A law enforcement initiated action based on an individual's race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on the individual's behavior is defined as ______.

The term that describes a law enforcement action initiated based solely on an individual's race, ethnicity, or national origin, rather than their behavior, is racial profiling. This concept specifically highlights the practice where individuals are targeted for suspicion of crime based on their racial or ethnic characteristics, rather than any objective evidence or reasonable suspicion of illegal behavior.

Racial profiling is a significant issue in discussions about civil rights and law enforcement practices. It emphasizes the negative implications that such actions have, not only on the targeted individuals but also on community trust and relationships with law enforcement. Understanding this distinction is crucial for recognizing how biases can influence policing and the broader impacts of such practices on society.

Other terms in the question, such as profiling, community policing, and discrimination, do not capture the specific nature of the action described. Profiling could encompass a broader range of behaviors, community policing refers to a strategy aimed at fostering community engagement and trust, and discrimination is a broader term that can apply to various forms of unjust treatment beyond just law enforcement.