Unfortunately, no big shocker here about race disparity in traffic stops. The real kicker is that the guy who led the study and wanted to publicize the results, is being moved out of his job!
Study Sees Race Disparity in Traffic Stops
By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN, Associated Press Writer
37 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Black, Hispanic and white motorists are equally likely to be pulled over by police, but blacks and Hispanics are much more likely to be searched, handcuffed, arrested and subjected to force or the threat of it, a Justice Department study has found.
The study, by the department's Bureau of Justice Statistics, was completed last April and posted on the agency's Web site after Bush administration officials disagreed over whether a press release should mention the racial disparities.
Traffic stops have become a politically volatile issue as minority groups have complained that many stops and searches are based on race rather than on legitimate suspicions.
The bureau's director, Lawrence A. Greenfeld, appointed by President Bush in 2001, wanted to publicize the racial disparities, but his superiors disagreed, a BJS employee said Wednesday. No release was issued.
Greenfeld has told his staff that he is being moved to a new job following the dispute, according to this employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to reporters.
read the entire article at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050824/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/traffic_stops;_ylt=ApOBKBZZbtH72v7VMpgepOys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-