Stop And Frisk Analysis

Words: 587
Pages: 3

A strategy designed to reduce crime is coming under scrutiny in recent times in the United States. New York City is the epicenter of the implementation of the stop and frisk policy designed to stop individuals whom law enforcement officers believe to be armed and dangerous. Other cities have followed New York City’s policy in order to combat crime. However, further implementation of stop and frisk policy should be abandoned due to the propensity of some law enforcement to profile individuals and ineffectiveness at reducing crime.
The stop and frisk policy can be traced back to the case of Terry v. Ohio (1968). In Terry v. Ohio, an officer stopped two men that seemed ready to commit a robbery. When the officer searched the men, he found a gun on one of them. Terry appealed his conviction and stated that the search was illegal. However, the court found that the officer had reasonable suspicion to
…show more content…
Stop and frisk situations demonstrate that the majority of the individuals stopped are minority members. So far in 2015, 54% of individuals stopped and searched in New York City were black, 29% were Latino, and only 12% were white (“Stop-and-Frisk Data”). Some law enforcement officials often state that the disproportion is due to the population living in New York City, especially declaring that there is more minority representation. However, even in areas where white individuals make up the majority, minorities seem to still be targeted. For instance, in 2011, black and Latino individuals who were stopped and searched accounted for 79% in Park Slope in New York; however, they only accounted for 24% of the population there (“Stop and Frisk Facts”). Further adoption of stop and frisk by other places in the United States can lead to further abuse of discretionary power by some law enforcement officials who, even if unconsciously, target individuals due to their