African Canadian Legal Clinic | Exercising Your Legal Rights | Racial Profiling

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Racial Profiling

Racial profiling is a matter of serious concern to African Canadians.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission defines racial profiling as any action designed to single out a person for more intense scrutiny or different treatment based on stereotypes concerning race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, or place of origin, or a combination thereof, rather than on reasonable suspicion. Such actions, often undertaken in the name of safety, security, or public protection, can also be informed by age and gender stereotyping.

The hidden assumption behind racial profiling is that individual characteristics indicate tendencies to engage in illegal activities. Racial profiling arises in many situations, such as:

  • in law enforcement, such as policing and border control
  • in public institutions such as schools
  • during interactions with private security guards
  • during employer investigations of staff
  • when finding housing accommodation
  • in contact with service providers, such as taxi drivers
  • in dealings with the courts and prisons of the criminal justice system

While there are other types of profiling, such as geographic profiling, that do not raise human rights issues, the Ontario Human Rights Commission's mandate permits it to deal with racial profiling where complaints of such practices exist. If you and your family have been subjected to racial profiling and require legal advice, please contact the African Canadian Legal Clinic.

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