What defines racial profiling in law enforcement?

Racial profiling in law enforcement is defined as the practice of using race or ethnicity as the sole factor for stopping, searching, or investigating individuals. This practice occurs when law enforcement agencies disproportionately target individuals based solely on their racial or ethnic background, rather than any specific behavior, actions, or concrete evidence suggesting criminal activity.

Using race or ethnicity as a single determining factor undermines the principles of equal protection under the law and can lead to unjust treatment of individuals because it does not take into account other important factors that might indicate potential criminal behavior. Law enforcement should focus on specific behavioral indicators and evidence rather than relying on racial or ethnic stereotypes, which can perpetuate discrimination and erode trust between the community and law enforcement agencies.

The other options provided do not encapsulate the definition of racial profiling effectively. Previous criminal records may be a legitimate factor in some contexts, targeting areas with high crime rates relates to crime prevention strategies rather than profiling, and assessing behavior focuses on observable actions, which is an appropriate basis for law enforcement actions.