A question for class.

The Lostralian · #1 10-03-07, 02:42 PM

One of the classes I'm taking in Criminal Justice right now is a law class.

A question came up for an assignment that we are currently working on, in order to answer it I need as many views or answers from current LEO's if it's possible, thank you.

The question;

If it is true that police stops more minorities than caucasians and request consent searches from minorities more often than caucasians, what are the reasons for these practices?

**keith720** · #2 10-03-07, 02:55 PM

I certainly don't find that to be true in my part of the country. I don't stop any person, regardless of their race or color. I stop people who have given me a reason to stop them. If they are Black, Hispanic, Armenian, Hungarian, Danish or whatever, I couldn't care less. The same is true with consent searches.

**Jks9199** · #3 10-03-07, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Lostralian

One of the classes I'm taking in Criminal Justice right now is a law class.

A question came up for an assignment that we are currently working on, in order to answer it I need as many views or answers from current LEO's if it's possible, thank you.

The question;

If it is true that police stops more minorities than caucasians and request consent searches from minorities more often than caucasians, what are the reasons for these practices?

It's not true. And falling into the trap of answering that has jammed up entire agencies.

PapaBear · #4 10-03-07, 04:45 PM

My reply is this: If you believe that an officer can positively identify the driver/occupants of a vehicle race through tinted windows at two o'clock in the morning when that vehicle is speeding five hundred feet ahead of the officer then you are sorely mistaken! Go to this GOOGLE page and read the various topics related to your question. The information is from a varied number of law enforcement agencies.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...s+vs+caucasian

**lewisipso** · #5 10-03-07, 04:46 PM

That would be racial profiling, which is not only illegal but immoral. Criminal profiling is a different story but does not apply to the question the way it has been stated to you.

joneziecop4life · #6 10-03-07, 05:54 PM

IM GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I AM NOT GOING TO BEAT AROUND THE BUSH WITH YOU. IN SOME AREAS YES IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN. BUT IN MOST AREAS DEPARTMENTS HAVE STRONG POLICIES TO PREVENT IT. JUST LIKE LEWISIPSO STATES IT IS RACIAL PROFILING. IN MY PARISH IT IS NOT TOLERATED. IS IT DONE; YOU HAVE TO HAVE STRONG EVIDENCE TO PROVE IT. DO I THINK IT IS DONE; NO. I WORK AND HAVE WORK FOR SOME OF THE BEST ADMNISTRATION POLICY WISE AND I DO NOT THINK THEY WOULD ALLOW SUCH THING TO HAPPEN. OKAY BUT IN SOME AREAS YOU MIGHT FIND A BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE MORE OF A HIGH CRIME AREA THAN A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.U MIGHT SEE THE COPS MAKE A LITTLE MORE PASSES IN THAT HIGH CRIME AREA. I REALLY HOPE WE ALL HAVE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE.

Tony · #7 10-03-07, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith720

I certainly don't find that to be true in my part of the country. I don't stop any person, regardless of their race or color. I stop people who have given me a reason to stop them. If they are Black, Hispanic, Armenian, Hungarian, Danish or whatever, I couldn't care less. The same is true with consent searches.

Ditto.

Bear365 · #8 10-03-07, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Lostralian

One of the classes I'm taking in Criminal Justice right now is a law class.

A question came up for an assignment that we are currently working on, in order to answer it I need as many views or answers from current LEO's if it's possible, thank you.

The question;

If it is true that police stops more minorities than caucasians and request consent searches from minorities more often than caucasians, what are the reasons for these practices?

This is a loaded question. Personally if you ask me this question then the answer is yes I do. Why? Because I work in a black area. There are many good people there who I would never have the reason to ask for a consent search. However when I do feel the need to ask for a consent search weather it be resonalble suspicion or just a gut feeling, it has nothing to do with the race of the occupants in the car.

**Five-0** · #9 10-03-07, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewisipso

That would be racial profiling, which is not only illegal but immoral. Criminal profiling is a different story but does not apply to the question the way it has been stated to you.

My thoughts exactly.

**lewisipso** · #10 10-03-07, 10:24 PM

I hope my answer was not short to you. Maybe I can elaborate my view a little. Although it still won't apply to the question as it was given to you.
In my area it is extremely close to a 50-50 split as to black and white. In that case you stand half a chance of stopping a black or white person. I have performed traffic stops on "G-rides" belonging to white persons and pick up trucks pulling horse trailers belonging black persons. Stereotypical beliefs should be avoided. Being a minority should have no bearing on contact with that person. Indicators of criminal behavior should.
Concentrate on behavior. Behavior being the operative word in that equation. If an officer is abiding by this rule it does not matter as to the status of the "offender".
It would take more space than there is here to further explain. I'm sure more than one book has been written on the subject. Suffice it to say an officer needs to be generally aware of the world in which they work without participation so that these indicators are known and available to them.

The Lostralian · #11 10-03-07, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewisipso

I hope my answer was not short to you. Maybe I can elaborate my view a little. Although it still won't apply to the question as it was given to you.
In my area it is extremely close to a 50-50 split as to black and white. In that case you stand half a chance of stopping a black or white person. I have performed traffic stops on "G-rides" belonging to white persons and pick up trucks pulling horse trailers belonging black persons. Stereotypical beliefs should be avoided. Being a minority should have no bearing on contact with that person. Indicators of criminal behavior should.
Concentrate on behavior. Behavior being the operative word in that equation. If an officer is abiding by this rule it does not matter as to the status of the "offender".
It would take more space than there is here to further explain. I'm sure more than one book has been written on the subject. Suffice it to say an officer needs to be generally aware of the world in which they work without participation so that these indicators are known and available to them.

It was not short at all, you were very helpful

Thank you to all of who answered my question and gave their views, I really do appreciate it. All of you guys were really helpful

**Hearmoretalkless** · #12 10-04-07, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jks9199

It's not true. And falling into the trap of answering that has jammed up entire agencies.

Yep. It's not true for us either. We stop cars because they are on BOLO or because of what they did, not because of who/what colour is driving.

My street checks are done because of behaviour and location and other articulable cause, not colour, gender, dress or whathaveyou.

**maclean** · #13 10-04-07, 09:37 PM

About the only time I have ever stopped a car because of the race of the driver was when he/she matched the description of someone fleeing the scene near the area of the call.

I work in a mostly white suburb - the chances were so good it was the suspect I'd have been a dumbass not to stop it.

Race isn't a bias I possess professionally.