RACIAL PROFILING IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Abstract

Racial profiling is currently in the Czech Republic relatively an unknown term or a term connected with negative connotations. Profiling is a standard method of policing, however, it is also necessary to draw attention to the facts when this method may lead to racial or ethnic profiling. Unless relevant reasons are given for racial and ethnic profiling, this may be a discriminatory practice by the police authorities. In the Czech Republic, the issue of racial profiling is given rather negligible attention. There are only a few professional articles that do not address the issue of racial profiling as a complex phenomenon. Profiling itself can be seen as a legitimate and useful tool in identifying people who may be committing crimes, for example by concealing prohibited articles or likely to commit crimes in the future. This way of profiling must be based on professional assumptions resulting from behavioral training, not on racial, ethnic, or religious characteristics. Members of specific security forces can thus work with profiles that allow them to search for people who repeatedly visit specific places or, for example, make large purchases exclusively for cash. In the case of purely profiling, the profiles are less likely to be assessed as discriminatory based on race, ethnic origin, or religion.