Dec 30, 2024 Story by: Editor
Black and Latino residents in Salem face disproportionate police stops and citations, according to the latest report from Oregon’s Criminal Justice Commission (CJC). The findings reveal racial disparities in policing, even as the state grapples with understanding the full scope and significance of these differences.
The report, which analyzed data from 153 law enforcement agencies over the past two years, highlights that Black and Latino individuals are stopped at rates higher than their population share in Salem. For instance, while Salem’s population is 1.6% Black, Black individuals accounted for 4.3% of stops between July 2023 and June 2024. Latino residents, who make up 23% of Salem’s population, were involved in 30% of police stops during the same period.
Disparities in Citation Rates
The CJC employs statistical models to predict expected citation rates, accounting for factors such as the time of day, the reason for the stop, and demographic details. The report showed that Salem police cited Latino individuals in 63% of stops, exceeding the expected rate of 60%. While described as statistically significant, the higher citation rate for Latinos becomes less pronounced when factoring in low-discretion offenses, such as driving with a suspended license, where officers have limited discretion.
Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack emphasized his department’s commitment to transparency and equity, stating, “Identifying and addressing disparate outcomes is a departmental priority.” He noted that Salem police did not show statistically significant disparities in two out of three analytical tests, which would otherwise trigger intervention by the state.
Contraband Search Data
The report also analyzed search outcomes, finding that Salem police uncovered contraband in 38% of searches involving Latino individuals, slightly higher than the 34% for white individuals. However, searches of Black individuals were too few to provide statistical comparisons.
Pedestrian Stops Raise Questions
Salem police conducted the highest percentage of pedestrian stops among Oregon’s law enforcement agencies, with 6.3% of their stops involving pedestrians. This figure is notably higher than other agencies, prompting Salem Police spokeswoman Angela Hedrick to suggest that further analysis is needed to understand this trend.
The Broader Context
The CJC’s annual STOP (Statistical Transparency of Policing) report provides one of the most comprehensive data sets on police stops in the U.S., aiming to identify racial and ethnic disparities. While the report avoids definitive conclusions about bias, it acknowledges the lived experiences of individuals who may have faced discrimination.
The report underscores the importance of addressing disparities, particularly as they affect Black and Latino communities in Salem. It also highlights the need for ongoing scrutiny of law enforcement practices to ensure equitable treatment for all residents. Source: Salem Reporter
