Discriminatory Policing in the United States
evidence: discriminatory policing practices
Federal law prohibits law enforcement officers from policing on the basis of a person’s appearance or beliefs. Nationally, evidence shows that one controversial practice, known as stop-and-frisk, is employed disproportionately, or unfairly, on ethnic and racial minorities.
In order to stop a person and perform a pat-down, officers must by law have reasonable suspicion that the person may be involved in a crime or is preparing to commit one. Reasonable suspicion represents more than a hunch but less than probable cause, the standard of proof needed for a legal search or an arrest.
Now read the table below depicting police stops of various ethnic/racial groups in New York City from 2005–2008.
| Whites | Blacks and Latinos | Other | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Total Population | 44% | 53% | 3% |
| Percentage of Total Stops | 10% | 80% | 10% |
Research evidence also shows that blacks and Latinos are more likely than whites to have physical force used against them during police stops.
Take Notes
Answer the following in two to three sentences: What is discriminatory policing? Why is it a problem?
