Which statement describes bias-based policing in practice?

• A. A practice that ensures all groups are treated equally.
• B. A practice that uses unbiased, evidence-based decision making.
• C. Discretionary policing actions guided by bias rather than facts.
• D. A formal policy that prohibits profiling.

Answer: (C)

Bias-based policing happens when officers let personal or societal biases influence their decisions, using stereotypes or prejudgments instead of objective evidence. The statement that describes bias-based policing in practice is that discretionary actions—like stops, searches, or arrests—are guided by bias rather than facts. In this scenario, decisions are shaped by who someone is or what group they belong to, not by observable behavior, credible information, or established indicators of risk. That undermines fairness, can infringe constitutional rights, and damages trust in law enforcement because outcomes depend on prejudice rather than legitimate, evidence-based reasoning. The other ideas describe ideal standards—equal treatment, unbiased, evidence-based decision making, or formal prohibitions on profiling—which reflect how policing should operate, not how bias-based policing operates in practice.