Task Force on Biased Enforcement: Recommendations and Findings

• NCJ Number: 207433
• Journal: Illinois Law Enforcement Executive Forum Dated: July 2001 Pages: 101-106
• Author(s): Patrick F. Vaughan
• Editor(s): Thomas J. Jurkanin Ph.D.
• Date Published: July 2001
• Length: 6 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-207424-432 and NCJ-207434.

Annotation

This article presents a summary of recommendations and findings from a task force formed by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Boards to examine various areas of impact of biased enforcement upon law enforcement operations and recommend a plan of action.

Abstract

In 2000, a task force was formed under the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) with representation from law enforcement and the academic community to study various areas of impact related to biased enforcement on law enforcement operations. An overall action plan is recommended that is designed to identify and remediate the potential for biased-based enforcement within law enforcement operations, thereby eliminating the use of raw statistics with the potential to be misleading. The plan attempts to localize efforts and reduce racial profiling through solid departmental policy, procedures, supervision, and citizen complaint monitoring. Recommendations for law enforcement administrators include: (1) the implementation of an internal review to review departmental policies and procedures which may impact biased enforcement activity; (2) the adoption of a “values statement” and departmental policy containing a condemnation of biased enforcement and racial profiling; and (3) strongly discourage the collection of race-related data by field officers. Additional recommendations are related specifically to training issues and include: (1) ILETSB will review basic law enforcement training curriculum in order to update lesson plans relating to cultural diversity and biased enforcement and (2) under a Federal grant, the ILETSB has administered inservice training in the area of cultural diversity for approximately 6 years. The report also provides a community profile template to be utilized by law enforcement to make assessments of activities impacting racial and ethnic populations.