Racial Profiling – West Virginia
"When those sworn to protect and serve the nation discriminate on the basis of race, in particular, everyone loses. The community loses its trust of an institution sworn to protect it; the police lose effectiveness to combat crime; and the individual victim of racial profiling loses his or her self-dignity and in extreme cases his or her life. "
–
Folabi K. Olagbaju, AIUSA
How West Virginia Rates in Protection From Racial Profiling
West Virginia's racial profiling laws are empowered by a pragmatic and effective definition. This definition acknowledges that racial profiling almost always contains (in addition to be being based on their race, ethnicity, or national origin) multiple other characteristics such as gender, age, or geographic location. However, West Virginia's racial profiling laws ignore the very real problem of racial profiling against religious minorities, who have been increasingly targeted since September 11, 2001. Furthermore, although these laws ban racial profiling in traffic stops, they fail to address racial profiling during pedestrian stops by police. Pedestrian stops are a very common form of racial profiling in towns and cities. Also, although West Virginia's laws require ongoing data collection, the provisions covering this requirement only apply to traffic stops, not pedestrian stops and expire on December 31, 2007. This will inhibit the police's and the public's ability to evaluate the extent of the problem, where it most frequently occurs as well as the effectiveness of future changes in training and discipline. Moreover, even in those areas that are litterally plagued by this problem, the law does not give the public the right to go into court and ask a judge to order the local police department to stop racially profiling area residents and motorists.Protection from racial profiling: Insufficient
Members of Congress supporting the End Racial Profiling Act of 2004:
Representative Nick J. Rahall, II