Police and Minority Groups: Introduction to Policing

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on policing practices and their implications for minority groups.

Stop-and-Frisk

A controversial policing strategy where officers stop and search individuals based on reasonable suspicion, often criticized for racial profiling.

Racial Discrimination

Unfair treatment of individuals based on their race, often seen in policing practices and traffic stops.

Predominantly White Neighborhoods

Areas where the majority of residents are White, found to influence the likelihood of stopping Black individuals.

Objective of Study

To examine disparities in policing practices across different ethnic groups, specifically in stops and arrests.

Hit Rate

The percentage of searches that yield contraband, used to assess the effectiveness of police searches.

Use of Force

The level of physical coercion used by police, ranging from verbal commands to lethal force.

Data Analysis

The method of examining data collected from police encounters to identify patterns of racial bias.

Officer Ethnicity

The racial background of the police officers involved in stops, which may affect how policing is conducted.

Threshold for Stopping

The level of evidence or suspicion required by police to justify stopping an individual, which may vary by race.

Racial Bias

Prejudice in favor of or against one race compared to others, influencing police stops and searches.