Study: Black, Hispanic drivers in Suffolk stopped, arrested at higher rates
According to the study, Black motorists, as compared to white drivers, are more than twice as likely to be searched and have their cars searched, 84% more likely to be restrained and 59% more likely to be arrested.
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Oct 21, 2020, 12:13 AM
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Updated 1,418 days ago
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yesterdayBlack and Hispanic drivers are
pulled over by Suffolk police at disproportionately higher rates than white
motorists and are more likely to be ticketed or arrested,
according to analysis by the John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety.
The
study used data provided by the Suffolk County Police Department from 130,000
traffic stops between March 2018 to March 2019.
The study concluded that there
was "no evidence of racial or ethnic bias" when "analyzing the
initial stop decisions by SCPD officers."
But according to the study:
Analyzing a number of post-stop outcomes by matching stops of Black and Hispanic drivers, respectively, to stops of white drivers based on a number of factors, we detected disparities on several outcomes, including:
- The likelihood of a vehicle search (Black drivers)
- The likelihood of a search of their person (Black and Hispanic drivers)
- The likelihood of being restrained (Black drivers)
- The likelihood of being subjected to physical force (Black drivers)
- The likelihood of being ticketed rather than warned (Hispanic drivers)
- The number of violations for which they are ticketed (Black and Hispanic drivers)
- The likelihood of being arrested (Black and Hispanic drivers)
- The duration of the stop (Black and Hispanic drivers)
- Placement in the back of the police unit (Black drivers)
- The likelihood that a vehicle search yields no contraband (Black drivers)
According to the study, Black motorists, as compared to white drivers, are more than
twice as likely to be searched and have their cars searched, 84% more likely to
be restrained and 59% more likely to be arrested.
Hispanic
drivers, as compared to white drivers, are 16% more likely to be arrested and
32% more likely to be ticketed.
MORE: READ THE STUDY
The
data shows that Black and Hispanic drivers are more likely than
white drivers to be pulled over for issues with the vehicle. While
white motorists are more likely than Blacks and Hispanics to be pulled over for
speeding.
At a
briefing Tuesday, Suffolk officials acknowledged more training and analysis is
needed. The department says 1,900 of its 2,400 officers have had implicit bias
training since it was added in 2018.
“The
training of implicit bias needs to be more than just a single class to evaluate
what implicit bias and overt biases exist within the culture of the police
department,” said attorney Fred Brewington.
“Let
me be clear, these disparities are unacceptable to me. They’re unacceptable to
the police department,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “We understand
that implicit bias is a real thing, that it exists in society, that we all have
unconscious biases and the way you address that is by acknowledging and putting
in place systems and structures that address that.”
Commissioner
Geraldine Hart says the department is “going to ensure that we take significant
steps” to address implicit bias.
“It’s
very important to us,” she said.
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