#Criminal probability race drivers#

While the statistics clearly show a disparity, there are other cases which take profiling to another level. However, the report goes on to state that the disparities between statistics “do not constitute proof that police treat people differently along demographic lines,” and that there are “countless other factors and circumstances” (Robinson, 2007). The study also went on to show that whites (9.7%) were more likely than Hispanics (5.9%) to receive a written warning, while whites (18.6%) were more likely than blacks (13.7%) to be verbally warned by police (Robinson, 2007).

#Criminal probability race drivers#

Hispanic drivers (65%) were more likely than white (56.2 %) or black (55.8 %) drivers to be issued a citation. Black drivers were twice as likely as white drivers to be arrested during a traffic stop with a ratio of 4.5% to 2.1%. Another shocking fact is that a black person is 16.5 times to be pulled over on the New Jersey Turnpike (Lamberth, 1998).Īnother study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, states that police actions taken during a traffic stop were not uniform across racial and ethnic categories. However, 713 black drivers were searched and only 287 non-blacks (Lamberth, 1998). Maryland data showed that for every 1,000 searches, 200 blacks and 80 non-blacks were arrested. Police data that reports the number of searches and arrests shows that blacks are more likely to be in possession is disproportionate in the number of black drivers stopped and the number of non-blacks stopped. While the percentages seem comparable between white and black respondents, there is a disparity between the numbers which holds more than a coincidence.Īccording to other data, the percentage of both blacks and whites likely to be carrying contraband is the same (Lamberth, 1998). 79% of blacks felt they were treated fairly, as opposed to whites responding 88% to the same question (Lundman, 2003). This is compared to 80% of white drivers saying the same. Two-thirds of the black drivers pulled over felt they were stopped for legitimate reasons. The researchers utilized data from the National Crime Victimization Study (NCVS) and narrowed the results from the 80,534 people total to 7,034 people stopped for traffic violations. The idea was to gain a perspective on whether or not the police acted appropriately and legally during the stop. One such study involved interviewing black and white motorists. Numerous studies have been conducted to bring to light racial profiling in the United States. Acknowledging the problem of racism in America’s law enforcement is necessary to take steps to eliminate the disparity among races by means of laws and training. Despite the argument that racial disparity among police officers and citizens who have been in contact with them does not exist, there is sufficient evidence to prove that minorities are being singled-out by America’s law enforcement. In local and state law enforcement, the issue of racial profiling has been very prominent among the general public with famous cases such as the Rodney King beating and New Jersey Turnpike incident.Īccording to Amnesty International, racial profiling occurs “when race is used by law enforcement or private security officials, to any degree, as a basis for criminal suspicion in non-suspect specific investigations” (“Racial profiling,” 2008). However, the problem of racism is a general societal problem which filters through laws and administration. Today, many stops have evolved into the reasoning that black motorists are trafficking drugs across state lines (Trende, 2000). Black motorists were often stopped and detained in the 1960’s during the beginning of the civil rights era and causing many riots in protest of the profiling (Trende, 2000). For Africans, it began when the first slaves were brought here from Africa 375 years ago, continued after slavery with legal segregation for 100 years, and 50 or so years with the present civil rights movement (Wilkins, 1995). In America, it began when white settlers first met Native Americans and took from them their land.

Racism and prejudice have had an impact on everyday life in society for thousands of years.