[20200724]LSB10524_种族貌相：国会的宪法和法定考虑.pdf

CRS Legal Sidebar Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Legal SidebarLegal Sidebari i Racial Profiling: Constitutional and Statutory Considerations for Congress July 24, 2020 Protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody have prompted renewed interest in police reform efforts. One particular area of focus has been the issue of racial profiling by state and local police officials, with some commentators arguing that police departments may disproportionately target people of color for traffic stops, questioning, or search procedures without individualized grounds for suspecting criminal activity. This Sidebar addresses federal laws constraints on racial profiling, describes existing enforcement actions, and highlights selected proposals for congressional action. Existing Law State and local governments have primary responsibility for law enforcement, and Congress, while having broader authority over federal law enforcement, has relatively limited authority to regulate state and municipal police departments. That said, the Constitution and federal statutes set some rules for police actions, including in the area of racial profiling. Most relevant here, the Fourth