A large-scale study of traffic stops across the U.S. found significant black-versus-white disparities in how often drivers were stopped and searched by police, as well as evidence of racial bias behind those disparities. The researchers also sought to dig beyond the disparities themselves to assess whether there was evidence of racial discrimination motivating the different rates of stops and searches. They, in fact, did find a drop in the proportion of black drivers stopped after dark, suggesting racial bias was a factor. In terms of searches, the study found that, although police were more likely to find drugs, guns or other contraband in stops of white drivers, black drivers were still searched about 1.5 to 2 times as often. The analysis “reveals evidence of widespread discrimination” in law enforcement’s decisions to stop and search drivers, the study said.

Source: Huffington Post March 19, 2019 23:00 UTC