Racial profiling is a term which originated in theUnited States. The usual context ispolice stopping and searchingcitizens on the suspicion that they may have committed a crime. It iscontroversial because it is usually black citizens who are stopped and searched. In other countries (for example theMiddle East) religious and cultural differences may be the basis of police profiling.

In the USA profiling has been tested in the courts a number of times.Terry v. Ohio was the first challenge to racial profiling in the United States in 1968. This case was aboutAfrican American people who were thought to be stealing.^[1] The police officer arrested the three men, searched them and found a gun on two of the three men. One of the men searched was convicted and sentenced to jail.^[1] The sentence was challenged on the grounds that the arrest violated thesearch and seizure clause of theFourth Amendment. In an 8-1 ruling, theSupreme Court decided that the police officer acted in a reasonable manner, and with reasonable suspicion, under the Fourth Amendment.^[1] The decision in this case allowed the police to have discretion in identifying suspicious or illegal activities.