Jan 3, 2025 Story by: Editor
A recent state report reveals racial disparities in traffic stops conducted by Oregon State Police (OSP), suggesting that Latino drivers may face a higher likelihood of being cited by Salem Police compared to white drivers.
Under Oregon law, law enforcement agencies must annually submit data on officer-initiated traffic and pedestrian stops to the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission for analysis. This latest report, covering the period from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, marks the commission’s sixth such analysis. Some sections also include data from 2022 to address smaller sample sizes.
The report praised Oregon’s Statistical Transparency of Policing (STOP) program as “one of the most robust” in the nation.
Traffic and Pedestrian Stops in Oregon
During the review period, Salem Police reported conducting 3,448 traffic stops and 231 pedestrian stops, the latter being the highest rate among all agencies in the state. Meanwhile, OSP accounted for a significant share of statewide activity, making 213,737 stops—roughly one-third of the total.
The analysis focused on officer-initiated stops, which involve discretion, rather than responses to emergency calls. Officers are required by law to document their perception of an individual’s race or ethnicity during these stops.
Findings on Racial Disparities
The report noted that nearly 30% of those stopped by Salem Police were Latino, even though Latino residents make up about 23% of Salem’s population, per U.S. Census data. Similarly, Black individuals, who comprise 1.6% of Salem’s population, accounted for 2.3% of stops.
However, researchers cautioned against relying solely on population-based benchmarks, stating: “Benchmarks are both intuitive and relatively simple to calculate, but the comparisons that result are overly simplistic and often biased or invalid.”
Factors like commuting and tourism mean that the driving population in a given area does not necessarily align with the local residential demographics.
Analytical Methods and Key Disparities
To identify potential racial or ethnic disparities, the commission analyzed three variables beyond population benchmarks. Agencies flagged for further review demonstrated significant disparities in at least two of these tests. OSP was one of three agencies identified for further scrutiny.
Decision to Stop Analysis
This analysis compares the rates at which minorities are stopped during daylight versus nighttime hours, under the assumption that race is harder to identify in darkness. The report found no statistically significant difference in how Salem Police or OSP stopped people of color in daylight compared to darkness.
Stop Outcome Analysis
This test examines potential disparities in outcomes, such as citations, searches, or arrests. It found that OSP had a statistically significant rate of citing, searching, and arresting minority individuals more often than white individuals, even after accounting for other factors like the reasons for the stops.
Conclusion
The report underscores ongoing concerns about racial and ethnic disparities in policing across Oregon, highlighting the need for continued analysis and transparency. The STOP program remains a key tool for identifying and addressing these issues in law enforcement practices statewide. Source: Yahoo News
