IN DEFENSE OF PROFILING

IN some circles, ``profiling'' has become a dirty word, especially if
you can combine it with ``racial.'' But what is profiling really about?

Suppose that you were with the Customs Service at the Port of Oakland
and you got a tip that there was a large shipment of opium on the way,
but the tip didn't give you much information to locate the shipment.
Suppose that your files showed that 18 out of the last 20 opium
smugglers caught were male, between 25 and 50 years of age, traveling
without female companions, and Chinese. Well, you can't ignore
everybody else -- remember the other 10 percent. But it seems logical
to concentrate your effort on Chinese males in the indicated age group
traveling without female companions.

Obviously some legitimate Chinese gentlemen would be hassled by
Customs and probably cry ``racial profiling.'' However, Customs would
only be doing its duty.

Profiling is a legitimate law enforcement technique so long as the
profiles are based on verifiable facts. It only becomes a problem when
the profiling is based on opinion or prejudice rather than fact.

Jack C. Roylance,

Mountain View