This paper explores police stop and search activities in Canada using data from a 2007 survey of Toronto residents. The paper begins by demonstrating that black respondents are more likely to view racial profiling as a major problem in Canada than whites or Asians. By contrast, white and Asian respondents are more likely to believe that profiling is a useful crime-fighting tool. Further analysis reveals that the black community’s concern with racial profiling may be justified. Indeed, black respondents are much more likely to report being stopped and searched by the police over the past two years than respondents from other racial backgrounds. Blacks are also much more likely to report vicarious experiences with racial profiling. Importantly, racial differences in police stop and search experiences remain statistically significant after controlling for other relevant factors. The theoretical implications of these findings and their meaning within Canada’s multicultural framework are discussed.
Categories
News Tags
Latest News
Doctoral and Early Career Training School 'Writing about Police Stops' - Call for Expressions of Interest
Location: Florence Dates: 2 – 6 May 2022 The EU Cost Action on Police Stops (CA17102) invites applications from Doctoral…
Read morePolstops Newsletter n3 (December 2021)
Looking back at our last newsletter, we optimistically planned in person meetings in the autumn of 2021. Travel restrictions made…
Read moreNew publication 'Policing during a pandemic - for the public health or against the usual suspects?'
Mike Rowe, Megan O’Neill, Sofie De Kimpe and István Hoffman have published the paper Policing during a pandemic – for…
Read moreCall for Virtual Mobility Grant(s)
Virtual Networking Tools aim to introduce two new types of Grants to build capacity and spread the uptake of virtual…
Read moreTo know more or to become part of this Action
Contact UsSubscribe to our newsletter

COST Action COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.