Massachusetts Racial and Gender Profiling Study

posted in: Proposed Reforms | 0

http://vault.blackstonian.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/profiling_finalreport.pdf

All law enforcement agencies, as a part of good professional police practices, should establish a system to collect and monitor data on all traffic stop activity. 

Following national models for traffic stop data collection, a uniform set of data elements to be collected on all stops should be identified. It is important that any new data collection system include information on officer identification and the location of the stop in the required data collection elements. Additionally a specific timetable for data collection, auditing and reporting should be established. 

All local police agencies should begin or continue a conversation with members of their community about the existence of disparities in traffic stops, the goals of traffic enforcement and strategies to monitor and reduce such disparities. 

Local community groups and representatives can assist departments that express a sincere willingness to work on the issue by gathering participants who could provide meaningful feedback to police agencies about the goals of traffic enforcement and the levels of disparity identified in the report.