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An introduction to the symposium "The Death of Probable Cause" is presented in which the author discusses components of probable cause, the U.S. Fourth Amendment, and an article in the issue by Shelby Colb on the psychology of people's reactions to statistical and concrete instances of harm.

The article presents a discussion on probable cause and its temporal, moral and qualitative definition in the U.S. It mentions that the Supreme Court has considered individualized suspicion, which is under the moral definition, as the most important among others. It notes that under the state, individualized suspicion demanded that each citizen should be judged according to one's unique character, thoughts and actions. It cites that the examination of individualized suspicion needs both reasonable suspicion and probable cause.

Discusses the role of non-governmental organizations and independent governmental organizations on the collection and dissemination of criminal justice system data to regulate the police. Use of traditional lawsuits an data-gathering efforts by the American Civil Liberties Union to counter racial profiling; Use by the Amnesty International of expose-like reports against police brutality.

Provides information on a series of articles regarding the perceived racial disparities in the U.S. criminal justice system data. Examination of the literal, physical geography of racial disparity by Sharon Davies; Focus given on the left wing's critique of hate crimes legislation by Frederick M. Lawrence; Focus on the profiling of racial minorities by David Harris.

Reports the importance of human emotion for the definition of Fourth Amendment privacy in the U.S. Functions of technological surveillance; Emphasis of the degree of constitutional regulations; Changes of police surveillance technologies.