Racial Profiling

Name

College

Course

Tutor

Date

Texas Traffic Stop Data Report

The report opens with an admission that impartial application of the law by the law enforcement officers contributes to the loss of mutual respect and trust . It was commissioned on the basis of the Attorney Generals investigation of New Jersey state police findings that racial profiling occurred there (p 4 ) The report covers the state of Texas (p 1 ) The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS adheres to the policy that racial profiling is wrong and passes on

the messages to the traffic police (p 1 . The DPS has historically monitored traffic stops . Information provided by the troopers showed that the data on traffic was stops closely related to the ethnic make up of the population . It actually shows a pattern of higher stops of white people than any other ethnic group . Data made available shows an interesting trend . While white drivers were stopped a lot more than anyone else they received the lowest figures for citations , warnings , searches and interdictions as per percentage of traffic stops . The report posits that traffic stops should be based on actual violations . If the above statement is true , then we should be seeing more whites as a percentage of those stopped being cited or given warnings

In the issue of drug trafficking , the Texas DPS devised strategies to track down drug dealers . They held the view that any driver was a potential violator . They avoided the use of profiling in adhering to this policy . The report claims that the drive was extremely effective in catching the traffickers . The Texas DPS has over the last 30 years had guidelines for traffic stops dubbed the traffic law enforcement manual which provides for an impartial and fair treatment of traffic law violators (p 4 ) Drug abuse and criminality are closely linked . The report goes on to show how the DPS has intensified the procedures for identifying likely violators , potential drug dealers , criminal offenders and wanted fugitives . To prevent allegations of racial profiling or impropriety in their actions , all the highway patrol cars are fitted with audio visual equipment to record the proceedings (p 4 ) The report restates their policy of zero tolerance to racial profiling or racial discrimination . Training in the academies focuses on training troops how to conduct their duties in a proper fashion and to avoid the issue of race being the basis for any arrest . The US Department of Justice Civil Rights has attended the training to evaluate them and provide useful insights

An automated information system (AIS ) is in place and records information on every traffic violator stop (p 6 . It identifies the race and sex of the violator as well as any information that is relevant to the stop . This system assists the DPS in analyzing the information gathered and monitors the troopers ' activities to establish if they are sticking to policy . As a backup measure the sergeants review all written reports by the troopers on a weekly basis . One weakness of the data collected was that the Hispanics were removed from race classification and bundled with whites . They were reclassified in March 2000 and as such data on Hispanics is incomplete . The department has a Drug Interdiction Database Traffic Stop Report . It includes all the information relating to the person stopped , what occurred and what was found . The report reveals that verbal warnings were not recorded and this does not augur well for the efficient monitoring of racial profiling . The August paycheck of 2000 was accompanied with an inter office memo from Colonel Thomas D . Jr . restating the department 's seriousness about issue of racial profiling and its stand towards it The DPS has established two specific statutes relating to racial profiling . These are the Abuse of Official Capacity Section 39 .02 and Official Oppression , Section 39 .03 . The race and search data for 1999 was not recorded and the high number of stops on Hispanics was attributed to the closeness of the b with Mexico which is known as a transit area for drugs

The report lacks the basic format of a regular report . The author is not listed , neither is the publisher . The publication date and report title are given but there is no bibliography that one can consult to verify the claims . The report has many grey areas that need further investigation . These include the failure to record data of some form or another . It also seems to be more of an appraisal than a report . There is no recorded incident of a reported case of racial profiling . This is in contrast with the concerted efforts by the DPS to discourage the practice . One would have expected the report to detail where they were coming from and where they had reached in the fight against racial profiling . The report sampled information based on citations and written warning . The information simply gives us figures and more figures it does not analyze them . It appears the Texas DPS is of the opinion that the issue of racial profiling does not affect them much . They want to prevent it becoming one and thus are instituting measures to ensure it does not take root . The DPS should be praised for acknowledging the need to keep its troopers in check . The introduction of manuals and in-service training go a long way to ensuring they are efficient and impartial force . The application of the law impartially as the report points out greatly helps the community - police relations . Another weakness of the report is that all the data was collected by the police themselves . The data collected is then reviewed by the police . This leaves no avenue for independent confirmation of the facts been presented . The report does not give figures for violators who complained of racial profiling . Thus it is impossible to verify whether all the arrests were genuine in nature . The percentage of those people with cars registered in Texas by race was missing . This would have provided us with a better benchmark than just giving us the number of stops . It could be that 90 of blacks with cars were stopped and given citations or searched . In comparison with the McMahon report , the Texan one fails to answer the question of how racial profiling is a problem and to what extent . An independent study should be conducted and more independent sources of information found . This will ensure a balanced report on the issue of race and police stops is tackled . However , the Texas DPS should be commended for its initiative in dealing with the problem

Surname PAGE \ MERGEFORMAT 4 ...