Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 17, 2007 11:56:50 GMT -5
The NYPD conducted more than 500,000 stop-and-frisks last year, with blacks to be searched than whites, according to statistics released yesterday.
Blacks accounted for 52% of the 508,540 individuals stopped and checked last year, according to data released by the City Council's Public Safety Committee.
That percentage has changed little in nearly a decade - it was 50% in 2000 and 52% in 1998.
But the total number of frisks soared from the 97,296 conducted in 2002.
Among the top reasons cops gave for stopping an individual were that the suspect was in a high crime area or had made "furtive movements," according to the statistics.
Hispanics accounted for 29% of the searches last year and whites 10%, the data showed.
Asians, American Indians and individuals whose race was not indicated made up the rest.
The half-million searches resulted in 21,269 arrests. Black suspects accounted for 51% of those charged, Hispanics 30% and whites 12%.
Critics long have argued the NYPD engages in racial profiling by concentrating on blacks and Hispanics for stop-and-frisks.
Police brass have countered that cops stop suspects based on crime victims' descriptions.
The City Council requires the NYPD to provide regular reports on the stop-and-frisks. The NYPD released last year's records to the Council yesterday but still has to provide part of 2003's as well as those for 2004 and 2005.
www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nydailynews.com%2Ffront%2Fstory%2F494375p-416457c.html
Blacks accounted for 52% of the 508,540 individuals stopped and checked last year, according to data released by the City Council's Public Safety Committee.
That percentage has changed little in nearly a decade - it was 50% in 2000 and 52% in 1998.
But the total number of frisks soared from the 97,296 conducted in 2002.
Among the top reasons cops gave for stopping an individual were that the suspect was in a high crime area or had made "furtive movements," according to the statistics.
Hispanics accounted for 29% of the searches last year and whites 10%, the data showed.
Asians, American Indians and individuals whose race was not indicated made up the rest.
The half-million searches resulted in 21,269 arrests. Black suspects accounted for 51% of those charged, Hispanics 30% and whites 12%.
Critics long have argued the NYPD engages in racial profiling by concentrating on blacks and Hispanics for stop-and-frisks.
Police brass have countered that cops stop suspects based on crime victims' descriptions.
The City Council requires the NYPD to provide regular reports on the stop-and-frisks. The NYPD released last year's records to the Council yesterday but still has to provide part of 2003's as well as those for 2004 and 2005.
www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nydailynews.com%2Ffront%2Fstory%2F494375p-416457c.html