is BS..I dress many ways so what if I look thug that day I deserve to be profiled umm not!! I do not judge people by the way the dress..And honestly no one should..It is called individual freedom to express ones self I do not have to like it but judging it is wrong cop uniforms make them look  uptight shoudl I assume they are uptight NO

Ignorance I guess is an idividuals freedom it seems too.

First read that I stated there is more then just the ways one dresses, but their enviroment AND most importantly their actions. If they are acting suspicion then YES they/you/I deserve to be profiled in order to have the law enforement official to do his job safely.

[sflynt]

Dress nice or appropriate well I can't wrap my head around that what is appropriate to some is not to all so assuming something by the way someone dresses is BS..I dress many ways so what if I look thug that day I deserve to be profiled umm not!! I do not judge people by the way the dress..And honestly no one should..It is called individual freedom to express ones self I do not have to like it but judging it is wrong cop uniforms make them look  uptight shoudl I assume they are uptight NO

Ignorance I guess is an idividuals freedom it seems too.
First read that I stated there is more then just the ways one dresses, but their enviroment AND most importantly their actions. If they are acting suspicion then YES they/you/I deserve to be profiled in order to have the law enforement official to do his job safely.

If someone is acting suspicious, that is a completely different thing. Of course if someone is acting in a suspicous manner, the cops are going to approach them. We are talking about cops looking at someones appearance, and then determining what kind of person they are and/or whether or not they'll search them, pull them over, etc.

First of all, just because they dress a certain way DOES NOT mean they are that way. Don't get me wrong, it can be quite confusing, but there are people who are less fortunate, who can't dress really nice. That doesn't make them a criminal, or a gangster or anything like it. I also don't believe that just because your in a bad area the cops should treat you like a criminal. Some people can't afford to live anywhere else. I had to drive thru bad areas all the time, because that was how I got home(without going the long way) and my house was in a, what people considered, a nice area. But just because I was driving through that area doesn't mean I'm in any way a criminal or up to bad stuff. I have met some of the nicest most kind hearted people who dress like, what people label "punks".. Its just an excuse for corrupt police to use to search people and treat people like *bleep*.

You don't have to dress nice, but use some commonsense. If you want less attention then dress apropriately, dress like a banger and act suspicious then you will be profiled as one.
Most of the time the ones crying about police harassment are the ones with something to hide.
Police corruption and harassment are to different things, this topic seems to be more about harassment then corruption.

I understand what your saying, but if someone can't afford to dress nice, commonsense has nothing to do with it. They wear what they have and thats it. Of course, theres always those ones who dress and act that way because they want to be that way and want people to think they are "gangsta". Which, in my opinion, is ridiculous.

[animikokala]

If someone is acting suspicious, that is a completely different thing. Of course if someone is acting in a suspicous manner, the cops are going to approach them. We are talking about cops looking at someones appearance, and then determining what kind of person they are and/or whether or not they'll search them, pull them over, etc.


I understand what your saying, but if someone can't afford to dress nice, commonsense has nothing to do with it. They wear what they have and thats it. Of course, theres always those ones who dress and act that way because they want to be that way and want people to think they are "gangsta". Which, in my opinion, is ridiculous.

This isn't about whether people can afford to dress "nice".  This is about people dressing like "gangstas" on purpose.  I don't know about where you live, but a package of plain white t-shirts and plain straight leg blue jeans are far cheaper than the articles of clothing I'd consider to be "gangsta" style are.  I don't consider someone in regular t-shirt/jeans to be suspicous.  The people I would be referring to are the one's with their super baggy jeans (that they can't seem to keep on their butts), their caps, and their "bling" (whether it's real or plastic doesn't matter).  If you dress like that, you get moved to the "potential for danger" category.  No matter what you say, appearance DOES affect people's reactions to a person. 

For example, if you saw one of these "thugs", and a well-dressed business man, which do you think would be more likely to rob a liquor store? (If you know nothing about them except their appearence.)  And there's no real point in saying one shouldn't judge based on appearances, because everyone does it subconsciously.

Does that mean there are no bad cops?  No.  Does that mean that all people who dress like that are bad?  Certainly not.  Is it likely that being suspicious of a person based on their appearance has saved their life/enabled them to bring in a wanted person?  Definately.

In short: bad police are still bad; good police are still good; profiling does help protect them from potentially dangerous people.

[animikokala]

Note that, while I say profiling helps, it has to be at least somewhat reasonable.  Racial profiling is never okay, because you can't control that.  Profiling based on location can be okay, if there is a high rate of crime in the area and they have an idea of what to be looking for (eye witness accounts, for example).  Profiling based on appearance (clothing/behavior) is fine because people CAN choose to change it.

[sflynt]

This isn't about whether people can afford to dress "nice".  This is about people dressing like "gangstas" on purpose.

To be honest, this isn't about either one. Its about police profiling people based on appearance, and appearance alone.

No matter what you say, appearance DOES affect people's reactions to a person.  

I know it does. Its sad, but true. Though, It shouldn't be based on one's appearance alone.

For example, if you saw one of these "thugs", and a well-dressed business man, which do you think would be more likely to rob a liquor store? (If you know nothing about them except their appearence.)  And there's no real point in saying one shouldn't judge based on appearances, because everyone does it subconsciously.

Of course your first thought is the "Thug". But what defines a thug? Is it only his clothes or his appearance? No, Its his behaviors as well. Also, a man in a suit and tie can rob a liquor store just as easily as the thug. Actually, it would probably be easier. Seeing as how, they wouldn't see him coming, or expect it. I see what you are saying though, trust me.

Does that mean there are no bad cops?  No.  Does that mean that all people who dress like that are bad?  Certainly not.  Is it likely that being suspicious of a person based on their appearance has saved their life/enabled them to bring in a wanted person?  Definately.

I agree.

In short: bad police are still bad; good police are still good; profiling does help protect them from potentially dangerous people.

I agree to the first 2. but profiling people is wrong, IMO. Never judge a book by its cover.