The "Likely Killers" List

Cincinnati is taking profiling to a new low recently. I wouldn't doubt if this makes national headlines eventually, but for now it just has the local media in a tizzy.

The city of Cincinnati and Hamilton County have compiled a "Likely Killers" list. This is a list of the 1500 most dangerous criminals in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The 1500 people that are most likely to commit murder according to the creators of this list.

For me, there is a huge difference between "most likely" and definitely, and I don't think a list like this is a good idea. As soon as this list gets out the people on it will be ruined. If you're on the list, good luck finding someone to give you a job or rent you an apartment. Your life will go down the tubes so fast that the list will become a self-fullfilling prophecy.

I understand protecting our streets is important, but I also understand that people shouldn't be punished for actions they may never commit. First there will be list of violent criminals; then there will be a list of potential violent criminals; and so on and so on until one day you or I will end up on a list. And don't think it can't happen. As Cardinal Richelieu said: “If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them that will hang him.”