By focusing on race, what are law enforcement officers at risk of doing?

Focusing on race can lead law enforcement officers to overlook potential criminals across all races and backgrounds. This happens because an overemphasis on race may cause officers to develop biased perceptions, leading them to target specific racial groups while neglecting individuals who may not fit that profile. As a result, they could miss critical evidence or fail to act on leads regarding crimes being committed by individuals from other racial groups. This selective focus undermines the principle of fair and impartial policing, which is essential for effective law enforcement.

Moreover, while other options highlight important issues related to policing, they do not directly connect to the primary risk posed by an excessive focus on race in criminal justice. For instance, increased crime rates and community trust issues may be byproducts of biased practices, but they are not the immediate consequence of overlooking criminals due to a race-based focus. On the other hand, falling behind in technology is unrelated to racial profiling and reflects organizational or systemic issues rather than direct consequences from focusing on race in law enforcement.