Building Solutions: Trust and Communications

• NCJ Number: 207434
• Journal: Illinois Law Enforcement Executive Forum Dated: July 2001 Pages: 107-114
• Author(s): Robert J. Fischer; Vladimir A. Sergevnin
• Editor(s): Thomas J. Jurkanin Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2001
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special edition on racial profiling; for additional articles see NCJ-204424-433.

Annotation

This article provides recommendations presented by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Task Force, as well as from other agencies on strategies in the prevention of biased enforcement.

Abstract

The practice of discriminatory enforcement has been a long-standing issue and concern in American law enforcement, and is an issue that is not going away. The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) formed a 13-member task force consisting of 7 subcommittees on training, legislation, litigation, policy, current practices, media relations, and technology. The subcommittees studied the impact of biased enforcement on law enforcement operations. This report outlines the recommendations of the task force, incorporating research completed by other agencies, such as the Manhattan Institute, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the U.S. Department of Justice. The recommendations provide an action plan for local law enforcement that is designed to identify and remediate the potential for biased-based enforcement in law enforcement operations. The recommendations address all types of biased-based law enforcement. Highlights of the recommendations include: (1) take a proactive position against all types of discrimination by officers; (2) adopt a values statement and departmental policy condemning biased enforcement and racial profiling; (3) develop policy prohibiting “pretext stops”; (4) develop a clear statement regarding the department’s use of criminal profiling; (5) develop a clear statement of responsibilities in monitoring, reporting, and oversight of personnel; (6) seek out training options related to racial profiling; (7) develop press releases related to issues of biased-based law enforcement; and (8) develop regular dialog with minority community leaders on community issues.