In Landmark Racial Profiling Settlement, Arizona Law Enforcement Agents Agree to Major Reforms
In response to a class action lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and local attorneys, the Arizona Department of Public Safety has agreed to make sweeping reforms to prevent racial profiling by patrol officers along the state's highways and streets.
"This is an historic agreement that will benefit both the public and law enforcement here in Arizona," said Flagstaff attorney Lee Phillips, who is lead counsel in the case. "After years of reports that Black and Hispanic motorists have been illegally targeted by patrol officers, the Department of Public Safety has finally agreed to adopt concrete measures that will help identify and eliminate racial profiling on our highways."
The new measures come in response to a 2001 class action lawsuit brought on behalf of 11 motorists by Phillips and the ACLU, which charged that law enforcement officials engaged in a continuing pattern and practice of race-based traffic stops, detentions and searches. The class includes all non-white motorists stopped by Department of Public Safety officials anywhere in Arizona.
As part of the settlement, the Department of Public Safety agreed to collect and review statistical data relating to traffic stops and vehicle searches statewide. The data will be analyzed by external consultants on an annual basis to determine why, how and where motorists are stopped, detained and searched. The ACLU said that the information will help identify possible racial profiling by patrol officers.
http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/landmark-racial-profiling-settlement-arizona-law-enforcement-agents-agree-major-refor
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