To understand racial profiling, you must first define it correctly. Although different authors use different criteria for the term racial profiling, Merriam-Webster's definition for the word racial is "of, relating to, or based on a race (Merriam-Webster, 2006; p.855)." The dictionary definition for profiling is “the act of suspecting or targeting a person solely on the basis of observed characteristics or behaviors (Merriam-Webster, 2006; p.830).” Based on these definitions, racial profiling could be defined for criminal justice purposes as an attack on a person based solely on characteristics of race. Most people, including law enforcement, would consider racial profiling based on this definition to be ethically wrong. However, in some circumstances it is necessary to support the use of race-based profiling. Critics argue that racial profiling has no place within the justice system because it targets minorities who aren't necessarily doing anything illegal. They argue that the evidence showing racial profiling as a successful tool in law enforcement's arsenal is biased and that targeted people are actually less likely to carry out illegal acts than others who are not targeted, because those who aren't are less likely to do so. get caught, while those who are targeted are much more likely to be caught in an illegal act, so will carry out fewer illegal activities. Evidence supporting racial profiling states that this argument is invalid because many illegal acts are cited as being committed by minorities, particularly in terms of gang activity. Many people believe that racial profiling is ethically correct because, to obtain a suspect, an officer must look for a person with a certain character... middle of paper's point of view... and he believed that any profiling based on race is wrong (Fredrickson, 2002; p.166). Conclusion Based on these authors, as well as others, it can indeed be argued that racial profiling is not, in itself, an unethical practice. However, to be morally sound, it must be used precisely. This method is intended to be used as a tool in the investigative process and not before it has been established that a crime has been committed. It must also be used in a specific way: to describe a single suspect and not a group of people suspected of committing one crime or another. The background and biases of the witness must be taken into account, and racial profiling must be carried out equally and without favoring one racial group. After taking these steps into consideration, racial profiling cannot be considered unethical.