MWP3 Precis 2) Public Opinion on the Use of Consumer Racial Profiling to Identify Shoplifter: An Exploratory Study

In his article, Shaun L. Gabbidon found two exceptions to early scholarly works of CRP (Consumer Racial Profiling) by Feagin (1991) and Asquith and Bristow (2000). Feagin’s interview conducted study was on the experiences of Black middle-class citizens in public places found that African Americans felt targeted for “excessive surveillance.” With retail companies losing billions of dollars each year for loss of inventory from shoplifting (Hollinger & Adams, 2009) many counter measures such as CCTV, fitting room attendants, merchandise alarms, and uniform guards. In recent years, it has been alleged through litigation that racial/ ethnic profiling is used as a preventative tactic by well-known retailers such as JCPenny, Wal-Mart, Dillard’s, and Cracker Barrel, among others (gabbidon, 2003; Harris 2003). In spite of the fact, research has shown no difference in shoplifting trends by race/ethnicity (Dabney, Hollinger, & Dugan, 2004). Nevertheless, citizens and retailers support such practices.

Gabbidon, Shaun L. “Public Opinion on the Use of Consumer Racial Profiling to Identify Shoplifters: An Exploratory Study” Criminal Justice Review 2011 36: 201 originally published online 24 February 2011