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Crime & Justiceby Post Typography and Baltimore Brew6:24 amAug 16, 20160

Policing in Baltimore in black and white

Visualizing the data on bias and more in the Justice Department report on the Baltimore Police Department

Above: The unconstitutional “patterns and practices” federal investigators found after a year-long investigation of the BPD. (Post Typography, for Baltimore Brew)

The magnitude of the unconstitutional stopping, searching and harrassing of African American people in Baltimore documented by the U.S. Justice Department last week was, even for those who have experienced it for generations, breathtaking.

All the patterns and abuses decried for years (and, to be honest, that were cited in a raft of previous reports) were laid out by the federal government in 163 data-rich pages – this time destined to become a legally-binding consent decree overseen by an independent monitor:

Excessive use of force, unnecessary stops for minor offenses or no offenses at all, glaring racial disparities and race and gender bias, failure to hold wrongdoers accountable and much more.

We hope these info-graphics make the report more accessible and invite readers to dive deeper, as the big question looms – what needs to happen next to make city law enforcement more effective, more just and truly accountable to the community it serves?

The report said Baltimore Police stop, search and arrest

The report said Baltimore Police stop, search and arrest” people without probable cause. (U.S. Department of Justice)


 

“BPD disproportionately stops, searches and arrests African Americans.” (U.S. Department of Justice)


 

“BPD arrests far more African Americans for drug offenses than would be expected based on drug usage and population data.” (U.S. Department of Justice.)


 

“We find reasonable cause to believe that BPD officers use unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.” (U.S. Department of Justice)


 
Officers

Officers “often question victims in a manner that puts blame for the sexual assault on the victim’s shoulders.” (U.S. Department of Justice)


 
The DOJ report on the Baltimore police Department found

The DOJ report on the Baltimore police Department found “a culture resistant to accountability.” (U.S. Department of Justice)

Links & Resources

Investigation of the Baltimore City Police Department
U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (August 10, 2016)

BPD Agreement in Principle (August 10, 2016)

Community.Baltimore@usdoj.gov
Email contact for citizen input on the Consent Decree

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