Profiling Rapists?

Submitted by Greg Burgin (United States), Jan 13, 2005 at 21:05

The author makes this profoundly misguided statement in the first paragraph that I think illustrates the fundamental problem with profiling:

"If searching for rapists, one looks only at the male population. Similarly, if searching for Islamists (adherents of radical Islam), one looks at the Muslim population."

Although it is true that most rapists are indeed males, it is also a fact that some rapists are females. If one only looked at the male population for rapists, where would justice be served regarding victims of female rapists? I also assert that even though there are males who are rapists, it would not be prudent or effective for the government to direct special attention towards males, require males to register their whereabouts, profile them, monitor them, or infiltrate their organizations. Although there may be prudent measures people might employ to lower their risk of rape or other violent crimes, it seems that the government might be more effective if it directed its activities towards persons who are actually accused of rape. Wrongly including and excluding people based on false assumptions is a bad policy for a good government.

Thanks,
Greg

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