Caledonia Argus

Profiling study raises questions

Posted: 9/30/03

by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter

The release of a racial profiling study September 23 on the surface validates what people of color in Minnesota have insisted for years.

That is, theyíre pulled over by cops on the highway far more frequently than whites.

Indeed, the study of 65 Minnesota jurisdictions conducted by the Council on Crime and Justice and the Institute on Race & Poverty at the U of M Law School on the face seems startling.

According to the findings, black people driving in suburban and central Minnesota cities are about three times more likely than the general motoring population to be pulled.

This is a much sharper disparity than found in Minneapolis ó the biggest city involved in the study.

Black people are significantly more likely to be searched once stopped, though, as with Latinos and American Indians, contraband is found in their cars at a lower rate than with whites.

Another way of looking at it:

If cops in the 65 participating jurisdictions stopped all drivers, all race and ethnicities, at the same rates, 18,800 fewer blacks, 5,800 fewer Latinos, and about 22,500 more whites would have seen red lights in the rearview mirror.

Whatís to make of this?

Myron Orfield, executive director of Institute on Race & Poverty, said itís hard to explain the disparity in the study by any other reason than race.

ìThey suggest a powerful pattern of interference with the broad civil rights of Minnesotans,î said Orfield, a former DFL representative from Minneapolis.

The racial profiling debate has been one of stark disagreement. And shadings appeared at last weekís press conference.

Unlike Orfield, Public Safety Director Rick Stanek wasnít certain whether anyone could say exactly what the study data meant.

Further, Stanek rejected the idea that the odds of people of color having their civil liberties violated on the highway are greater than for whites.

Stanek is probably correct in not drawing a definitive conclusion from the study.

All sorts of variables exist.

With more than 500 jurisdictions in Minnesota, the 65 volunteer jurisdictions represent only a piece of the law enforcement community.

And as Orfield flatly stated, they have no way of knowing how accurate the data compiled last year from the 200,000 traffic stops really is.

Still, he guessed the racial disparities suggested by the study are probably larger rather than smaller.

Minnesota hasnít had an easy time with the racial profiling issue.

Whether this is attributable to prideful self-satisfaction, denial, racism, social variables, or indifference has been vehemently argued and no doubt will again.

Law enforcement has questioned whether profiling exists at all.

Two years ago the Minnesota Sheriffís Association statedìthere is no substantive evidence beyond anecdotal accounts to suggest that racial profiling is occurring within the Minnesota law enforcement community.î

Well, that may have been true two years ago.

Itís not true anymore.

Anoka County Attorney Bob Johnson said if there are people working in the criminal justice system who are prejudicial itís a small, small number.

He believes to the degree bias exists, itís was most likely unconscious.

ìI think we have to be open at looking at ourselves,î said Johnson.

It will be interesting to see how lawmakers next session react to the study.

Perhaps the study results indicating the biggest racial disparities exist outside the big cities ó exist in the politically powerful suburbs ó will activate a broader call for further action.

Minnesota law enforcement has already taken a series of proactive steps in addressing racial profiling, Stanek said.

In comparison to other states whoíve conducted volunteer studies, Minnesotaís results fall somewhere in the middle, said Stanek.

Somehow being average in such matters leaves a hollow feeling.

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