Racial Profiling – Nevada
"Increased national security should not equate to decreased civil liberties. All people are entitled to due process and other basic human rights and constitutional protections."
–
Erin Callahan, AIUSA
How Nevada Rates in Protection From Racial Profiling
Nevada's racial profiling law is empowered by a pragmatic and effective definition. This definition acknowledges that racial profiling almost always (in addition to be being based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin) contains multiple other characteristics such as gender, age, or geographic location. Moreover, Nevada's racial profiling law ignores the very real problem of racial profiling against religious minorities, who have been increasingly targeted since September 11, 2001. Furthermore, this law fails to address racial profiling during pedestrian stops by police. Pedestrian stops are a very common form of racial profiling in urban environments such as Las Vegas. Although Nevada's law did require ongoing data collection, the provisions requiring the collection of data expired on February 1, 2003. Currently, there is no ongoing effort to collect data. This will inhibit the police's and the public's ability to continuously evaluate the extent of the problem, where it most frequently occurs, as well as the effectiveness of future changes in training and discipline. Moreover, the law does not give the public the right to go into court and ask a judge to order the police to stop racially profiling area residents and motorists.Protection from racial profiling: Insufficient
Members of Congress supporting the End Racial Profiling Act of 2004:
Senator Harry M. Reid