Images, discussion points for intro to Minority report study.

1. The Minority Report Predicting the Future

5. Definition of racial profiling Racial profiling occurs when someone’s race is used by law enforcement officials (police, airport security, counter-terrorist agencies etc.) as a basis for criminal suspicion. The reason for suspicion is race rather than suspicious behaviour, criminal clues, witness reports, evidence etc.

6. Racial profiling versus criminal profiling Racial profiling should be distinguished from criminal profiling. Criminal profiles are a set of personal and behavioral characteristics associated with particular crimes. Police use such profiles, often with great success, to predict who may commit crimes in the future, or identify what type of person may have committed a particular crime for which no credible suspect has been identified or eye-witness description provided.

7. Discussion Points What would it mean for the individual if we could see into the future and predict their actions? Can an individual be held responsible for a crime they have not yet committed? Is there such a thing as fate/destiny? What about free will? What is the role of religion, astrology, the supernatural etc?