Whats the statistical evidence that racial profiling exists?
Since anecdotal evidence appears to not be taken that seriously, the search for more concrete evidence of racial profiling inevitably leads to statistics compiled by police forces themselves. But most police forces in North America don’t collect race-based data on such things as traffic stops. That’s why a series of articles published in 2002 in the Toronto Star caused such a sensation. The articles were based on stats collected by the police. Analysis of those figures by Star reporters suggested that blacks in Toronto were over-represented in certain offence categories like drug possession and in what were called “out-of-sight” traffic violations, such as driving without a licence. The analysis also suggested that black suspects were more likely to be held in custody for a bail hearing, while white suspects #8211; facing similar charges – were more likely to be released at the scene. The Toronto Police Service commissioned its own report that called the Star’s methodology and interpre
