NCJ Number
182223
Date Published
April 1999
Length
114 pages
Annotation
This is an interim report of the New Jersey State Police review team regarding allegations of racial profiling.
Abstract
The report specifically focuses on the activities of State Troopers assigned to patrol the New Jersey Turnpike. The State Police has taken steps to prohibit racial profiling and other forms of discrimination but, despite these efforts and official policies against the practice, minority motorists have been treated differently than non-minority motorists during the course of traffic stops on the Turnpike. Two interrelated problems that may be influenced by the goal of interdicting illicit drugs being transported via the Turnpike are the willful misconduct by a small number of State Police members and de facto discrimination by officers who may be influenced by stereotypes and may thus tend to treat minority motorists differently, subjecting them to investigative tactics and techniques designed to ferret out illicit drugs and weapons. The obvious and necessary remedy to deal with officers who intentionally violate the civil rights of minority motorists is to ensure swift discipline and criminal prosecutions, taking full advantage of New Jersey’s official misconduct laws. The solution to disparate treatment of minorities based on subtle or even subconscious stereotypes is clear and precise explanation of what conduct is prohibited and clear explanation in positive terms of how stops are to be conducted. Tables, notes