Tag: Policy

Racial Disparities, Total Traffic Stops in Vermont Dropped During COVID But Are Again Increasing Study Finds

Black and Hispanic drivers in Vermont continue to be stopped and searched at higher rates than white drivers. That’s according to new research examining thousands of traffic stops across Vermont.  

The research paper is the latest update to an ongoing analysis of racial disparities in traffic policing data across Vermont led by University of Vermont Economics Professor Stephanie Seguino, Cornell Professor Nancy Brooks and Data Analyst Pat Autilio.  

Previous statewide analyses were released in 2017 and 2021. They spurred conversation and, in some cases, racial bias training at some Vermont law enforcement agencies.  This update adds data from 2020-23 and examines both the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to investigate whether Black, Hispanic and Asian drivers in Vermont face racial disparities in traffic policing.
— Read on www.uvm.edu/gund/news/racial-disparities-total-traffic-stops-vermont-dropped-during-covid-are-again-increasing

York police departments merge after chief’s retirement | fox43.com

A York County police department announced this week it is merging with a neighboring law enforcement agency.
The Spring Garden Township Police Department said Thursday it will merge police services with York County Regional Police. 
The decision comes after the retirement of longtime Police Chief George Swartz Jr., whose retirement after 44 years was announced earlier this month.
— Read on www.fox43.com/article/news/local/york-county/spring-garden-township-police-merger-york-county-regional-police/521-76c72a95-456b-4843-aff9-a83ca922bc29

Police Services Study Spring Garden Township York County, Pennsylvania FEBRUARY 2024

Get it HERE

Despite Trump’s order, Chicago consent decree mandating police reform ‘will remain in effect’ | Nation/World | gazettextra.com

This is a unique position. Reform CPD even when the reform agreement has ended. Policing is local so CPD can continue to work on the suggested DOJ reforms. CPD is free to work on any type of reform it wants to. But why? Chicago didn’t suggest CPD reform until after the DOJ investigation called for reform.

CHICAGO — One of the executive orders signed by President Donald Trump this week seeks to end all federal consent decrees governing reform efforts by police departments across the country.
— Read on www.gazettextra.com/news/nation_world/despite-trump-s-order-chicago-consent-decree-mandating-police-reform-will-remain-in-effect/article_8ba2e73b-6f21-5172-ac69-c42b12cc83c7.html

Lowering the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility: Consequences for Juvenile Crime | Journal of Quantitative Criminology

This was open access at the time of the posting.

The questions of when and how society should sanction juvenile offenders are subject to ongoing political and scientific debates. In this study, we use a p
— Read on link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10940-025-09604-y

Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Strengthens America’s Law Enforcement to Pursue Criminals and Protect Innocent Citizens – The White House

EMPOWERING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to empower state and local law enforcement
— Read on www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/04/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-strengthens-americas-law-enforcement-to-pursue-criminals-and-protect-innocent-citizens/

CPD Officers Would Not Be Banned From Making Traffic Stops to Find Evidence of Unrelated Crimes: Proposed Policy

Chicago police officers would not be banned from making traffic stops based on minor registration or equipment violations that are designed to find evidence of “unrelated” crimes, under a new policy unveiled Thursday by Chicago Police Department leaders.

The proposed policy “acknowledges” that what the department calls “Pretextual Traffic Stops can be perceived by some members of the community as negative, biased or unlawful. Therefore, any such use of lawful Pretextual Traffic Stops as a law enforcement or crime prevention strategy must strike a balance between identifying those engaged in criminal conduct and the community’s sense of fairness.”

Officers who stop drivers for improper or expired registration plates or stickers and headlight, taillight and license plate light offenses “must strike a balance between promoting public safety and building and maintaining community trust,” according to the draft policy.

Read on HERE

Read the proposed policy HERE

Chicago Police Traffic Stop data report HERE

Citizens Police Oversight Commission Releases Annual Report Highlighting Progress Toward Police Accountability, Transparency, and Community Trust | Citizens Police Oversight Commission | City of Philadelphia

The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) today announced the release of its 2024 Annual Report, a detailed account of the agency’s growing impact in building a more transparent, accountable, and community-centered system of policing in Philadelphia.

The 2024 Annual Report details a year of significant progress for CPOC, despite a challenging national environment for police oversight agencies. Under the leadership of Executive Director Tonya McClary, Esq., who was appointed in May 2024, CPOC has taken major steps to strengthen its oversight functions, engage the public, and advocate for systemic reforms.

“Even with the challenges we faced in 2024, CPOC remained resolutely committed to fostering transparency, accountability, and trust between the community and law enforcement,” said McClary. “Our work is helping to shape a future that is safer, fairer, and filled with opportunities for every Philadelphian.”

Here is an interesting graphic from the report
— Read on www.phila.gov/2025-04-24-citizens-police-oversight-commission-releases-annual-report-highlighting-progress-toward-police-accountability-transparency-and-community-trust/

Get a .PDF copy of the report HERE