Aside from the probabilistic harm mentioned by sibling posts, there are also issues of self-fulfilling prophecies coming from fishing expeditions. Assume: - L

Aside from the probabilistic harm mentioned by sibling posts, there are also issues of self-fulfilling prophecies coming from fishing expeditions. Assume: - LEOs use profiling (based on statistical models) to target individuals who are not the subject of investigation but rather subjected to random stop/search/frisk. - They catch some "bad guys" by following this model. These assumptions are not dissimilar from the premise outlined in the grandparent post. Now, let's say the statistical model throws up "20-25 year old preppie white guy with glasses, called Peter" either through error or some odd outlier stat. If LEOs start to check out every 20-25 year old matching that description, sooner or later they're going to find drugs or a gun or a lot of cash or something. Their statistical model gets updated with these stats, and before long it becomes a truism that a disproportionate number of preppie Peters are criminals. If you shine a spotlight somewhere, that's where you'll find what you're looking for.