ACLU: Newark Stop-and-Frisk Targets Blacks Disproportionately

Black city residents were stopped and frisked at disproportionately high rates and a wide majority of all Newark residents stopped were found to be innocent of any crime, according to an ACLU-NJ report examining six months worth of city police data.

The ACLU-NJ analysis lead the group to find "serious constitutional red flags" with the Newark Police Department's implementation of the already controversial policing practice.

According to the report, Newark officers made 91 stops per 1,000 Newark residents from July to December 2013. 

The ACLU-NJ compared those figures to New York City statistics for the same period of time and found that the NYPD made approximately 8 stops per 1,000 residents.

“The police department’s data reveal disturbing patterns about the use of stop-and-frisk in Newark,” said ACLU-NJ Executive Director Udi Ofer. “Newark police make a high number of stops, disproportionately stop black Newarkers, and stop innocent people in the vast majority of cases. These findings raise significant constitutional red flags for the City of Newark.”

Although black Newarkers represent 52 percent of the city’s population, they make up 75 percent of all stops, according to the report.

The innocence rate of those detained also raised significant concerns, said the report’s authors. 

“The U.S. Supreme Court made clear decades ago that under our Constitution, police are permitted to stop people only if they have individualized and reasonable suspicion of a crime,” said ACLU-NJ Public Policy Director Ari Rosmarin. “When 75 percent of those stopped in Newark are innocent of any wrongdoing, it raises significant questions about what criteria officers are using when deciding to make a stop.”

The ACLU-NJ cautioned that six months of data may be insufficient to draw definitive conclusions about the Newark Police Department’s stop-and-frisk practices, but asked the department to implement detailed data on stop their stop and frisk program.

Specifically the watchdog group wants police to report data on the reasons for stops, distinguish between individuals arrested and individuals issued a summons, identify what charges individuals are being arrested or issued summonses for following a stop, publish data on individuals stopped who have limited english proficiency. 

The ACLU-NJ also called for Newark officials to establish “independent mechanisms, like a Civilian Complaint Review Board and inspector general, to monitor police practices.”

“Once fully implemented, the Newark Police Department’s transparency data policy will be a model for other law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and across the country,” said Rosmarin. “We look forward to continuing to work with the department and Acting Director Sheila Coley to ensure Newarkers have access to the comprehensive data and to address the concerns raised in our report.”

Newark police officials did not respond to a request for comment.