First name: Emmanuel
Current Event Posting Number: 4
Title: New York police tout improving crime number to defend frisking policy
Topic: Civil Rights
Author: CNN Wire Staff
Publication: CNN
Date of Publication: May 13, 2012
Length: 798 words
The NYPD (New York Police Department) has a "stop, question, and frisk policy" in which police officers are allowed to stop, search, and question anyone they deem suspicious. While this policy is criticized for racial profiling, NYPD claims it has helped them confiscate guns and lower the murder rate. During the first quarter of 2012, NYPD frisked 10% more people, and was able to confiscate 31% more illicit weapons. Also, the murder rate of New York City plummeted to 21%, which could be the lowest it has ever been since first recordings in 1963. While these statistics are impressive, Donna Lieberman of the Civil Liberties Union calls it "unlawful and racially biased." City councilman Jumaana Williams claims the policy creates distrust between the minority communities and the police. Darius Charney, senior staff attorney for Center for Constitutional Rights call the practice ineffective, unpopular, and un-constitutional.
According to the Departments statistics, 93% of the targets stopped were male, 54% of which were African American, and 33% of which were hispanic. Only 9% of the males were white, and 3% Asian. This hints strong evidence to support that the police are racial profiling when using this practice. The 4th Amendment of the constitution states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." The frisk policy completely violates the constitution and even if it makes the city safer, freedom is sometimes more important. In fact, upon further research, the amount of African Americans frisked in a year is MORE than the population of African Americans in New York. This practice is completely immoral and should be fought in court.
Name: Derek
ReplyDeleteComment #: 4
I agree with Emmanuel and Darius Charney that the policy is immoral and violates the reasonable and warrant clauses of the Fourth Amendment. Some police officers obviously abused their authority as racial prejudice and inequality. Despite the discrimination towards minorities, I have to admit this forceful and suspicious search is rather effective in the way it lowers murder rate. The best way to solve these controversial issues is people start acting with their conscience.
Even after all the Civil Rights Movements and organizations moving towards desegregation, there still exists discrimination mainly against African Americans and hispanics. The NYPD states that crime rate has decreased to 21% (lowest murder rate since 1963) due to the frisk policy. The frisk policy – permission to stop, search, and question anyone deemed suspicious –, although it may seem legitimate, it completely violates the Constitution. The 4th Amendment states that “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated” but the frisk policy goes against this completely. However, they gear the use of the frisk policy towards males: black and Hispanic. 93% of the victims were male and of this 93%, 54% were African American while 33% were Hispanic. Clearly, there is still discrimination towards African Americans and Hispanics because they are deemed more “suspicious” than other races. The majority of the targeted victims were either African American or Hispanic, which is played off in a positive light as an improved percent of crime rate, although it is clear that the NYPD is discriminating among these races.
ReplyDeleteSameeha R.
ReplyDeleteComment #4
The article mentions that the NYPD believes that their unfair “stop, question, and frisk policy” actually helps them confiscate guns and lower the murder rate in New York. According to recent reports, this new policy has allowed officers to confiscate 31% more illicit weapons and lower the murder rate of New York City to 21%; this is the lowest the murder rate has ever been since 1963. However, many people like city councilman Jumaana Williams believe that this policy increases the distrust between minority communities and the police since the policy is racially biased. Apparently, 93% of the targets were male and 54% of these males were African American and 33% of these males were Hispanic. This is a violation of the 4th Amendment of the Constitution which states that people can only be searched or seized upon probable cause.