Post by Shuftin on Sept 24, 2006 23:04:52 GMT -5
Research data was collected from the Maryland State Police and was available due to a consent decree agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union. The data studied all (1,914) consent searches conducted between January 1995 and June 1997. Only consent searches were studied; searches based on probable cause or reasonable suspicion would remove subjective motives from the police. A consent search presupposes probable cause or reasonable suspicion does not exist.
Dr. Lichtenberg only studied arrests involving 4 drugs: marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. The highest overall rate of detection was for Asian motorists, at 34.6% (the author cautions that this finding may be deceiving; only nine Asians were found to be in possession of drugs, but only 26 were searched. This is far too small a sample to draw any valid conclusions). The second highest rate of detection was among white drivers (26.3%), followed by black drivers (25.3%), then Hispanic drivers (14.2%). These preliminary statistics show that a "brown" driver is least likely to possess drugs and supports the allegations that black and Hispanic drivers are victims of discriminatory treatment by police. But the crux of Dr. Lichtenberg's research lies beyond these statistics. He endeavored to determine:
What is the relationship between a driver's race and the type of drugs found?
What is the relationship between a driver's race and the amount of drugs found?
When calculating the quantities of drugs discovered, Dr. Lichtenberg eliminated the 5 largest discoveries, so one or two huge seizures did not skew the overall picture.
Marijuana
19% of Asians were found to possess marijuana.
15.9% of whites were found to possess marijuana.
11.4% of blacks were found to possess marijuana.
0% of Hispanics were found to possess marijuana.
A total of 351,391 grams of marijuana were found. Lichtenberg indicated that "African-American motorists possessed approximately 99.4% of the total marijuana found."
The average white driver possessed under two grams per search; the typical black driver possessed almost 400 grams. Although black motorists were least likely to possess marijuana, those who did possess it, possessed it in much larger quantities.
Cocaine
11.5% of Asian drivers were to possess cocaine.
9.7% of black drivers were to possess cocaine.
8.5% of Hispanic drivers were to possess cocaine.
1.9% of white drivers were to possess cocaine.
A total of 127,818 grams of cocaine were found. Black motorists possessed 76.8% of all cocaine seized. Hispanic drivers possessed 21.9% of cocaine found. Asian and white drivers possessed the remaining 1.3% of cocaine found).
The average search of Hispanic drivers yielded 265.2 grams of cocaine.
The average search of black drivers yielded 111 grams of cocaine.
The average search of Asian drivers yielded 49.1 grams of cocaine.
The average search of white drivers yielded about 1/10th of a gram of cocaine.
Dr. Lichtenberg concludes, "Similar to marijuana detections, race may be a predictive factor in seizing larger quantities of cocaine African American motorists possessed the largest quantities of cocaine. In examining quantities, African American motorists possessed the largest total amount of cocaine, but Hispanics averaged larger quantities based on number of searches and detections."
Crack Cocaine
Only a few consent searches resulted in seizures of crack cocaine, with Asian and Hispanic drivers most likely to be in possession. Black drivers and white drivers were least likely to be in possession of crack cocaine. Though black drivers were less likely to possess crack cocaine, those who did possess it had it in much larger quantities. Black motorists possessed 77.5% of all crack found; Hispanics possessed approximately 20%.
Heroin
Heroin was the least common drug found. Asian drivers were most likely to possess heroin, followed by Hispanic, black, then white motorists. Blacks possessed 60% of the heroin seized, and white drivers possessed 24%. Hispanics possessed 12% of the heroin seized. Asians, though most likely to be in possession of heroin, possessed only 3.2% of all heroin seized.
Dr. Lichtenberg only studied arrests involving 4 drugs: marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin. The highest overall rate of detection was for Asian motorists, at 34.6% (the author cautions that this finding may be deceiving; only nine Asians were found to be in possession of drugs, but only 26 were searched. This is far too small a sample to draw any valid conclusions). The second highest rate of detection was among white drivers (26.3%), followed by black drivers (25.3%), then Hispanic drivers (14.2%). These preliminary statistics show that a "brown" driver is least likely to possess drugs and supports the allegations that black and Hispanic drivers are victims of discriminatory treatment by police. But the crux of Dr. Lichtenberg's research lies beyond these statistics. He endeavored to determine:
What is the relationship between a driver's race and the type of drugs found?
What is the relationship between a driver's race and the amount of drugs found?
When calculating the quantities of drugs discovered, Dr. Lichtenberg eliminated the 5 largest discoveries, so one or two huge seizures did not skew the overall picture.
Marijuana
19% of Asians were found to possess marijuana.
15.9% of whites were found to possess marijuana.
11.4% of blacks were found to possess marijuana.
0% of Hispanics were found to possess marijuana.
A total of 351,391 grams of marijuana were found. Lichtenberg indicated that "African-American motorists possessed approximately 99.4% of the total marijuana found."
The average white driver possessed under two grams per search; the typical black driver possessed almost 400 grams. Although black motorists were least likely to possess marijuana, those who did possess it, possessed it in much larger quantities.
Cocaine
11.5% of Asian drivers were to possess cocaine.
9.7% of black drivers were to possess cocaine.
8.5% of Hispanic drivers were to possess cocaine.
1.9% of white drivers were to possess cocaine.
A total of 127,818 grams of cocaine were found. Black motorists possessed 76.8% of all cocaine seized. Hispanic drivers possessed 21.9% of cocaine found. Asian and white drivers possessed the remaining 1.3% of cocaine found).
The average search of Hispanic drivers yielded 265.2 grams of cocaine.
The average search of black drivers yielded 111 grams of cocaine.
The average search of Asian drivers yielded 49.1 grams of cocaine.
The average search of white drivers yielded about 1/10th of a gram of cocaine.
Dr. Lichtenberg concludes, "Similar to marijuana detections, race may be a predictive factor in seizing larger quantities of cocaine African American motorists possessed the largest quantities of cocaine. In examining quantities, African American motorists possessed the largest total amount of cocaine, but Hispanics averaged larger quantities based on number of searches and detections."
Crack Cocaine
Only a few consent searches resulted in seizures of crack cocaine, with Asian and Hispanic drivers most likely to be in possession. Black drivers and white drivers were least likely to be in possession of crack cocaine. Though black drivers were less likely to possess crack cocaine, those who did possess it had it in much larger quantities. Black motorists possessed 77.5% of all crack found; Hispanics possessed approximately 20%.
Heroin
Heroin was the least common drug found. Asian drivers were most likely to possess heroin, followed by Hispanic, black, then white motorists. Blacks possessed 60% of the heroin seized, and white drivers possessed 24%. Hispanics possessed 12% of the heroin seized. Asians, though most likely to be in possession of heroin, possessed only 3.2% of all heroin seized.